Winter storm walk: number 2

Hours of snow:  8.5
Accumulation: about 5 inches - nearer 10 in the drifts
Conditions:  White out
Walking difficulty: 4 - the drifts keep catching me out
Peeing difficulty: 2 - Under the trees is a good spot but branches are starting to fall off so I'm going to need a hard hat.
Four paw drive: Full on 4 paw required
Number of times the plow has been passed: 5 
Excitability factor: 10 - still loving it.  The plows spoil it though.  
Traffic level: Just the plows.  The county have banned cars unless they have snow tyres.
Number of snowmen: 3
Number of snowmen I've peed on: 0
Observations: I didn't realize you could lightening storms with snow.  It's going to be a long night for Mr Plow and his mates.  You have to wonder if it's worth trying to clear it when it's falling at a rate of 2 inches an hour.  There are even some home owners who are out shoveling their sidewalks.  I'm curling up in front of the fire for the rest of the evening.

Winter storm walk: number 1

Hours of snow:  4
Accumulation: about 2 inches
Conditions:  It's belting down!
Walking difficulty: 1 - it's a bit slippy and slushy in places
Peeing difficulty: 1 - once I've got a firm footing no difficulty whatsoever
Four paw drive: Minimally required
Number of times the plow has been passed: 0
Excitability factor: 10 - it's brilliant, I love the snow
Traffic level: Low for a Friday afternoon
Number of snowmen: 3
Number of snowmen I've peed on: 0
Observations: More dogs and people out than expected.  Plenty of kids out with sledges and one rather strange human with long planks tied to his feet: I think you call them skis.  

Bring it on

 I've just read this on the weather channel..... Think I better stock up on dog food.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW WITH NEAR-BLIZZARD CONDITIONS... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 10 PM EST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE... HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS... STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 16 TO 24 INCHES.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL BEGIN MID-MORNING FRIDAY... AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON... WITH HEAVIEST SNOWFALL OCCURRING BETWEEN SUNSET FRIDAY TO SUNRISE SATURDAY. THE MOST HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT... WHEN THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE... PRODUCING NEAR-BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

* TEMPERATURES... HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S FRIDAY. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY... TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID 20S.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SIMILAR TO THE 19 DECEMBER STORM. PLAN FOR SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTIONS TO TRAVEL FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT.

Brrrrr

You know how I make fun of dogs who wear overcoats... not any more.  Cold just doesn't begin to describe what it was like this morning and it's going to be even colder tomorrow.  The air temperature was a rather bracing -10oC - tomorrow it's going to be -15oC - imagine how cold my paws are going to be.  With temperatures that low I'm going to have to put operation 'splash and dash' into action - I don't want my bits to freeze.

Coming or going

I'm so confused these days I don't know if I'm coming or going.  Three weeks on holiday, one week back at my place then back to the kennels for a week while my human jets off to California of all places.  I tell you I don't know where I'm supposed to be put my bed.  I've given up unpacking my bag, it's next to the front door ready for next time.

I just thought I'd post something so you know I'm ok.  LIfe has been really dull so far this year.  No new walks, no new places to visit, not even snow to play in.  I did see a fox in the neighbourhood the other morning: I soon shooed her off with a woof and a short chase.

I did meet another girl Lab whose human thought we'd make excellent playmates as we looked similar ages.... hmmm not quite, I am nearly 7 years older than her.  They were both amazed at my youthful good looks and athleticism.  I should write a book about my diet and exercise regimen.

Kennel tales

Yeah I'm back with my human - she didn't forget about me.  Don't get me wrong I've had a great holiday but you can't beat sleeping in your own bed (or your human's bed anyway).  It hasn't been a complete holiday though.  I managed to land myself a job as a puppy sitter to a 14 week old German Schnauzer.  She was in the kennel next to me and got a bit home sick on her first night so I moved my bed to the other side of my kennel so I could snuggle near her.

It was really busy over Christmas and I met lots of new dogs.  My favourite was another black lab girl.  She was a rejected seeing eye dog (guide dog to you Brits).  She was rejected for being too friendly, instead of getting on with her job she kept stopping to say hello to people, a bit like me really.

