The Off Season

The dogs do not run year-round. Once temperatures are consistently above 50º Fahrenheit, our season officially ends. Since moving to upstate New York, this usually means mid-May through mid-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 lake. Keeping them happy, healthy, and fulfilled is a year round activity.