My dog was built for water. He’s a swimmer. During a few tentative minutes his first time in the lake where his head spent more time under water than above it, I thought we may have gotten the only Labrador Retriever on the planet who was about to drown. Fortunately, he caught on and has never looked back. He loves living on the lake and swims any chance he gets.
But, what does he do in the winter with the lake frozen over and temps hovering around zero? Fortunately, he’s also built for the cold so the temps don’t bother him but getting exercise in during the more limiting winter months can be more challenging.
These pictures are a throw back to a fun day spent playing in the snow after a heavy winter storm almost ten years ago. We tried throwing tennis balls for him to retrieve but they all quickly disappeared into the drifts of snow and without more balls to throw we improvised and discovered that he liked chasing snowballs even more. He never did retrieve one even though he never stopped trying.
It was fun to dig out these pictures. My pup is still with us but he’s much older and a little slower these days. He occasionally has bursts of energy but not as often or as sustained. He’s more content to snuggle on the couch or lay in front of the fireplace, but on this perfect winter day all he wanted to do was chase snowballs.
Do you have a dog? How do you keep them active during the winter?
I’m participating in a Blogging A-Z Challenge for April 2018. I will be posting new content every day this month except most Sundays. Each post is associated with a letter of the alphabet, starting with A and ending with Z. My theme for the challenge is Winters in Maine. To read more of my A to Z posts, click HERE.
Weekends in Maine 
I’m with him on the “snuggle on the couch by a fireplace” idea! But it does look like he had fun with the snowballs.
Dena
https://denapawling.blogspot.com/
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Yes, I enjoy that option too!
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I feel cold just looking at those pictures and all that pristine (deep) white snow that he so happily raced all over and jumped into – a much braver soul than I am!
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
D for Don’t Give Up
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Labs are designed for cold temps although now that he’s older he does get cold sometimes.
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So cute!
Choppy and I just brave the cold and get our walks in (barring those VERY cold temperatures, when I hit the treadmill and wish for warmer days).
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You and Choppy do awesome with all the walks you go on.
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Awww! I have an assistance dog who has both labrador and poodle in her, both with water-loving heritage, but she won’t poke so much as a pinkie toe in the water. However, she does love snow, despite getting her curls all fur-balled! Liz http://www.poetryroundabout.com
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Cute mix! Funny that she doesn’t like swimming but does love the snow. My lab loves both the water and snow. Basically, he’s happy if he’s outside.
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Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing 🙂 My Rotties keep themselves entertained, but on cold winter nights they do like sleeping inside the comforters they’ve taken from my bed (yeah, I’ve given up that battle).
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I’ve given up many battles with my pup. He doesn’t steel the comforters but does love lounging in front of the fireplace after being outside in the chilly weather.
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I love the one with them looking at each other. So cute.
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He is laser focused on the Chuckit! to see where the snowball will go.
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Oh what a beautiful woof, we have a basset hound who is scared of snow perhaps because his legs aren’t long enough to enjoy it!
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I can see where being low to the ground would not be an asset in deep snow. Mine is crazy about the snow.
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Look at those pictures! Incredible! My Muffy would love him 🙂
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It was so fun to find these pictures from his younger days. My vet describes him as one of those dogs who “loves life so much”. It’s true!
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Some year I am going to live where I can experience snow like this … just once 🙂
LOVE the photos and I have a special place in my heart for yellow labs. We had a male and female who provided us with three beautiful litters.
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Lab puppies are so cute. I just saw a little black lab pup today and she was adorable.
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What a great idea, Karen. I can imagine the number of balls you’d find after the snow melts if you used real balls.
I don’t have a dog myself but if I did, they would find little difference between summer and winter. However, during the hot months here, I do see a lot more dogs playing in ocean waves than during the cooler months.
Emily In Ecuador | Dolphins – Puerto Lopez
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Swimming is one of my pups all time favorite activities although chasing snowballs was a good winter option.
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Oh he’s just adorable. We don’t have a dog anymore but when we did he was terrified of the snow. Crazy really as Labradors are meant to be built for the stuff!
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There are a lot of dogs who don’t like the snow although usually not labs but each one has their own unique personality so you never know.
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Wonderful photos!! Our Goldendoodles love the cooler weather and have fun in the little bit of snow we get here in TN. Cooper, who is 3/4 Poodle, comes in with snowballs all around his feet. We have to use warm water to get them off. LOL! Murphy, who is only 1/4 Poodle, 1/4 Golden Retriever and 1/2 Rough Collie, only get the snow caught in his beard.
Donna B McNicol, author & traveler
Romance & Mystery…writing my life
A-Z Flash Fiction Tales: http://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com
A-Z of Goldendoodles: http://ourprimeyears.blogspot.com
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While it sounds stressful to get the snowballs off his feet, it must be quite a site to see.
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Oh, that sweet puppy face! So expectant while waiting for the snowball to be thrown. And the excitement shows from nose to tail when the snowball was thrown as he tried to retrieve it. Good dog!
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He was laser focused that day. It’s a great memory!
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