Cascadian Nomads
  • Pet Adventure Blog
  • Cascadia- About Our Area
  • Nomads- About Us
    • Cascadian Nomads Advertising Opportunities
  • Humans
  • Canines
  • Psittacines
  • Felines
  • Contact

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful, But Holiday Decoration Admiring Fit Dog Time's Delightful

12/12/2014

15 Comments

 
Typist: Bethany
I love everything about this time of year in Cascadia. The natural light (or lack thereof) in the sky seems magical and I especially appreciate the early sunsets. The skeletons of leafless deciduous trees make more obvious the majesty of the Evergreen State's namesake plants. I love the seasons stormy weather. The wind makes massive white caps on Puget Sound that match the fresh snow on the Olympic Mountains. The clouds blow past and make more breathtaking light or dump copious amounts of rain. I even love the rain. Seriously. Everything feels so clean and fresh when showered and blown off by nature's fall festivals. All of these late autumn spectacles are made even more stunning by people's festive holiday decorations. Nothing can keep me inside! Wind, rain, sleet or snow, day or night, I am out with fit dogs Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley seeking fun holiday displays to admire.
Picture
I was saddened earlier this week when I read an article about holiday activities to do with dogs that suggested drive through holiday light displays. Road trips are, of course, one of my very favorite things to do ever but why waste time sitting idly in the car to admire holiday decorations when there could instead be much needed fit dog time? I have many, many holiday traditions that I share with my dogs but the one's that involve exercise are all of our favorites. So since the dogs and I spend countless fit dog hours wandering our city from late November to early January seeking fabulous holiday decorations, I thought perhaps we could inspire others to get out and do some holiday walking. Here are season display seeking tips to help get out for fit dog time and enjoy the seasons spectacles despite the weather:
You Would Even Say It Glows
When going out seeking holiday light displays, be sure to bring plenty of light. I am always sorry when I forget to put clip on collar lights on the dogs. Particularly if we happen upon a popular, crowded holiday display, the dogs are much safer when well lit. It is especially inconvenient when I forget a flashlight or headlamp and have to clean up dog poop by iPhone flash. In an effort to never forget light essentials, I keep the clip on collar lights and a flashlight with the leashes and poop bags. Speaking of poop bags...

He Only Paused A Moment When He Heard Him Holler "STOP"
The weather is awful. It is dark. The walk is going to be short. But none of these things excuses not being prepared for the possibility of dog poop happening. Absolutely nothing spoils a lovely holiday display more than a left behind pile of dog poop. So remember poop bags and never, ever. ever fail to stop, stoop and scoop!

City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks, Dressed In Holiday Cheer
There are also a lot of dangerous chemicals on the decorated roads and sidewalks for holiday fit dog walking. I prepare the dogs for inevitable tracking through dangerous deicing pellets by putting a paw balm on them before we leave the house.

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel
If it is forty degrees Fahrenheit or below, Wilhelm has to wear a coat. He hates it but it keeps him happily trotting along on holiday decoration seeking outings. Since we never know what weather might blow through, Jason and I always prepare for cold and possible precipitation. Although it is very un-Seattle but I have even been known to carry an umbrella.

The World Is Your Snowball, See How It Grows
Not only is it wise to be prepared for anything while out for fit dog decoration seeking but it is also best to have the house prepared for when you return. If it is cold out, I set the thermostat to heat up the house a bit more around the time I expect the dogs and I will return home. If there is even a slight chance of rain or the ground is wet, I place a stack of rags just at the inside of the door so I am set up to dry wet, muddy dogs. I also get the bathroom ready to have a paw rinsing session if we happen to walk through a lot of dangerous winter street chemicals.
Picture
Picture
Sometimes I plan fit dog holiday decoration outings for specific neighborhood displays. Other times I make a sort of treasure hunt out of our decoration seeking walk (like the day we sought out as many Bumble's as possible, pictured above.) Most of the time, the dogs, Jason and I just weave through the streets searching for hidden gem holiday decoration wonderlands. The dogs not only get much needed exercise but they get to sniff out strange new streets as well as enjoy mental stimulation while posing for photos. Even if I didn't like the weather, how could I deny my dogs much needed exercise and bonding time? Fit dog time should be a year round tradition and holiday decoration display adventures are just one more way to keep our healthy pet commitment going year round. No matter what the weather is like or what kinds of holiday decorations we find, fit dogs are beautiful.
What fit dog holiday traditions do you have? Do you enjoy dog friendly holiday lighting and decoration walks?
Share this post:

Tweet


Fit Dog Friday Blog Hop Badge
15 Comments
Emma link
12/11/2014 07:56:58 pm

That is funny as your post is so like mine today! Thankfully in MN our winter weather is usually snowy, but real dry, so we rarely need to get ourselves dried off. Mom so looks forward to walking the light displays with us every year. So many homes decorate within a few miles of us, we don't need to drive anywhere, and there aren't any traffic problems either because although the displays are great, they aren't the "very best" in the Twin Cities. Keep on walking!

