It was 17? (-8? C) this morning with light snow flurries — fortunately, nothing compared to what many other parts of the country are dealing with. (Oh, Buffalo!) But it’s a funny thing when we get to winter. This is the kind of weather that separates the men from the boys northern dogs from the southern dogs. A dog like Esther above, who’s from upstate New York, thinks nothing of wandering around the yard in the snow and cold temperatures; Darla, from upper Michigan, is also pretty intrepid. Not so the cast of characters from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Georgia.
Blind Stella, for example, sometimes objects to the very?idea of going?outside these days; she needs to be led down the ramp on a leash and then we have to close the ramp gate to make sure she stays out long enough to do her business. I watched the first time Stella?encountered snow here a couple of weeks ago –‘she seemed both incredulous and mystified. Bear in mind that since she’s blind, she doesn’t know what it looks like outside. All she knew was’that suddenly the ground was very different, cold and crunchy underfoot, and she tentatively tip-toed her way across the yard. By now she’s gotten used to it, but she’s still not used to having’to go outside! (Stella asks, “Say, have you guys thought about moving’to Maui?”)
Esther, on the other hand, is just as happy trundling around outside now as she was when the ground was bare. Everyone else will be back on the porch, huddled, waiting for us to let them back in, and Esther will be off still exploring.
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That is a very interesting observation. I never gave a thought to the fact that most of the doggies cannot see the snow, so they don’t really know what they’re dealing with. Some dogs seem to get energized by the cold; at least for a while. It must be funny when you have to shovel paths for them to follow when they go outside when the snow is deep. Do you do that? Years ago when I had five dogs, I made paths all over the back yard that lead to a clear area at the end for their business. It was always funny watching them walk in the paths. I can just imagine all the Farm dogs walking in a row down the shoveled paths. I must say that Esther is one pretty lady. I’m glad she’s doing well.
Every few years we have enough snow piled up here in the Pacific NW that we have had to make paths for them in the yard. Funny, my dogs don’t mind the snow or cold much. But one of them simply hates the rain! Esther, you go girl 🙂
Last winter we had some heavy snows, more than our young dogs had ever experienced before. They both loved running around in it, but after the first snowfall one of them had his toilet habits thrown into disarray by the fact that there was no grass to be found. I could see the panic rising in his eyes as he looked around at nothing but snow, snow, snow. By the next day he had adjusted happily, but it was certainly traumatic for him at the start.
Esther looks very well dressed for winter. What a beautiful girl.
So funny! I bet you are very thankful you aren’t in New York right now ~ I know I am!
I had a small dog who would go outside and as soon as she put her little paw on the rainy sidewalk (Heaven help us if that was a puddle!) she froze in position lifted her drippy little paw up, whined and looked at me, “Are you out of your mind?” Then she’d go immediately inside and do her business in the foyer. A rain hater her whole life but would lay in the hot hot summer sun baking her brains in great happiness.
Go Esther, you little snowhound!
GOOD FOR ESTHER, COLD IS JUST A STATE OF MIND EVEN FOR A DOG.
Ester is so beautiful.
Now, who might Esther be carrying on with the single dog in the snow routine?
I’m with Stella. I would try to get back inside ASAP. I love snow but never see enough of it to be used to living with it daily. Esther is so pretty.