Cider Press Hill

Mmmm warm

This afternoon the temperature outside dropped like a rock. Just in time for Terry the greyhound’s mid-day meal. She is a messy eater, tossing her head this way and that, with gravy flying everywhere. So I feed her outside. During cold weather she can’t tolerate being outside for long unless I bundle her up like a little kid. Her fur is very short and fine, she has no fur on her belly, and she has virtually no fat layer underneath her skin to help insulate her. She’d truly succumb to hypothermia within a fairly short time without wearing her winter gear.

Only, I don’t have any winter gear for her yet. Her last winter coat simply fell apart after a few seasons of wear. So I rummaged around in the closet to see what I could find. Way in the back corner of the top shelf I found an old heavy fleece zip up jacket with a high neck. Perfect!

I slipped it on over her head, lifted a leg and shoved it through an arm of the jacket, then repeated the other leg. I got a twisty tie out of the drawer, bunched up the bottom of the jacket until it was snug around her hips and wrapped the twisty tie around it. Had to roll up the sleeves several times, but that gave her legs a little extra insulation.

Well, she looked perfectly ridiculous, but she stayed warm while she was outside eating her dinner. Except for her ears. Next time, I may actually tie a winter scarf around her head.

But when she came back inside she informed me that she wasn’t taking the jacket off. She likes it. Every time I tried to get it off her, she’d flop to the floor and refuse to get up. I can take the hint.

She’s all snug in her bed, still wearing her fleece jacket.

Posted on 12/14/04 at 05:37 PM
 




Tamara

please tell me you have pictures . . .

Canada   Posted by Tamara on 12/14/04  at  06:51 PM





Jennifer AKA Me

Dang, why does your camera have to be broken. Don’t you have a 35mm still? Take one with that. Or RUN to to store and get one of those disposable ones. I want a picture!

United States   Posted by Jennifer AKA Me on 12/14/04  at  06:59 PM





N in Seattle

Who needs a camera?  I can see it clear as day in my mind’s eye.

United States   Posted by N in Seattle on 12/14/04  at  07:45 PM





Kate

There’s still plenty of winter left. We still have boots to add to the wardrobe, too, remember. I’ll get a photo of her before winter is over. If I get a scarf on her head with her coat and boots, she’s going to look like a little Russian grandma.

N, you’ve witnessed the putting-on-of-coats routine a couple of times. It’s even more comical with a human jacket. But she’s very patient. Not in the least helpful, but very patient.

United States   Posted by Kate on 12/14/04  at  08:11 PM





fred

I too was hoping for photographs, but, as you say, the winter is young and we still have a lot of time.
I just took a 4 day road trip and had to put Sable, by Chow/Australian Shepard mix in the kennel for the duration, and she does not like that at all, but she was nice to me when I picked her up.  The first time I had to do this she snapped at me!  You have to love dogs!

United States   Posted by fred on 12/14/04  at  08:48 PM





Kate

My grandparents used to have a Chow. She was a temperamental girl whose feelings could be gravely wounded by a mere look or an imagined slight. I can’t imagine what would have happened had they put her in a kennel. Hoo boy.

I used to have a little terrier mutt. Best dog ever. Boy did she have tender feelings. And HATED the kennel. She would not speak to me or look at me for the first three days she was home. Literally would sit with her back turned to me, conspicuously ignoring me. And yep, it made me feel really bad.

Terry, on the other hand, loves her kennel. Can’t wait to get out of the car and get the vacation under way. The kennel owner spoils her rotten and feeds her fresh hamburger cooked up with fresh rice every meal and lets her sleep in the house. By the time I go to pick her up, she’s not so sure she wants to come home.

Every dog is different. smile

United States   Posted by Kate on 12/14/04  at  09:25 PM





Jennifer AKA Me

Pfffffffft N, I want the real thing! LOL. Oh may may, as Brody used to call her. She was the best dog ever! He still wants a dog just like her, and so do I.

United States   Posted by Jennifer AKA Me on 12/14/04  at  10:37 PM





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