Reply
Molly The Wally link
12/11/2014 08:27:47 pm

We agree far nicer to walk out and about and check out the lights and a treasure hunt sounds a marvellous way of making it interactive. Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
2 Brown Dawgs link
12/11/2014 09:21:03 pm

Great tips. I have to admit that I am not a fan of walking at night. I will be happy once the days start getting longer again.

Reply
Slimdoggy link
12/11/2014 09:55:48 pm

What a great inspiration - to combine two great activities. We don't have many lights in our neighborhood...but we could drive to another place where they have them...just might do that this weekend.

Reply
Beth link
12/11/2014 10:23:23 pm

What a fun post! We don't live in a neighborhood where it's a good idea to walk after dark, so our holiday enjoyment walks are limited--but we do like walking around during the day and seeing all of the different displays, especially in the store windows! Thanks for sharing such good ideas for enjoying the holidays with our pups!

Reply
Gilligan link
12/12/2014 12:46:55 am

I can barely contain myself! Just a quick comment, then we're heading out for walkies right NOW! *wags*

Reply
Talent Hounds link
12/12/2014 01:38:45 am

Love seeing all the lights at night, it's so beautiful.

Reply
Oz the Terrier link
12/12/2014 04:21:34 am

Oh, what a great post! I hope it encourages everyone to get out there, get some exercise while seeing the wonderful holiday decorations safely!
Happy Friday!
Oz
P.S. I think my toy would suit any size paw and nose. You have to use your mouth to get the bones out...and after that, your paw or your mouth to open the drawers. I shove my whole face in the drawer but really, one just needs an agile tongue to get the treats out!

Reply
Laika link
12/12/2014 05:16:07 am

Vaks always ware a coat with reflective tape, and my leash is also reflective.

Reply
Tenacious Little Terrier link
12/12/2014 06:45:41 am

The racetrack here has Christmas lights and they have a dog walking night where you can bring your dog to walk around the track. And you use an umbrella... shame on you lol!

Reply
Diane @ To Dog With Love link
12/12/2014 07:59:41 am

Those are some great tips, and ideas. We haven't done too many holiday lights walks but we'll need to get out and do that!

Reply
KB link
12/12/2014 09:09:04 am

It sounds like you do a great job of getting in good walks at this time of year. Our tradition is to try to see as many sunrises as we can, because that lifts my spirits about the long nights!

Reply
Hawk aka BrownDog link
12/12/2014 09:46:47 am

Hi Y'all,

Livin' in very rural areas, sidewalks are non existent, roads narrow and speed limits usually 55 mph. In the mountains there is nowhere to get off the road. Houses can be miles apart, especially here in the low country, and few are lit, even though almost all that have full time residents have a wreath on the door or perhaps a Christmas tree near a window. After dark walkin' is hazardous to you very life in our areas.

Y'all are lucky to have an area where you can walk after dark and see lights.

Merry Christmas!
Hawk aka BrownDog

Reply
Bethany
12/12/2014 09:51:10 am

Not all of our holiday decoration fit dog time is at night but you're right that in rural areas, decorations can be far between. You get to enjoy natural wonders of the season while staying fit in your area, Hawk, and I love seeing your humans photos!

Reply
noodlecat link
12/13/2014 01:46:41 am

We agree!
Being in Seattle we just had the rain and wind on Thursday eek!
Have a great weekend with all this nice sunshine...

Noodle and crew
www.herecomesnoodle.blogspot.com

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Cascadian Nomads
    Pet Adventurers

    Cascadian Nomads adventurous dogs and parrot with pet and travel blogger, Bethany Clochard.
    Cascadian Nomads canines and psittacine on a road trip with blogger Bethany Clochard.
    Pet travel blogger Bethany Clochard shares a lifetime of budget travel experience, camping, and enjoying outdoors & Pacific NW adventures with pets. She currently hits the road with three dogs, a cockatoo & a cat.
    Related
    Instagram Follow on Instagram
    Picture


    Follow on Bloglovin
    follow us in feedly
    Picture

    Never miss a post! Have Cascadian Nomads Pet Adventure Blog delivered to your inbox:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


      Get our e-mail newsletter:

    Sign-Up

    Find anything on our site by searching here:
    Click any sidebar image to learn more!

