The Off Season

The dogs do not run year-round. Once temperatures are consistently above 50º F, our season officially ends. In the North Country, this usually means early May through late August is the off season. During the warm months, the dogs blow their undercoats, eat less, and relax more. After running hundreds of miles, they totally deserve their summer break. (And maybe I do, too.)

That’s not to say the off season is completely uneventful. When they’re not sunbathing outside or napping under the air conditioner, the dogs will accompany me on hikes, zoom around their huge enclosed play yard, or go swimming in a nearby reservoir. Keeping them happy, healthy, and fulfilled is a year round activity.

When temperatures get really hot, the dogs don’t want to do much outdoors—especially exercise. This often results in zoomies and wrestling matches in the air conditioned dog-den. To help expel some of this cooped-up energy, we now have a DogPacer treadmill so the dogs can run indoors, even when it’s 90ºF out!