Daschunds through the Snow
My brother has two miniature dachshunds. Non-dog aficionados will recognize them as wiener dogs. These two adorable, furry sausages on legs are typically quite a joy when we take them along for rounds of disc golf.
It's prudent at this point to offer a brief explanation of disc golf for the uninitiated. One throws a flying disc from a tee box toward a basket positioned in the distance. The Professional Disc Golf Association offers this illuminating gem: "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc."
It is the greatest game ever.
This is not only because I can throw a disc substantially farther than I can hit a golf ball (that's not saying much), but also because, unlike golf, most courses are free to play. If that weren't enough, it is apparently perfectly acceptable to bring dogs along for the round so long as they are on leashes.
Back to the dachshunds. I am compelled to admit that these harmless, well-mannered dogs are often afforded the pleasure of roaming unleashed. Even in cold weather, they bound merrily over hill and dale, frolic among squirrels and rabbits, and dig curiously at their leisure. It is a veritable delight to behold. Unfortunately, not all is well in mini-dachshund-ville when three inches of snow lie on the ground.
This has been the case here of late, yet my brother and I have ventured out undaunted. For our intrepid spirit we were rewarded with the pleasure of carrying his dogs for the duration of our round. Wiener dogs, you see, sink fast in measurable snow.
This posed a problem for future snowy outings, but a solution presented itself today in the form of a pet stroller. I had long-thought pet strollers to be pet accessories for accessory pets. Tipping the scales at around 10 lbs. apiece, my brother's dachshunds may qualify, but at least this stroller is purely for practical use.
A stroller ride may bruise the egos of young Rock Strongo and Knuckles Von Smash, but it's not like slithering around on a blanket of snow does much for them either. Oh, well. At least this way they can still get out, get some fresh air, and get back home to their cozy dog beds. And ultimately, that's what winter outings are all about.