Hello my friends! Pixel Blue Eyes reporting to you LIVE from the Appalachian mountains of Virginia where we've had one heck of a lovely snow event for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!
I've been studying the weather for some time now and I'm a real champion for winter weather. Well, so is
Sam Champion of the
Weather Channel and his
AMHQ team of fantastic meteorologists, so I'm channeling some of their fantastic weather reporting skills and giving it to you from a dog's point of view.
The snow we've seen in the last few days is perfect for people who love the beauty and wonder of snow but hate the shoveling. Early Wednesday morning we got about 2" of snow. It was so pretty, however it melted far too quickly. The good news was that it never stuck to the roads, so people were able to get out and about in their cars and not have to worry as much about snow covered roads. Of course, there's still always the risk of slick spots or unsafe drivers, so keep a safe speed friends, and always look out for other drivers and slick spots when winter precipitation is on the ground.
Thanksgiving morning we were blessed with a glorious blanket of sparkling crystal snow that was about 3"- 4" deep. It was just perfect for little dogs (and big dogs too of course) to run around and play in. My sisters Peanut and Sassy, the newest member of our family, had such a fun time outside in the snow. It was the first time Sassy had ever seen or experienced snow and it was love at first sight for this little snow dog Pomeranian. In fact, young Sassy, who is about 4 months old, was literally running circles around me and Peanut while I was trying to test the latest weather conditions and Peanut was enjoying the Thanksgiving Day Winter Wonderland on our back deck. It was very charming, but I was glad we weren't doing a "live shot" weather report. That would have been interesting on TV with a tiny dog running laps through the report!
Dixie Mae, my short haired Dachshund sister, stepped outside in her warm coat but decided playing in the snow was not for her. She preferred to stay inside because of the cold, so remember that not every dog will want to go outside in wintry conditions to play. Some people believe that a dog must always want to be outside "where we belong" but we really want to be with our humans in comfortable conditions, preferably under a warm blanket by your hip on the couch. At least that's what Dixie Mae always says.
If you go outside with your pets, make sure they are well protected from the cold and elements such as rain or snow. Even though dogs and cats have fur, we still get cold, get achy joints and hate getting (or staying) wet in the rain. Just as there is for humans, there are rain coats, hats, winter coats, paw shoes and many other apparel made especially for dogs to keep them safe, warm and protected outside in the elements.
Dog weather reporting includes a few additional bits of weather information that dogs need to know about for the best outdoor weather experience, especially in snow. This includes:
1. Depth of snow - Dogs need to know this so we can calculate how much of our legs will either become wet or get those amazing little sticky snowballs on our fur if we have long fur. Very important information indeed. If a bath is eminent, we must plan for that as well.
2. Color & texture of snow - Since we love to eat snow, we must know if the snow is safe to eat. Snow must be clean, white and fluffy for best consumption. Dirty, yellow or icy snow is not a fun snack!
3. Anticipated snow melting days and/or rainy puddle days. Some dogs love getting muddy and then tracking those foot prints all over the place in their home, so dogs need to know the best days for maximum mud possibilities.
Well, I've now eaten several snow samples and verified that this is pure Appalachian mountain snow, fresh and ready for eating and playing in for dogs ages 8 weeks to 18 years! It'll be melting soon enough, so get your pups out there as soon as possible for loads of fun in the snow. Just remember to play it safe, stay protected from the elements and you'll have a great time in any kind of weather!
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So...what's the pet weather like in
your neck of the woods??
Oh how I missed the comforts of home, the warm fireplace, soft fuzzy blankets, the small yet delicious meals every 3-4 hours. I could just imagine my little duckies missing me, all lined up against the window pane wondering, "When is Mommy Pixel coming home? Will we ever see her again??" "Don't cry little Duckies, I'll survive somehow, I promise," I thought to myself.
As I trudged through the snow that was almost up to my neck, choking me, blinding me and making it almost impossible to make the next step, I thought about my Mommy...my beloved Mommy, and wondered how she would get along without me if I didn't get through this snowy tundra adventure. I pushed on as hard as I could, focusing on making it home.