    Cascadian Nomads only places ads for products we use, made by businesses we like. We highly recommend a click to
    visit our sponsors:
    (not affiliate links)
    WrapSit Quad Folding Chair Slipcover
    WrapSit is the ONLY slipcover crate for your folding quad chair. It makes taking pets and personal items outside or on a trip exponentially easier!


    Join us on the First Monday of Every Month!
    Positive Pet Training Week

    Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week
    Hosted by Cascadian Nomads, Tenacious Little Terrier,
    Travels with Barley, and
    Wag n' Woof Pets.

    Picture
    Celebrate #MultiPetDay June 30th

    Categories

    All
    Adventures
    Amelia
    A To Z Challenge
    Awards
    Birds
    Black & White Photography
    Blog The Change For Animals
    Brychwyn
    Budget Travel
    Camping
    Cascadia
    Cats
    Celebrations
    Cockatoo
    Collie
    Corgi
    Cross Country Drive 2013
    Dachshund
    Dogs
    England & Wales 2014
    Fit Dog Friday
    Giveaway
    Holidays
    Humans Who Love Pets
    Huxley
    Leash-law
    Leo
    Multi Pet Life
    Peeks At The Past
    Pet Fitness
    Pet Health
    Pet Training
    Pet Travel
    Photography
    Planning Pet Adventures
    Positive Pet Training Week
    Product Review
    Road Trip
    Scoop That Poop
    Seattle
    Silliness
    Southwest-drive-2014
    Sponsored Post
    Urban Hikes
    Walk Your Dog Week
    What To Pack
    Wilhelm
    Woof-support
    Wordless Wednesday


    The Cascadian Nomads are:
    Cascadian Nomads Bethany with the dogs and Leo at Wilson's Arch, Moab, Utah
    Cascadian Nomads triton cockatoo Leo enjoys the sunshine in West Seattle, Washington, Cascadia
    Cascadian Nomads adventurous cat Amelia enjoying the view in West Seattle, Washington, Cascadia
    Cascadian Nomads black and tan dapple miniature dachshund
    Cascadian Nomads cardigan welsh corgi Brychwyn, Alpental, Washington, Cascadia
    Cascadian Nomads rough collie Huxley enjoying the green at Lopez Hill Park, Lopes Island, Washington, Cascadia
    Cascadian Nomads Jason with miniature dachshund Wilhelm snowshoeing Silver Fir Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, Cascadia
    Cascadian Nomads founding pets:
    Cascadian Nomads Founding Pets: Cockatiel Bobbie Birdie, cats Emily and Gryphon and dog Tynan.

    Features & Awards

    See products on this blog you like? Find all of our favorites on our Amazon Influencer page!
    Picture

    Bethany Clochard (@cascadiannomads) - influencer profile on Dealspotr
    dealspotr.com

    © Copyrighted Content
    Posts, words, photos or images from or featured on this blog may not be copied, reused or reproduced in any form without the prior express permission from the blog owner.

    The Doug

    The Fine Print
    For more on Cascadian Nomads privacy policy, advertising disclosure and responsibilities to our readers and visitors, click here.

Disclaimer
Cascadian Nomads are not veterinarians, behaviorists or animal trainers. Always consult with a veterinarian before starting or changing your pets exercise routine, before traveling with your pet, before changing your pets diet or before using any new pet products. Since all pets are unique individuals, consulting with a veterinarian, behaviorist or animal trainer about your pets specific needs is always recommended.
Disclosure
Every post  Cascadian Nomads publishes that is sponsored by a company or brand or obtained through an affiliation with a media network will contain a disclosure paragraph.  We do not use any affiliate links,  just regular links to a product or company website.  Cascadian Nomads only shares honest information that we feel is relevant to our readers whether a post is sponsored or not.
Privacy Policy
Cascadian Nomads does not share personal information with third-parties nor do we store information we collect about your visit to this blog for use other than to analyze content performance for marketing purposes. We do use cookies and add-ons, which you can turn off at anytime by modifying your Internet browser's settings or opt out of  add-ons. We are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice.
Copyrighted Content
Posts, words, photos or images from or featured on this blog may not be copied, reused or reproduced in any form without the prior express permission from the blog owner.

©2013-18
BethanyGO Designs


Cascadian Nomads Pet Adventure Blog: Budget pet adventure inspiration through stunning photography and amusing dog, cat, cockatoo and human stories.