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A smiling older woman washes a dusty car with a sponge as a wet brindle Shih Tzu hops on hind legs beside a spraying hose. 25 / 28

Abuela Rosa Turned on the Hose. Chispa Took It as an Invitation.

AI imageshih tzucar washsummer

A soapy sponge in her hand and a grin on her face, Abuela Rosa has stopped mid-wash to watch the show. Chispa is up on her back legs in the middle of the driveway, front paws scrabbling at the air, pink tongue out, chasing every sparkling arc of water from the green garden hose. The brindle Shih Tzu is soaked from whiskers to tail. Rosa's floral apron is splashed too, and the old gray car beside her is streaked with suds that drip toward the pavement. Behind them, evening light glows on the stucco wall and a few potted plants line the fence.

Plenty of dogs love chasing water, and a hose can be a fine summer game when handled sensibly. Keep the stream gentle and aimed at the ground or the air, never at your dog's face, and let her decide when she is done. Long-haired dogs like the Shih Tzu hold water in their coats, so rinse out any soap, towel her off afterward, and brush to prevent tangles. Car-washing suds, wax, and wheel cleaner can irritate skin and upset stomachs if licked, so keep your dog away from puddles of cleaner and rinse the driveway well. When it is hot, offer shade and fresh drinking water after play.

Rosa will get the car clean eventually. The dog, meanwhile, has already decided the day's real masterpiece is a very wet, very happy Chispa, and nobody in that driveway is complaining about it.

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