It's a Dog's Life: Weather and Walks

Teddy contemplates climate change and how the long, hot summer has an impact on canine routines, as explained by his human translator, Helen Stockton

September is a month of change, and there is definitely a sense of seasonal shift as summer starts to fade into autumn. And what a summer it has been! I’m just a dog, so I don’t know about climate change, but our lawn has been the brownest and crispiest ever seen. Apparently, hotter temperatures and prolonged periods without rain in the summer, contrasted with heavy downpours and flooding in the winter, are likely to be the new normal.

As dogs, we just deal with these things in the moment. Very hot weather has involved ‘Her Indoors’ having to get her act together in the morning to take us out for our walk before it gets too warm. Often, we’ve had to forgo our late afternoon walk altogether, which is fine by me. I prefer to lounge about at home anyway. Unfortunately though, this means that the apprentice, Bear, has a second wind after about nine o’clock in the evening, rushing about and wanting to be played with due to a surfeit of energy. This is just at the point where everyone else is flagging and needs to chill in front of the TV.

When we went on a UK holiday in July, ‘Them Indoors’ were in the unusual position of worrying about it being too hot. Us dogs can’t really be out and about in very warm weather due to our fur coats, and the risk to paws from scalding pavements. Although ‘Them Indoors’ love our motorhome, they didn’t really want to spend ten days confined inside it. Fortunately, Norfolk obliged and gave us modest summer temperatures, so we had a lovely time.

‘Her Indoors’ has been grimly starting autumnal preparations for the possibility of a wet winter ahead by washing all our outdoor gear. Dog coats, anoraks and waterproof over-trousers have been laundered and reproofed, whilst gloves, scarves and hats have been washed and dried in the sunshine. I am not a fan of coats, although, to be honest, I am also not a fan of getting soaking wet and being made to stay in the kitchen until I’ve dried off. What is a cream carpet for, if not for drying your fur on? People have some strange notions if you ask me.

My buggy, that I use on longer walks now that I’m a senior dog, transitions well between summer and autumn. The hood works in a dual capacity, providing shade in the sunshine and shelter in the rain, so that’s me sorted! ‘Her Indoors’ will just have to use an umbrella and Bear will have to take whatever our changing climate brings us. She’s recently mastered picking her own blackberries so she’s a good adaptor. Just as well really!