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?
