A funny thing happened on the way to New Hampshire. Our Montana-hardy dogs turned into a bunch of complete weather wusses. For dogs who were used to frequent outbreaks of sustained sub-zero temperatures all winter long, they now act as if they'd just moved here from Florida. It's like 20° above (-6 C) has become the new 20° below (-29 C). When I took that photo this morning, it was 16° and they'd been out for just a few minutes ... but by the way they were trying to get back inside, you'd think we'd abandoned them on an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean.
That's blind Cedar and blind and deaf Spinner closest to the door; the blind Poodle sisters had been there, too, but turned when they heard me come up with the camera. That's blind Madison behind Molly. Back at the ranch in Montana, Cedar would happily be wandering the yard at Widget's House in a raging snowstorm, seemingly oblivious to the elements, and we'd have to go out and bring him inside. Now we have to peel him off the door. As for Spinner ... you might think a blind and deaf dog wouldn't be able to communicate much, but she sits at the door and howls to be let inside ... starting approximately 45 seconds after being put outside.
How they do this weekend will be interesting to see, because we're finally going to get a taste of some Montana-style winter -- Sunday night is forecast to be -19°. I suspect the dogs will be saying, "Hey, we're from Orlando, not Ovando!"
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Everyone had my answer so I will add this thought.
Think of skiing in powder in the west and Ice in the east!!!
Posted by: miss B | January 23, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Yes, they may be weather wussies but they are cute weather wussies!
Posted by: Nina | January 23, 2011 at 11:59 AM
I agree that it must be the humidity--we're having a week of -30C (sorry, can't do the F anymore) and it's miserable but it's dry. Add humidity and its bone chilling. Our Standard poodle enjoys being outside even these days while our mini poodle and little poodle mix hate winter--period.
Posted by: Jan from Winnipeg, Manitoba | January 22, 2011 at 12:37 AM
My 2 yorkies stand at the door just like your crew! I can't say as I blame them. Give me warmth! Great post and photo!
Posted by: Doe George- Indiana | January 21, 2011 at 04:20 PM
I AGREE WITH MARTIE - IT'S THE HUMIDITY. I LIVE IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS & IT'S LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME IN WINTER. I HAVE AN ALASKAN MALAMUTE & IT CAN'T BE COLD ENOUGH FOR HIM. HE ALWAYS MAKES ME MAD WHEN HE'S HOT AT 20 DEGREE'S & I'M FREEZING MY BUTT OFF. SPRINGS COMING. . . .
Posted by: FELICIA | January 21, 2011 at 03:12 PM
Hey, they love their new digs--what more can you ask for....too cute!!!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | January 21, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Cute!! Nice pics of the chilli dogs. Since they arrived, 5/27, there have been only 3 cat posts. Smudge on the porch, Smoke on a fence post and Molly b4 she left. 1 post of Margaret and I think only 4 of the horses. Hmmm. Maybe it is only Rollin DOG Ranch anymore. Just wondering.
Posted by: Anne | January 21, 2011 at 12:31 PM
It's the humidity....Spoken by a Wyoming native. Cold seems colder & hot seems hotter with humidity!
Posted by: Martie Crone | January 21, 2011 at 10:25 AM
LOL. I live in South Carolina - our daytime temps rarely fall below freezing. Yet when my little chihuahua/terrier mix jumps out of the dog door and feels the cold, she stops in her tracks right on the outside door mat, does her thing, and hops right back in - sigh. Guess I should be grateful she at least does it on the right side of the door...
Posted by: Amber Lipari | January 21, 2011 at 10:12 AM
I was able to get your blog added to my blog roll - now I will be able to find you anytime I want. Gotta get to work now - back later.
PS -> Love the "wusses - my Beagles are like that all the time and we have always lived in Kansas - they should be use to the snow.
Kim (mom Beaglebratz)
Posted by: Team Beaglebratz | January 21, 2011 at 08:08 AM
Yeah but it's a WET snow and not a DRY snow like in MT. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it. ;)
Posted by: Amy A | January 21, 2011 at 07:19 AM
What a trip! The crew at RDR never cease to make me smile. I love how Cedar and Spinner have their heads up staring like crazy to be let in. I'm sure the "servants" did their bidding very quickly :)
Posted by: Ann | January 21, 2011 at 04:57 AM
Admittedly, it IS that type of weather where I thought, "Spinner, wasn't that a white dog instead of a brown one???" and then I looked again and there is so much whiteness going around that I missed her completely ;). Great story, very funny!! Lovely to see that Cedar is doing well.
Posted by: Jessica, NL | January 21, 2011 at 01:22 AM
That photo and the writing in the blog made me laugh out loud. The dogs sure would hate our Minnesota winter this year!
Posted by: Betsy Olson | January 20, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Let 'em in!
Posted by: Terry | January 20, 2011 at 08:50 PM
LOL!!!! I'm a wuss too, so I can't say anything. Put me in by a warm fire and I'm great.
Posted by: Leila - Washington | January 20, 2011 at 08:49 PM
The "boys" and "girls" trapped in frozen pee... Is it possible? I'm scared...
Posted by: Mauro Salles | January 20, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Sorry but I'm siding with the dogs on this one. I was in MT once when it was -6 degrees during the day. I wore less clothes than I do at 20 above in WA. I think MT is less humid so it doesn't feel as cold?
Posted by: Linda | January 20, 2011 at 07:53 PM
I'm thinking it's wet cold, rather than dry cold - bad hair (fur) weather - I know it well!
Posted by: Linda | January 20, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Mine are wusses too. And I don't even live in the snow. LOL On a sunny day they want back in. HA!
Posted by: Anita Schlom | January 20, 2011 at 06:54 PM
Guess their blood has thinned out like Floridians and now they are chilled easier. ;)
Posted by: Rhonda | January 20, 2011 at 06:52 PM
I noticed General Widget is not in this "sissy" mob. She's probably toughing it out patroling the perimeter, cold weather or not. A beagle's work is never done! lol (can you tell the "Widge" is my favourite?)
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | January 20, 2011 at 06:38 PM
The poodle girls are growing out nicely since their NH "butch."
Posted by: Reta Davis | January 20, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Oh, how funny! If it were just one dog being a weather sissy I could understand, but so many of them? Maybe it started with one dog and the other dogs got "mass hysteria." Who knows? Canine thinking is always a funny thing. Have a great weekend, folks!
Posted by: Moon Rani | January 20, 2011 at 05:32 PM
So the second you finished taking this photo you let those babies inside, right??? :-)
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | January 20, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Too cute!! I'm interested in seeing how they do with the week-end weather! It's supposed to snow here in Claremont - so, I'm guessing you'll get some up there in the north country.
Posted by: Sara | January 20, 2011 at 04:19 PM