Shivering Bottom

Weather is my biggest nemesis, and has caught me out a number of times now.  As I'm writing this sat in my nicely heated house, I can see a beautiful snow covered field out of the window, and it makes me smile, that is until I realise that I have to take the lovely Lilly out in it another three times today (we've already done the morning walk).

As plenty of reviews have shown we are not short of warm weather gear in the Turner household, but I still don't relish the getting suited'n'booted aspect of dog walking. It is such a phaff!

First up there is the 'How cold or warm is it?' question. Do I really need three layers, wooly hat and gloves, or is the cool crispness fooling me, and as soon as I walk a hundred metres I'll need to turn back as I overheat in the bright winter sun?

Then there is the choice of footwear - walking boots, wellies or arctic-style moon boots. Is the ground dry, wet, frozen or, as I walk her in a forested park, is it all three? My Adesso boots, that I reviewed in the last issue, have proved remarkably good in most conditions so far, and have saved me from going arse-over-tit many times whilst sliding about on wet fallen leaves, but I did have to grab for my trusty Muck Boots wellies during a couple of monsoon-like downpours that made the ground into a squelchy bog.

And that's just me, next we have Lilly to consider. As she is a Whippet Staffy cross, she doesn't have the thickest coat, and she has a little bald pink belly, so I am always bothered that she'll be cold. I'm in a couple of Lurcher Facebook groups, and many owners recount stories of their dogs shivering in the house and screaming bloody murder if they are made to step foot out in the cold. Many  of these tales are accompanied by gorgeous photos of dogs in full pyjamas, padded winter coats, jumpers and even winter bootees.

Damian has warned me that he definitely won't walk Lilly if I dress her up in 'embarrassing' outfits, but her shivering bottom has made him acquiesce a little, and a very understated grey fleece lined dog jacket has been purchased for cold winter wanderings, though I'm not ruling out getting her a Christmas jumper for the big day (shhh, don't tell Damian).