Fun in the snow

The snow is melting fast. It slid off the newly painted metal roof in an avalanche, but what remained on the unheated front porch roof formed huge icicles--some 3 feet long. It began warming up just a day or so after the snow, so the dogs are enjoying the warm weather and the wet snow.

Cabell, Bremo, Molly, and Zachary had a big romp in the pasture this morning. The first day Zach hurt his leg, probably from sliding on crusty, frozen snow, but today it is soft and wet so everyone came back wet but uninjured.

Today is my day off so I had more time at home than usual and was able to get Bear, Jeep, and Lyka out to the pasture for several hours as well. With a thin coat and no excess body fat, Jeep is the least fond of cold weather, but he loves running in the pasture, snow or no snow.

Bear is from West Virginia and had been living outdoors, and he really seems to love the snow. He's been wanting to stay outside in the doghouse in the dog yard instead of going into the shed at night since the snow.

Bear plays Rottweiler Ball. It is a one-dog game, no participation is welcome from other dogs. It is ok if I get a kick in every once in a while, but mostly it is a spectator sport for humans. Bear plays with the ball and I watch. He does prefer to have an audience while he plays, however, and will always break it off if I walk away. Our Jack played Rottweiler Ball and introduced us to the game. Jack used either a bowling ball or a large, hard plastic ball. Bear seems to prefer the better grip he gets with a basketball.

Bear also plays the winter version of Food Dish Game. This is another rottweiler favorite and consists of pushing an empty food dish around with the nose, like a hockey puck. Jack would do it on a concrete floor. Bear used the frozen surface of the snow and apparently considers it to be a winter sport.