The week before Christmas was really quiet, so quiet I was all on my own for a couple of nights so the nice lady took pity on me and invited me into the big house.  I repaid her kindness by frightening the living daylights out of her.  It wasn't in my file that I have active dreams: imagine the fright when I started running, barking and growling in my sleep.  Poor Michelle thought I'd been tasered by burglars and was having some kind of fit.  All I remember is dreaming of chasing bunnies in the fields.

We had a party on Christmas day with peanut butter covered treats and presents.  The only downside was having to wear reindeer antlers!  Thankfully there are no photos to embarrass me.

My human brought presents back with her.  Apparently Santa left them in England so she had to bring them back with her.  I got a big tub of biscuits from Brandy's mum; some doggie chocolates and bling for my collar from Merlot; a doggie stocking from Lin and Roger my next door neighbours and favourite dog sitters back home and a superb reindeer tug toy from Victoria, supplier of tummy rubs and cool tug toys.  Thank you all for my Christmas presents.

Snowed in

I've finally managed to dig myself out after the monster snow storm that hit last week. I thought I'd gone blind - I came out of my kennel and all I could see was white! As it turns out I wasn't blind, it was because the snow was so deep - 27 inches deep to be precise. I'm only 2 feet tall! Thankfully my hoteliers have dug paths for me so I can pee without freezing my bits off. I've had such a great time playing in the snow. We've been tobogganing - I love to run along side the sled, made snow angels and built snow dogs. Its brilliant!

Holiday

You will be pleased to know my paw is fully fixed and I'm now on my holidays. My human has left me for the cold and snow of the England and I get to spend three weeks, yes, 3 whole weeks on holiday. I'm boarding next to a lovely black lab called Lucy she's quite a bit younger than me but I can still hold my own when it comes to running around the field.

My human has been moaning about the weather back home - apparently they had a bit of snow and half the country ground to a halt. It's been really cold here, especially at night but the doggie hotel is heated, I've got a blanket and now I'm carrying an extra few pounds I'm toastie warm.

Did I mention I've put on 9lbs since I arrived here? That's 4kgs in new money! I know, fat dog. If I keep this up I'll need lipo suction before I can show my fur back in the UK. It's lack of exercise. I used to run for miles through the fields: now it's a 30 minute on lead walk around the lake. It's just not the same. Oh and the hot dogs, burgers, ice creams and dog biscuits covered in peanut butter probably don't help but hey, if you can't indulge when you are on holiday when can you?

Drugs

I don't know what drugs the vet gave me yesterday but they must have been strong. I dreamt that Santa rode down the main street on a fire engine....

Poorly paw update

I've spent most of the afternoon at the vets. A minor operator to have my dew claw partially removed. Between you and me I'm feeling a little sorry for myself and really tired but that's from the sedative they gave me. It still hurts but the vet says it will get better soon. I'm glad it's gone because it was becoming really annoying catching it all the time, although not quite as annoying as the plastic bag they covered my bandage in. Plastic covered paws and snow are not a good combination - I slid most of the way home. Below you can see the indignity of the plastic bag; heavily bandaged paw and me sporting the latest in designer doggie footwear. Oh heck, I've just noticed they shaved my leg as well - it's going to be -4 tomorrow, I'll freeze.

Highs and Lows

Oh boy what a weekend. We had the first snow of the winter yesterday. The weather humans said it would snow on Saturday but it was raining when I went for my morning walk. It turned to snow later on and continued all day, which would have been fine if we were staying in doors but we'd been invited to my humans friend's house. I know why we've been driving a big 4 by 4 all year - we needed it yesterday. Anyway back to the visit: they have some woods where I'm allowed to run around without my lead on. It was ACE! I haven't been let off for nearly 6 months so truly made the most of it. The snow was a bit cold but you can't pass up opportunities like that. I have picked up a bit of an injury though. I don't remember hurting myself but my dew claw is sticking out at a rather alarming angle and I keep catching it and making it bleed. My human is following me round the apartment with carpet cleaner as I keep bleeding - well she would get a place with cream carpets. It hurts like heck so I let her bandage it up to save me from catching it every time I move. Looks like we'll be paying the vet a visit in the morning. Tea and sympathy please.

Top Tip

Don't pee on trees that are wrapped in christmas lights unless you want to plunge the house into darkness and your bits to tingle. I should sue; I could have been killed.