Doggy, it's cold outside! It's time to bundle up our canine friends.

I don't know about where you live . . . but this past week in the Pacific Northwest has been unseasonably cold. Super cold, in fact! We had snow cover the ground and linger for days - something that is quite unusual for us PNW folk in the first week of November.

Even Bronte, who is always up for any and all weather, ended our morning trail walk early by turning around mid-destination and heading for the homefront this past week. "Smart dog!" I told her. She knows when to call it quits and to head for her bed by the fireplace.

We hear and read a lot about proper dog care in the heat of summertime - concerns about dehydration, sun exposure, or being left in a vehicle - but I don't hear a lot about winter care. Perhaps this lack of focus assumes that our common sense will rule or that our dogs will let us know if they are too cold or that dogs are more resistant to cold weather than we are.

This excellent article [15 Winter Care Tips for Your Dog] talks about winter cold and dog care. It shares winter care tips that will make your pup more comfortable when outdoors and indoors. Some of the tips are simply common sense such as checking the temperature before heading out the door . . . to other tips that focus on feeding, dehydration, grooming, and paw care.

At first appearance, Bronte is an incredibly hearty and robust soul who is ready for any outdoor adventure . . . but she also has a really short coat. After reading this article, I am going coat shopping to ensure that she is super comfy when we head out into the winter's chill on our daily walks.

Anything we can do to anticipate the effects of winter's cold will make our best friends much more comfortable. It's a glorious and beautiful time of the year to be outdoors and such a feast for the senses. It is my goal to make both of us comfortable on our winter walks this season.