Rain

What a relief. Our classic fall rains have finally started. I was getting really tired of nothing but hot, clear days. Having our standard fall weather back is a big relief, even if I did discover yesterday that my shoes have holes in the bottom of the soles, soaking my feet. Pro tip: the time to buy new shoes is before they develop holes in the soles, not after.

Even with the heat on in the house, it is a bit chilly, so the cave bed is once again one of the most popular places for the dogs in the house. This morning, two feet are all I could see of Koira.

Her cute little feetsies. 

We are off to a flyball tournament up in Washington this weekend, so wish us a fun time, clean runs, and dry weather for camping!

Don't forget to enter the $25 Paw Street Barkery gift card giveaway! Check out Tuesday's post for a review of some of their products and instructions to enter.

Fit Dog Friday: Icy

With the weather here lately, we have been having a strange mix of energy and laziness. The dogs are getting chances to run off leash at the park, of course, and are greatly enjoying the snow. Icy paws and shivering drive us back inside before too long, though. Plus, the ice on the sidewalks means we aren't taking many on-leash walks, especially after dark when it starts getting really cold.

Jumping the "tree protection area" fence

Those of you in colder areas like Minnesota might laugh at us here, but the fact is, we just aren't used to it. Yes, I have boots I can wear in the snow- but they give me blisters if I got for long walks in them. Yes, the dogs have coats- but they don't have booties that stay on, and their poor feetsies get cold quickly. As for the ice, it isn't just that walking on ice means we might slip, it is that the cars driving by are on ice as well, and I am afraid they might lose control, leave the road, and hit us- and we won't be able to get out of the way quickly.

Play bounce

So, while we have been making an effort to stay active and get our exercise in (and enjoy the snow while it is here), we are looking forward to it thawing out and our normal winter weather of endless rain coming back. Rain we can deal with, rain we can walk in.

Prick eared bouncing

Fall in Oregon

Fall in Oregon is officially here. And that means rain. Lots and lots of rain.

I actually really enjoy the rain. I was born here in Western Oregon and grew up with 9 months of rain every year. The summer is hot and dry, which can be fun, but I absolutely love Oregon fall and winter.

That said, the rain is something you have to learn how to deal with. I have two pairs of waterproof boots (the comfortable neoprene kind) which are great for keeping your feet dry when slogging through puddles and wet grass. I also just added a pair of slip on waterproof shoes, which should be faster and easier to get on for quick walks with the dogs. I'm also hoping they won't make my feet get as hot as the big heavy boots can in warm wet weather.

First walk with the new shoes

Of course the first time I wore them they got totally covered in dog hair. Fair warning for anything in my house, really.

Super cute blue shoes with pawprints and extra dog hair

I also added a golf umbrella to my collection of winter walking gear this year. I'm not too worried about me staying dry (I'm an Oregonian after all), but the huge umbrella might make it safe for me to bring my camera along on what might otherwise be a soggy walk.

Another tip for walking dogs in rainy weather is to spray down jackets with waterproofing spray at the beginning of the rainy season. Focus especially on seams, shoulder area, and the hood for best protection from the rain. I've even been known to spray down my sweatshirts with waterproofing spray! I also spray down the dog jackets as well, after giving them a thorough wash, of course.

You can also see in the above photo the new fake grass in my entryway. I have a covered entryway between the yard and the door. I picked up this fake grass to line the entry. It will help clean off dog paws when they go in and out of the house. I picked up a 8x6 roll of it for $20 and cut it in half. I'll use the other half to replace the one currently down if it gets too gross. 

Of course, I also have a huge collection of dog towels. I found towels for a dollar each and stocked up on white, brown, and blue ones to use specifically for the dogs. I keep some in my car and next to the front door to dry off dog feet, bellies, and backs.

How do you deal with the rain?

Wordless Wednesday: Shades of Green