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A black and white mixed-breed dog with wide eyes sits in a wicker laundry basket with clean clothes strewn around. 7 / 27

Fresh Laundry Made the Softest Bed He Had Ever Found

AI imagemixed breed doglaundryrescue dog

Clean laundry was folded into a basket just a little while ago, and now it has become a nest. A black and white mutt with a white chest sits right in the middle, wide eyes locked on whoever just walked in. Towels, shirts and jeans have been tossed over the basket's edge and across the floor in a messy trail. A shelf of detergent and a plant in the corner watch quietly from the back.

Many dogs love to nest in warm piles of fabric, and clothes that smell like their family are especially appealing. Digging, circling and arranging blankets are old instincts, which dogs inherited from ancestors who shaped sleeping spots in the wild. Mixed-breed rescue dogs are often especially devoted, and many settle in beautifully with a little time and routine. A bed of their own, placed somewhere near the family, can make a laundry basket far less tempting.

If a dog chews on clothing, keep an eye on small items like socks, since swallowed fabric can be dangerous, and talk to your vet if that happens. Closing the laundry room door or putting baskets on a shelf is an easy fix.

The look on this face is pure surprise, as though the clothes tossed themselves. At least the laundry smells wonderfully like home, and he is clearly ready to defend the nest.

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