I think I might have identified a gap in the weather forecast market.
Here in the UK the Met Office famously issues the Shipping Forecast (beloved by legions of BBC Radio 4 listeners whose only experience of matters nautical involves a pedalo on the local boating lake), plus specialist forecasts for mountaineers, hillwalkers and farmers etc.
So, I have a question.
Name me the section of the population that ventures outdoors more regularly and more frequently than any other.
Yes, correct, of course you answered "dogs and their owners".
Surely, a Dog Walkers' Forecast is in order?
The sort of service I envisage would include the following elements:
- For wind speed, a revised Beaufort Scale defined by the capacity to set ears aloft or blow beach sand in the eyes of a dog of standard height
- Temperature forecast calibrated in terms of the breed of dog which would find the conditions uncomfortably cold, e.g. 1 Xoloitzcuintli, 2 Whippet, 3 Cocker spaniel, 4 Labrador, 5 German Shepherd, 6 St Bernard
- Likewise a rain forecast stated in terms of the size of towel needed to dry off a dog of given dimensions on returning home.
- A subset of the rain forecast, predicting likelihood of muddy paws and subsequent requirement for a post-walk bath
- Ice warning, particularly relevant to owners of large dogs prone to pulling suddenly on the lead, and of course to those who walk close to rivers and lakes
- Predictions of snow amounts, accompanied by a trigger warning lest they upset any huskies or other Arctic-origin breeds residing in snow-free climates
I think you get the picture. Perhaps my readers can suggest other ideas about what might be included?
Surely dogs and owners go out in everything, no? Getting a forecast would spoil the surprise (or just make you set off under a cloud that hasn't arrived yet but is forecast to do so). Maybe dog owners should be like boyscouts (prepared for anything) - big towels by the door, ice crampons for boots, dog goggles for windy beaches, and snow shoes if you live in places where it is a possibility - and of course sunscreen and a big hat. There is a dog that goes past our house with his own backpack. Maybe he carries his own hat and snow shoes. Paw smacks Mr T
ReplyDeleteWow, Nobby, that's quite a list, but I think you've covered pretty well everything. Here we'd have to add extreme heat and the horror of being left in a car in such conditions, which might mean we don't even get chance of a walk.
ReplyDeleteCarol carries a rucksack (when we go further than the walk around the block), with a bowl, bottle of water, poop bags, her phone, a roll of kitchen towel, and all manner of extras left over from her serious walking days. If we go down into town or along the promenades, our owners have to clean up after us and have to wash down the offending area afterwards! There's quite a hefty fine involved it they don't and they're caught. When I query the absence of treats, she tells me that she doesn't think I should eat in public - it's not ladylike!
Love,
Indy xx
Well Indy we are very impressed that Carol is so well prepared. I'm afraid we forgot to include 'extreme heat' in the list as it's not something we encounter in Northern Scotland!
Deletethis seems like a good idea, and if this takes off in the UK, we would need one for Florida all by itself. Extreme heat, low heat, moderate heat, cold snap which would be the same as your summer heat.. what we need to do is collaborate on a doggy weather app, that changes with the location.. we could be billionaires. when do we meet? Beau says, please don't eat Gails passport, Mama is getting old and that scratching baton might be needed soon.. Mama says Beau is spoiled rotten and gets more scratches than any dog needs.
ReplyDeleteyou are totally right.... that would be the best thing ever. although we have such a doggy weather girl... our mama... but her weather is always the same: oh sh*t. :o)
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent idea. Should we also have fog and thunder forecasts?
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, Nobby, I think you have covered most of what is required... but these isles being what they are, weatherwise, it might also be appropriate, like the shipping forecast, to name each wider region; for example, for Scotland alone we could have the Dandies (from Solway to Clyde), Westies (for the Hebrides and stretch of coast between Clyde and Mallaig), Skyes (Mallaig to Durness), Scotties (Durness to Tain), Gordons (from Tain round to Dundee). Then we have the Terriers (Border, from Dundee to Berwick), followed by the BeeCees (Border Collies, covering between Berwick and Solway), the Goldies (Central Belt), the Deerhounds (Trossachs), the Cairns (Cairngorms), the Lucases (Inner North), and finally, the Shelties (Orkney, Shetland)...All fine and Bonny Breeds! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
Excellent suggestion!
DeleteWe think the dog walking weather report would be an excellent addition to the daily weather forecast and your list is spot on. Beau and his mom have a good idea about creating an app for that so it could be tailored to various locations around the world.
ReplyDeleteA twist on Nobby's request for additional information: Every radio and TV weather report is preceded, or followed, by ads. Of course, for the dog-weather report, these should include jackets for dogs (Barbour, preferred), assorted collars and leashes, tasties, and, of course, ad nauseum drug ads, for anything that (or might not) ail a dog....
ReplyDeleteHey Nobby
ReplyDeleteThere should be a report on locations for most interesting pee mail. BOL BOL On my walk yesterday I met Bella, the Great Pyrenes walking her owner. I walk with them a bit. Her owner told me his wife was gonna get him a t-shirt with "Dog walker, makes frequent stops". He said Bella is all about reading her pee mail twice a day.
Hugs cecilia
Oh Nobby, what a wonderful idea...We bet you and Gail would strike it rich if you came up with "an app for that"!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Rosy and Sunny
A dog's walker forecast is brilliant
ReplyDeleteYes, a dog walker's Forecast for sure...and maybe a ct walkers one, too as there are a few around. How about a bug forecast?? Where we walk sometimes the bugs are almost intolerable...and bug screen is not one of our fave commodities...maybe a doggy bug net atttire??? Yup, we can see it already, BOL!
ReplyDelete