Fall in Vancouver and Granville Island.

Ahh the leaves are changing and the air turns a bit clearer this time of year. Walks and talks and wrapping your hands around a nice cuppa something while you try to not spill it on the woolens you pulled from the closet are the things to do this time of year.
Woofles and Meowz sits pretty much at the entrance to our much visited Granville Island here in Vancouver and is often one of the first stops people will make while on those walks.
Often they are accompanied by one or more four footed friends in tow...or if we are baking here in the caboose just the other way around.
This is also the time of year when many people start thinking about some weather protection for their dog.
There are a few tips that I like to share regarding clothing for dogs:
1. If your dog is a purse-pooch who is used to wearing clothing for the fad and fashion of it then you are now at the time where warmth is the need and you will not notice so many smirks when taking FIFI for the morning constitutional.
2. Athletic people who take their dogs on extended walks and hikes need be aware that they will be clad in Gortex and fleece but REX wont be and a simple coat that keeps the wet off their back can make a world of difference.
3.As often as I talk to people about doggy shoes there are many times that I talk people OUT of buying these items for their dog. Dog shoes are great for those people who play in the snow or walk in areas where salt and calcium derivatives are used on roadways. This can be great protection against freezing paws and most sled teams use them in high snow/running areas but not so great if you are just running around the yard in mild temperatures.
4. Dogs lose their heat on their back so a simple coat can keep them warm even if not fully covering all areas.
5. There is a reason that many dog clothes dont cover the legs and lower extremities in that when wet a dog will get colder than if he can simple shed off the water instead of it being clad to his body from a hanging coat.
6.keep in mind that for some dogs an article of clothing will seem foreign and it may take a few times of wearing it inside for a few minutes to aclimate to it.
7. At Woofles and Meowz we like to ask about what the wee pooch is gonna DO while wearing said item so as to get the best use out of it.
8. Puppies and older dogs will benefit from a bit more protection than midlife dogs.
9.Clothing items that have some form of reflective or lighting in the make-up are well suited for running around the ever increasing darkening streets as the days get shorter moving toward winter.
........and finally......many dogs are imported here from very warm climes (like Chihuahuas) so clothes work well...while others simple can use their OWN fur coat if its just cold and not wet.

Ahhhh the "dog days" of summer all done with.

Someone recently mentioned the "Dog days" of summer being here as we just finished with a long stretch of misty weather. I wondered what that actually meant so my fingers did the walking most literally across the keys to find:

Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was reckoned as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun.

In the latitude of the Mediterranean region this period coincided with hot days that were plagued with disease and discomfort.

The time of conjunction varies with difference in latitude, and because of the precession of the equinoxes it changes gradually over long periods in all latitudes.


I thought that was an interesting tidbit for y'all.
Thanks to all the great feedback that I got on the last blog entry which was (eek) last month just over a month.
We were pretty busy here on Granville Island and especially by the Kids Only Market especially when school is out.
I could lament the slower reatil day but the truth is that we are pretty bushed by it all and looking forward to the reprieve until the Halloween-Thanksgiving then Christmas rush hits.
We will be celebrating our one year anniversary on October 1st although "Woofles and Meowz" has been here many years and was the first "Pet Boutique" here in Vancouver.
It has been a booming year and thanks to all who have stopped by and dropped a coin or two for some yummy snacks and toys etc for their kitty or pooch.
The all natural pet soaps have been such a fantastic sell that we are hoping to expand the line with a few more items.
more blogs to come!!
WOOF!