Thursday, July 13, 2006

Dogs in Summer


It has been extremely hot and the days are long for sled dogs. We built this new pen for Skinny , our retiring gee haw command leader, father of our pups. It still needs a few support posts but he was able to relax in the heat yesterday with his big tree for shade. He entertained a few other dogs at different times. They all love the grassy shade. Skinny retires to my house in the evenings for air conditioned comfort.

Most of them are digging deep holes for a cool spot. All pens have tarp coverings and small wading pools. Changing the water in their water dishes and pools is a big job, many times a day in the 90 degree temperatures. Yo eats every tarp I put on his pen, so I'm trying to invent a new scheme, umbrella style, to keep it out of his reach, as it is too hot without one.

Yesterday I gave 11 dog baths. It cools them down and keeps the flies away from them. It cools me down too as I was as wet as they were after bathing them. Two dogs went swimming with me. Chena swims right next to me as my lifeguard.

Buddy found a pine snake yesterday and before I could do anything he did dispose of it from their pen. Dogs do not like snakes. Liller saw it and sidestepped it, which drew Buddy's attention to it. I also saw a small grass snake yesterday. They do their share to control bugs and mice so I don't mind them. The dogs don't like their surprise moves.

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