Tag: dog boots

A New Sound! Clippity Clop.

On By Glenice SIn Cochlear ImplantLeave a comment

It is warming up here. Yesterday it felt nice enough to get Yates out for a walk. I made sure he had his boots on to protect his paws and that it was warm enough to feel comfortable that his ears and tail would not get frostbite. 

Often I will put on my FM neck loop that sends a signal to my implant processors that have a built in telecoil to catch the signal. I plug the FM loop into my phone and wear the loop around my neck. With this system I can listen to my favorite tunes when we walk. (For you hearing readers, this is what I use in place of ear buds or a headset.) My processors are set to deliver  50% telecoil signal and 50% microphone signals so that I still get environmental sound. My audiologist felt it was important to not shut out the environment completely and a 100% telecoil setting would do that. Even so, on this day, since Yates and I had not been on a walk for a few days, I decided to leave the music off and just listen to Yates and the world. 

Yates was a little reluctant at first about getting his boots put on. With encouragement and cookie rewards, he cooperated. When all four paws were covered, he stood up and seemed ready to get outside and walking. The sun was shining and with no wind, it felt pretty good to be out of the house. 

Boots on – ready to go!

Out the door and on our way, we headed towards the neighborhood school where I knew the path and sidewalks were dry. On the street we stayed close to the curb and in the snow to avoid ice. Once we got to the dry path, we picked up our pace and Yates trotted along. Without music to distract me, I listened to our walk and there was a new sound. Clop, clop, clop, clop, clippity clop, clop, clop, clop – it sounded like I had a little pony trotting beside me! Enjoying his walk and briskly stepping along, it was Yates boots as they tapped the dry pavement. Oh how fun! Something new, something different and a reminder of my Joy in Hearing! I smiled to myself and savored the sound.

As the days get warmer, Yates will wear boots on our walks until it is 20 degrees above as that seems to be the temperature at which he doesn’t display cold paws by stopping and holding them up. We will clop, clop, clop along, listening to our own little song of walking in the neighborhood – grateful for dry paths and the varied sounds of life-making music.

Yates Wears Boots

On By Glenice SIn Cochlear ImplantLeave a comment

I try to get Yates out for a walk every day. We shoot for three miles a day and usually can manage that. In November, December and January, we enjoyed mild winter temperatures making it possible for Yates and me to go on long walks. But – it is Minnesota and the cold temperatures were looming. 

I consulted our training coaches regarding cold weather walks with Yates as I was looking at boots for Yates and wanted to be sure it would be worth trying. Elizabeth shared very good detailed information about cold weather paw protection.  About a week before the cold snap hit, I ordered boots for Yates. They arrived just as the weather was turning colder.

Prepared with cookies and patience, I worked with Yates to get them on his paws. Although I don’t think it is kind to laugh at dogs or children, it was comical. My daughter was watching and she took some video. 

That first day, I couldn’t get Yates out of the driveway. We went inside, took his boots off and did a short walk. It was short because his paws were cold, he started lifting them so we had to go home.  On the second day it was easier to get his boots on and we managed to go around the block. With this walk he was discovering that he could walk normally. On the third day we went around a bigger block. He seemed to be getting more comfortable in his boots. The fourth day we headed for one of his favorite walks around the neighborhood school. He seemed to be enjoying himself; however it was just too cold and he started nudging me before we got very far. We turned around and headed home. 

Yesterday was pretty cold and I had been playing with Yates and thinking I would take him to a big box store in the evening if he was really restless. At around 4:00 pm he was really working at me for attention. I said to my daughter, “He really wants to go for a walk.” I got his boots out. There was absolutely no resistance from Yates when I was putting them on. He wanted his walk. So – with  boots on Yates and myself bundled up we headed for the path around the school. Yates trotted right along and made a few stops at his favorite sniffing spots. We managed to get around the whole block and then home, totaling 1.5 miles. 

We will get through this cold snap and still get some exercise and fresh air. Bundled up and boots on, there is no stopping us. Happy Winter!