If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know that getting out in nasty weather has consistently been my biggest challenge. I complain about the weather a lot. If I didn’t have the dogs to motivate me I might never go outside when the sun isn’t shining! But even they couldn’t always prevent me from making excuses.
I kept saying that if I got the dogs raincoats, I’d do better. Guess what? I’m happy to say that it worked! There are still days, especially now with winter approaching, that we might pass on a walk (we had freezing rain the other day, and we did not go out in that!), but for the most part, rainy days are no longer an excuse for me to stay inside.
Summer and early fall were crazy weather-wise around here. Summer was cool and fall was warm. When November arrived, the weather definitely turned colder, but it’s also been up and down a lot. I’ve had Luke’s winter coats out (his Gold Paw Portland Pullover is my favorite, and you can read our full review of it here), and I even almost put their Made by De raincoats away the other day, thinking we’d no longer need them.
The last week has been especially miserable. We’ve rarely seen the sunshine, and we’ve seen a lot of rain along with a little snow. Some days the ground is frozen from the cold; on others we’re slogging through the mud and puddles on our walks. While I’m not crazy about the colder weather, I welcomed it, especially after I got that tick bite recently. I had to go back to putting bug spray on the dogs while walking (we only use all-natural products), so I am ready for the ground to finally freeze and those bugs to go away!
I do have to say though, when we headed outside into the rain yesterday morning to play, the relatively warmer weather was welcome. The 40’s seemed to feel balmy after the cloudy 30’s we’d been having. I was once again glad to have those raincoats, and the dogs were happy to get outside. They couldn’t care less what the weather is, they just want to play ball!
I was glad we headed out in the rain earlier in the day. The thought had crossed my mind to wait until later when the rain might stop and there might be a little sunshine. We never did see that sun, and by the middle of the day, the wind had whipped up and the temperatures were dropping! That might have been the last hurrah for the raincoats this year but I don’t think I’ll put them away quite yet.
Those raincoats are a good idea. My niece has a Jack Russel that doesn’t like to go out in bad weather. I don’t blame her neither do I but she doesn’t like to keep her booties on. She needs them to keep her paws from freezing in the winter and burning in the summer. Any suggestions?
I used to think dog rain coats were a stupid idea. Then I moved onto a boat and I saw the light.
When we take Honey off the boat in the rain, I still have to wipe her paws and tail down. But it’s nice that her lifejacket/rain jacket (the floatation comes out so it doubles as a rain jacket) keeps her boat and belly from getting soaked.
Your pups look like they’re having a great time. So it’s great that you found something that works so well for all of you.
Anything that helps me not to make excuses is such a good thing!
That’s the one thing I really love about this raincoat, is the coverage on the belly, something a lot of coats I looked at didn’t have. How great for you that you found a combination life and rain jacket!
Happy dogs for sure! I hate cold weather – but mosquitoes and ants make me wish for the first freeze. We’ve been pretty cool recently and the ants are hanging on!
Ugh…bugs are just the worst, aren’t they? We had a lot of ants around here this year, but luckily for us those went away early (I’m hoping the birds have helped reduce the populations too, but we won’t know for sure until next year).
I never used to mind the rain, but lately, I’m not sure if it’s because we’re always walking in the dark…I just dread those rainy days. I’m glad you have had better resolve and are getting them outside. But you are right, this weather is just whack-a-doodle.
You do so much better than I do as far as getting out in the dark though…that is the one thing I just can’t bring myself to do. Luckily I’m able to walk them in daylight, and especially during hunting season I like to go a little later, not even at dusk. Our property is posted, and we wear our orange, but I still don’t trust hunters!
They can really move and groove in their jackets. Looking great!!
They do get them twisted around sometimes though, and I had to keep straightening them for pictures! LOL
I’m glad that the rain coats have made such a difference. That last photo of Cricket in hers melted my heart.
Her happy face makes my day every day. ♥
They look so happy in their coats! 🙂
The only challenge is to get them to stand still when I put them on, especially if one of them already has a ball. LOL
Luke and Cricket look good in their raincoats. Now they can play in any type of weather…well almost any.
Glad to see you’re getting out with the fur-kids. I may not enjoy the sub-zero temps and snow up to my you-know-what…but I go out in it for the dogs. And making them happy is the name of the game around my house. Besides, m house is too small and they’d make me nuts in the small quarters without proper exercise. 😁
Cricket would probably be content to just nap all day, at least on some days, but Luke has to get moving every single day!
Oh yea, that looks like a big bunch of happy!!!
What adorable raincoats! Living in the Pacific Northwest coast we get TONS of rain, so we totally understand!
I bet your crew would (or does) look adorable in raincoats!
they look so cute in their rain gear!
I’m with you re the weather! My least favorite is a cold (>40F), windy, rainy day. Shadow pretty much agrees with me (because it effects her arthritis big time), but Ducky doesn’t care about the weather at all. Thank goodness we have the treadmill!
Weather doesn’t seem to effect Cricket’s arthritis much, not so it’s noticeable anyway, so we’re lucky as far as that goes. A treadmill is definitely on my wish list (see our post tomorrow).
I totally love it!!! I currently hate the weather… but we go out no matther whether weather ;o)