We had a muddy day after the hail melted and the dogs, after being cooped up in the house for days, had some time outside. Ruby, the old springer spaniel, stayed near the door and waited for it to open so she could duck back inside, but young Emma, the English field cocker spaniel, tore around and explored any places where she could dig.

Emma is black with a smidgeon of white, but after her afternoon of digging and tearing around the yard, she was blackish-brown with a smidgeon of … well … blackish-brown. Her feathered feet held a ton of sand and dirt. She was in desperate need of a spa day.

But since she’s no French poodle, spa day for her meant a bath in the tub.

Towels were placed everywhere, to catch any shakes and splatters, or rolled on soppiness.

A couple of small tubs of lukewarm water, some Axe shampoo,  and a plastic container to use as a water scoop, and we were ready.

Luckily, Emma loves the water. I was careful to keep the soap out of her face, and the water out of her ears, so she was happy enough.

Just look at the brown sauce coming from her feet! And that was just a fraction of the whole mess.

But now she’s beautiful again. Clean, clean, clean.

Ready to go out and get dirty all over again.

But what fun!

PS  After all that wet dog business and the splattering shaking that followed, it was my turn for the spa treatment.