Missoula experienced a long “heat dome” with what seemed like months of 95+ temperatures. Added to our long summer days — in July, it’s light out until nearly 10 pm — it was brutal. (We have no air conditioning.)

As a recent post shared, we tried lots of ways to keep cool. It’s possible that Dotty might have gone a bit overboard.

On one of their hikes, the girls encountered a mud puddle. Cool, wet — what’s not to love?

While Orly’s legs and belly were pretty muddy, which is to be expected when one wades into a muddy puddle, Dotty flung her entire front half into the mud. My normally white dog was black. But cool, very cool.

And, judging from her expression, pretty pleased with herself.

Orly’s more worried expression, once back at home, might have been born of experience.

These dogs were not allowed into the house.

Nope; they were marched straight to the backyard for the indignity of a hosing-off.

What? No warm water??!!

In their post-hosing-off photo, Dotty’s glum expression matches Orly’s. The price of fun …

Somehow, I doubt that she regards it as too high — or will even remember it. And, to be fair, they got to enjoy some frozen yogurt-banana-peanut butter treats while drying off on the deck. (Even Mean Mom has a softer side …)

Next time Dotty sees a mud puddle, watch out!