They've got tiny paws because they're small dogs. And so, they are good in the out-of-doors for prolonged exposure up to minus six degrees C as long as there's no newfallen snow. The past several days has seen daytime highs of minus ten degrees and with fresh snow, so that means their little paws will freeze if they're exposed for too long, as they are during our ravine walks.

That translates to their having to wear boots. We've got the Mukluks brand of boots for them, and they're a right royal pain to put on our little dogs. This despite the fact that we've been accustomed to using little dog booties for our pets for decades in the winter months when conditions mandate them. I used to make the boots myself out of leather and fleecy fabric and thongs, but we've found the Mukluks' design and manufacture superior, so have resorted to using them.

A right royal pain also describes the condition of the ravine trails after the several days of relentless rain we had latterly, followed by a flash freeze. During the rain events when people went out at breaks in the downpour they (we) tramped through the sodden trails which became pocked by bootprints. Deeply so. Now the trails are full of ridges and deep holes. They're slippery and treacherous, icy and awkward. Instead of striding along with confidence, we are reduced to walking in carefully mincing steps to try to avoid twisting ankles or falling.

So we can commiserate with Jackie and Jillie over their confusion at suddenly finding their feet encased in something strange. When we put the boots on their legs and deposit them on the floor they try to lift all of their feet simultaneously, prancing like Lipizzaners. While it's an amusing spectacle for us, they're puzzled. But game, and it doesn't take all that long before they forget the strangeness of it, and begin to romp about lifting their legs high and taking to galloping along in the woods with the sheer joy of being there.

Dogs are particularly fond of snowy atmospheres, it invigorates them and sends them into a tizzy of pleasure. And we enjoyed watching our two little imps prancing over the trails whose hollows and ridges didn't seem to bother them at all, as they did us. They whizzed past us and leaped and bounded with pleasure in the new-falling snow. As for us, with enough of these fresh snow events the trail will eventually smooth out and no longer present a walking hazard.