I'm going to miss it

 Fall was long for us and rather mild.  So, with the onset of winter and snow, blistering winds and ice in the last week, I am already getting cabin fever.  

The dogs were always great at breaking that fever.  Dog sledding, dog walks, rough housing and running in the snow.  We always had such fun!  I'm going to miss those times.  That and our indoor games of "find it."  We always had a blast playing that game!  Hiding treats all over the house and having the dogs find them.  Some were obvious places and played over and over again.  But there were always a few treats that were really hidden in a new spot.  Chance and Blaze were geniuses at the game.  All I had to say was, "I see one, two, three, etc. that you missed and they were back in it.  Searching frantically to beat the other.  It wasn't often but I have stumped them a few times and had give some clues as to where the hidden goodie was.  Oh, how I miss playing that game with them!  

I miss having a pack of dogs around.  I miss the aggravation and the laughter.  I miss wanting to pull my hair out and wanting to hug them.  I miss the love that filled this house.  Every room filled with a dog.  I miss the antics, the barking, and the howling choir.  I miss grumbling about every day chores and how the dogs made it fun.  I really miss behavior training.  It was the heart and soul of those misfit huskies and the rewards were priceless!

This will be our first winter without all of the above.  And I'm going to miss it.  

FINALLY! Dog walks today

This last week with Christmas as been touch and go as far as walks.  Then when the temperature plummeted, the dogs and I were feeling so disconnected from each other.  There isn't much "playtime" with these four, not even between them anymore.  There only form of chase is chasing squirrels and even they were few and far between with the dipping temperatures.  So walks are pretty important on all levels, including me.

Everyone was feeling it yesterday, but our chance finally came today as the temperatures rose to 15F.  I didn't feel like going out in the cold, but I know I had to take the opportunity and it was so worth it!

I took everyone separate.  It's easier on my back that way.  It wasn't as cold as I thought and it didn't take long to get into the grove.  Zappa was first as he usually is.  He's my easy walker until he gets by himself and wants to direct the entire walk.  He's so bossy!  :) 

Fiona wanted to walk through the woods.  The trudge through the thick snow was difficult even with snowmobile tracks going down the path, but at least there was some kind of path.  The walk was short and sweet, just like Fiona.

Blaze wanted to pull.  And I mean PULL.  I was so tempted to hook her up to the sled and let her take me down the road.  She was so focused and centered.  And the road...the road was perfect for sledding.  But I resisted temptation, wrapped the leash around my shoulder blade and let her pull me up and down the road.

And then, last but not least was Chance.  My sweet boy Chance.  He has a way of wooing that sends tickles up and down my spine.  He had become the grouchiest of all the dogs with that lack of connection and finally we were going to connect.  To the road, the snow, the cold and to each other.  And that we did. 

Brut Thursday- The Snow King

The night was still and quiet.  Not a sound could be heard but our own.  The bitter cold air seem to freeze our breath in front of us and the snow beneath us was crystallized.

The snow piles Brut and I sat on were the result of raking the deep snow off the garage roof.  I had to knock them down for fear of one of the dogs getting on the garage roof, they were that high.

It seemed as if the world had just stopped moving that frigid night.  Brut sat erect and elongated listening for the faintest sound.  Ears slowly moving with bat radar this way and that.  The rest of the dogs had gone in, but not Brut, my winter die hard, he climbed the top the snow pile and smiled.  He was in his element.  We both were and I climbed to the top to sit next to him.

I carefully followed the ears and head of this magnificent snow beast.   Keeping a  close eye of that little twitch of alertness when he connected with a resonance.  I shifted my eyes to his line of sight and turned my head with his.  And we sat that way for some time.  Syncing in alignment we were mindful of each other and the world around us.  So simple and true we sat close together, his bristled fur just whispering across my jacket.  This was us, the two snow dogs of the household that left me with a memory as clear as the stars that chilly night and a friend that lays in my heart, forever.

   

Paw Art-The Winter Version

A conglomeration of the skillful paws by Brut, Silver, Zappa, and Fiona.  An effort that took all winter long to perfect.

So what do you think?  Have any dog art work you could show off??

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How Winter Durable Is Your Dog?

Before Chance came back to us, his previous owners had him on a short tether and kept him outside with some sort of shelter and it was winter.  We couldn't pick him up the day they called and said we would come back the next day to get him.  I remember that it was going to get down to zero degrees (-17.7C) that night and all I could think about was I hoped he'd was going to be OK.

When we brought him home, he had no aversion to the cold.  Still a puppy at a year old, he wasn't phased by the bitter temps when we would play outside at night.  He was also persistent about waiting on those nights sitting at the corner of the fence waiting for his boy to come and get him.  Chance was not deterred by the weather one bit. 

About a year later I noticed a difference.  The colder it got the more sensitive Chance became to the cold.  Holding up his paw or paws in that uncomfortable awkward position with a look on his face that was screaming in pain. 

 I don't have to pee. I don't have to pee.  I don't have to pee.

