LAST Winter I took Vinkel and Koljander on a trip to Paternoster. This beautiful seaside town is one of the oldest fishing villages on South Africa’s West Coast.
It was quite a long drive, but these two are well adjusted to travelling and they were strapped up safely on the back seat in their car-safe harnesses. These harnesses clip into the seatbelt, with enough leeway for free movement, while providing me with peace of mind that the two of them remained safe for the duration of the trip.
They settled in and snoozed for most of the way and when awake lazily looked out the window, watching our beautiful country’s landscape change. We made a few stops along the way to stretch some legs and play a game of fetch. Once in Paternoster we found the beautiful house that would be our home for a whole week.
With the fresh salty air in our noses we crossed the road and made our way straight to the beach. “We’ve swam in swimming pools and dams before, but we’ve never seen a body of water this big!” Vinkel thought back fondly. “I didn’t think it was real, it was like the water was alive, and there was no end to it!” Koljander added.
Each morning at the break of dawn we made our way to the beach, where endless play, digging, barking and swimming went on for hours. “Mom packed fresh water and a bowl for refreshment, sea water is salty!” Koljander pulls his face into a frown. “But that digging, wow, I’ve never dug like that in my life!”
Blessed with the warm winter sun, we spent our days on the beach and at pet friendly restaurants. We explored the town, took long walks and Vinkel and Koljander ran in and out of the waves every opportunity they had. It did wonders for my soul watching them have the time of their lives.
Vinkel and Koljander basked in the sun and in the late afternoons each were treated to a warm wash down and dried thoroughly to get them warm and ready for evenings filled with snuggles by the fireside. I’ve never seen them sleep the way they did after a day at a beach, running and barking in their sleep!
Traveling with pets is great fun and this was an unforgettable holiday. There all sorts of products available that makes travelling with pets safe and comfortable. To keep the direct sun off of them I used car window shades. I also kept a bottle of water, a bowl and some wet wipes handy.
With winter and colder temperatures fast approaching I’d like to remind my readers to keep your doggies warm.
Remember, if it’s cold for you, it’s cold for them! Long haired dogs like Golden Retrievers have an extra layer of fur to keep them warm, but short hair dogs can often benefit from a little jersey to aid in keeping them warm.
Cats and dogs should be kept inside during cold weather. Regardless of their amount of fur, pets are just as sensitive as humans to a drop in temperature. Provide your pets with extra warmth through clothes, blankets and heating.
Leave trimming, shaving or cutting your dog’s hair for summer, a dog’s full weight coat is another source of warmth during winter. Keep in mind, however, when trimming, that a dog’s coat is also a source of protection from the sun during summer months.
Make sure that when you bath your dog during winter months you dry them properly, and preferably bath them on a warm sunny day.
Dogs can’t communicate in the way can, it’s up to us to take the best care of them and make sure they are warm, cosy and happy this winter. After all, they are man’s (and woman’s) best friend!
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
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