Ready to play
Ready or not, the snow has arrived, and that can mean challenges for dog owners not lucky enough to own a northern breed.

How does your dog do in the snow, and what precautions do you take to make it a pleasant experience? Are there any problems you haven't been able to solve? Lastly, any pet peeves with how some of your neighbors treat their dogs in the cold?

I could write a book on everything I've tried to make life tolerable for Yorkies, perhaps as ill-suited for Alaska as any breed out there. But the short version is to keep them bundled in a coat, booties and, perhaps most importantly, keep them moving. If the snow clings to their legs, I put on a long-legged coat. If they start shivering even while moving, walk's over.
She's more hovercraft than snowplow. Check out the space between footsteps.

I really seem to have gotten lucky with Jillie, my wee 7-month-old. Her first foray into the fresh snow was a positive experience. Since 11 weeks, she's been exposed to new surfaces -- everything from dirt and deep wet grass to mud and puddles. She hardly flinched when she ran into the snow.