20F (-6C) and above suits Chance just fine.  He loves the snow, running, chasing and jumping, until it starts to dip to about 17F, 16F, 15F (-8.3C, -8.8C, -9.4C)  then it gets a little ify.

And anything below 15F (-9.4C) is bathroom time and that's it.

Chance is my most sensitive dog to the cold temperatures.  Brut is my toughest and everyone else falls in between.

We are going on on second week of no walks due to the freezing temperatures and quick potty breaks.  We haven't even been able to just go outside for while.  This winter is one of the harshest we've been through and we're not out of the woods yet.

So how does your dog fair with the cold to frigid temperatures?  Do you have some dogs that are more sensitive then others?   

Winter blahs

I don't know about anybody else in the Northern Hemisphere, but I'm hitting my breaking point with winter.  We're just starting to hit the mid-way point (fingers crossed) and I've really been struggling with the winter blahs.  It sucks being inside too long as well as outside.  I don't know what happened in the last few years as winter used to be my favorite season and it was summer that I dreaded, now it's the exact opposite.

So were doing the best we can to survive.  Dog sledding and walks help, but it can be so limiting.  So to try and pass the time, I've been working with Fiona and Zappa on some behavior training.  Especially "Leave It."  Seeing as the last time we worked on it was when they were like five months old and Daddy has "trained" Fiona to steal his food anytime he leaves the couch, I figured it was a good place to start.

 

So every night after dinner when it is just the two of them in the living room we practice.  I place a treat in front of them, tell them "leave it" and then when they give me eye contact they get a different treat than the one I placed down.  Zappa is so adorable to watch.  He works so hard not to look at the treat and get his eyes up to mine that he bobbles his head up and down as if physically trying to lift his eye up to meet my gaze.  It is hilarious.

They are both catching on quickly, but I am still working on being able to walk away from treat while in front of them.  That one is a little too tempting.  So I scaled it back to just standing up and sitting back down again.  It's hard to catch them sometimes before they eat the treat, the little buggers are quick!

But I'm already seeing results, especially with Fiona and Daddy's snack time.  Which is quite a bonus for just a little bit of work.  And Zappa who likes to try and steal my juice cups.  I've been saying it when I leave the room whether they know there is anything or not and if they are in the same spots, I reward them.

I never had enough time to really work with Zappa and Fiona when Chance and Blaze were returned.  Between Brut, Chance and Blaze the three took up almost all my time.  So it is always a treat and sweet reward for me to be able to really work with them as we continue on this journey of getting to know each other a little better.   And the more the household settles down and gets in routine the more Zappa and Fiona  are enjoying the extra and well deserved attention they are getting.

So how do you and your dog get through the winter blahs?  

Winter so far...

 How could she say such a thing?  Spoiled?  I'm so hurt!

It's been one of those weeks when I could really use an extra pair of hands for each dog.  I haven't felt well and while all of the dogs are good about that sort of thing,  Brut's patience level are starting to plummet.  He's starting to get a bit touchy about not having his Mommy and me time.  Like the boy needs a reason to start something.  :)  Spoiled brat!

This winter has pretty much sucked, unless we figure out a way to dog sled on ice.  Two winters in row now with hardly any snow.  Our new sled has been in the living room for 2 months, getting it ready, haven't been able to try it out except to walk it back out to the shed.

On the plus side, the warmer temps have kept me more outdoors than normal, working on leash walking with the Back Dogs.  Some of you may remember I started working with Chance and then Blaze this past year and without being able to sled, I've decided to tackle Brut, Fiona and Zappa with leash walking.  Nothing keeps my non-pulling tactics sharp like an icy road.  :) 

Which brings me to one of the greatest investments I made for my husband and I.  Slip on ice studs for our boots.  These babies are fantastic!!  I have always wanted to get some and finally remembered at Christmas time to pick up a few for us.  They are great for walking the dogs and actually having some grip or even playing in the backyard.   Considering we could rent out ice skates out there.  I don't even know the brand name of these slip-on studs or a website to give you, which means that this isn't any promotion or endorsement, we were just really happy this product and not falling on our a** all winter.  :)

And if this winter hasn't been crappy enough, the skunks are out in full swing, in FEBRUARY!!  Considering we are lucky if spring gets rolling by May in these parts, we usually don't have to worry about these little stinkers until June or so.  It is one of those, if it isn't one thing, it's another type deals.  The dogs have been going bananas as the little bugger who lives under my neighbor's shed taunts them just past the fence, not to mention the way the little stink bombs are announcing their presence all over the neighborhood.  I'd better stock up on lots of  vinegar.  :(  Lord help me it's going to be a long spring...  And summer...  And fall...

Wash Away Those Winter Blahs!

For those of you buried in the snow and cold of winter, we've got a wonderful treat for you.

So grab your hot cocoa, wrap yourself in a blanket and let us wash away those winter blahs with the summertime fun of Chance the Hose Wrangler!

Chance the Hose Wrangler

The best sprinkler system a couple of bones can buy!!

Now join us for the Saturday Blog Hop, hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Caviliers and Confession of the Plumes.

Have Fun!!