Paths in the Snow

 Cooperatively, the dogs and I blazed some trails in our snowy backyard (aka the Arctic Circle). The blizzards brought more snow than we've seen in years. It's over the dogs' heads – yes, even Talos'!

The dogs were having trouble getting anywhere, and consequently, the area close to the house was, well, their bathroom. 

In an effort to:

1. relieve some boredom
2. ease my stir-craziness
3. have fun with the dogs
4. get some cardiovascular exercise and
5. move the doggie bathroom further from the house

I layered up and ventured into the snowy tundra. 

The dogs were excited when they saw me put my snow boots on. A walk, a walk! 

Well, kinda.

I trudged around the backyard like the Abominable Snowman, lurching forward one step at a time through feet of snow. 

Tango, the handsome yellow Lab, loved this new game. On my heels (literally!) with every step, he was my right-hand-man. Or should that be right-paw-dog… Anyway, he liked it. 

The longer-legged dogs, Nemo and Talos, found it easier to get through the snow. While still an effort, they could – if they got up enough momentum – leap through the snow like deer and forge ahead of me. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure which of us enjoyed that more – the dogs or me. I liked it because they blazed the trail for me when the lurched ahead. They liked it because, well, I'm not sure why, actually. It looked like a lot of hard work to me. But trust me, they loved it!

Anyway, the cooperative effort worked. I did relieve my boredom, I did ease my stir-craziness, I did have fun with the dogs, I definitely got my cardiovascular exercise, and I did move the doggie bathroom further from the house. 

But best of all, the dogs and I found a new way to enjoy this snow and each other. I loved watching them cavort and sniff, run and jump, and especially follow my tracks inquisitively, as if we were discovering uncharted territory together. Life is much more fun with dogs to share it.