Re: [pyrnet] HEALTH: How do I know when it's too cold for my old girl to be out at night?

[Cynthia Willets <tea4c@yahoo.com>]

Linda,

 

Casey and Zack will be 8 (Casey in October and Zack in January) Maude will be 6 in Dec.  All of them are cold weather dogs.  They will happily go out at 10 below and face into a wind.  However, when it gets to the negative digits I seldom let them out for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.  They are house dogs, not working dogs and although we keep the thermastat at 65 all winter, that is still much warmer than -10 to -20.  And there is the wind chill factor to consider.   A nice 20 degree day with 20mph winds is very much colder then a day that is -10 and no wind.  Watch Ski's paws. Rub them with something called Musher's to keep them from cracking and splitting.  When my guys get really cold they stop making snow angels and curl up with their noses under their tails.  (They also give me that "It's about time!" look when I bring them in.)   30 degrees is still quite warm, especially if you have let Ski accl! imate to the changing season.

 

I have my fingers crossed that my crew will live this long.

 

Tea