Welcome back, everyone! For you first-time readers, happy to have you here!
This blog is dedicated to those dog lovers across central Ohio. Unless you have a large backyard, many of you probably walk your dog, or dogs, on a daily basis, and maybe even multiple times a day.
The purpose and goal of this blog is to help those dog walkers and their furry friends make the most out of their walks outside while being safe at the same time.
So, let's start things off with a look at what I call the "Comfort Scale."
You will notice on the images below there are certain colors that go with each time period/day of the week for the "Furr-cast." I developed this scale on my own, using several meteorological variables and some pet-friendly considerations.
You will see that the color "green" on the image above suggests that conditions are ideal for walking your pet and that there are no risks to either you or your pet, so walk all you want!
This brings me to the next level on the scale, which is a yellowish-orange color. This shows conditions are fair outside but you should still keep an eye on your pet. This is where the breed of your pet also comes into play. I'm not an expert on dogs but I know a Siberian Husky can withstand colder temperatures than a Chihuahua.
This is up to the owner to decide if the conditions are fair enough that they could take more casual, longer walks outside.
Lastly, we have the last ranking on the scale, which shows outside conditions are poor and pet owners should keep their walks short. Dangerous weather is developing or already present and pet owners should take action to make sure that their pets are properly taken care of. This shouldn't be used to decide whether or not you should go outside; but more so an indicator that you should take shorter, more frequent walks.
Now that we have a look at the method behind the comfort scale, let's take a look at this weekends "Furr-cast."
Monday: More sunshine to kick off the week with highs in the low 40's. Great time to head out for a longer walk would be in the afternoon!
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and dry, with highs in the low 40's. Take advantage of your walks during the afternoon hours.
Wednesday: Coldest day of the week! Highs in the 30's with wind chills in the teens at times. Keep your walk short and sweet.
Thursday: Some sunshine and temperatures near 50. Great weather to get out to your local dog park for a few hours.
Friday: Record-breaking potential for warmth as highs get close to 60, but widespread rain will keep your walks short this day.
This Weekend: Off to another wet and mild start, keep those paws dry after your walks.
Cold Weather Tips Courtesy: NWS Riverton
Know the signs before you subject you and your pet to the cold weather. Many dogs love the cold & snowy weather but there are also many breeds that aren't built to be outside for prolonged amounts of time.
The "Barking Message" for this week week:
- Take advantage of the dry and unseasonably warm conditions this week.
- 50 degree weather is perfect for you and your pet to spend the afternoon in.
- Widespread rain coming to town late this week into the upcoming weekend!
Each Monday, I will be posting a new "Furr-cast" for the weekend and week ahead and I would like to feature some of your pets on my blog. Also, if you have any suggestions or comments on my blog, I'd love to hear input. Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter and Facebook at Ross10tv. Enjoy the weekend and week ahead, furr-parents.
