I had to talk to my Mom about this one. Basically all I know is that I do not have to live outside in any kind of weather!

Mom said that many years ago humans discovered they needed to take shelter because it was either cold, or raining, or too uncomfortable to live outside, so they moved into caves. If you could not locate a cave for shelter, they figured out that they could use trees and rocks to build one. They also began to figure out that some wolves could be tamed and live among the humans peaceably.

When they decided to take this route, they brought along the trusty and loyal family pet.

Through the years as they (and canines) evolved, they began to make bigger more sophisticated shelters and once again, they brought us dogs into the shelter.

Humans began to lose their body hair. They did not need it anymore, because it’s warm inside. Humans took us with them and made us a part of their world, doing away with some of the ex-wolves’ normal lifestyles. Though we were once great at adapting to elements, we changed our behavior patterns, the same as you.

This does not in any way mean that all dogs want to live in the house and sleep in a king-sized bed, like me!!

My Mom knows this man named Bill Borden. A few years back he decided to do the Iditarod. That is a race where a team of dogs pull a man on a sled over hundreds of miles, enduring very harsh conditions. Mom asked Bill if the dogs had any desire to come inside when the conditions were too extreme. Bill explained that these dogs burrow into the snow, making a little den and creating a warm environment for them to stay until it’s time for them to continue the race. They awake the next morning arising from the den and shaking the snow off of their bodies. Quite a sight to behold, I am told. It’s also kinda weird if you ask a dog like me! Those dogs, however, have a very special kind of hair that I do not have. They stay a whole lot warmer!

A dog is a big responsibility. The commitment should be the same that you would make to a child. Yes, we are animals, but we are domesticated!  How cold is too cold?  When you go outside, you must ask yourself, “Is it too cold for my little buddy? Would I stay out here all day without a coat?”

If not, then it is time to bring her inside! If you can’t do it, do not get a dog!

Mom says maybe in a few hundred years, man will have domesticated cows. Tax can’t wait!!

UPDATE: Through a very scientific process requiring multiple rocket scientists, a super computer, and many Red Bulls (collecting the commenters’ names, placing them in a hat, and drawing a winner), @shanajean and her Westie puppy, Darcy, are the winners of the Winter Snowman toy.  Thanks to all who entered, and we invite you to check back on Thursday for an announcement of the next giveaway item(s).

In celebration of all of the recent snowy weather across the United States (unfortunately none for Tax and I to play in down in Georgia), Mom and I have decided to kick off a series of giveaways with a winter snowman to our readers.  It has a great squeaker in the belly, and it is filled with stuffing.  Tax has one, he loves it, and he has yet to rip out the stuffing, so it seems to be pretty durable.  The photo below shows the snowman hugging a plant.

Btw, the plant is not included.

To enter the drawing for the giveaway, do the following.

1. AFTER 6 AM EST tomorrow (Friday, January 16, 2009), but BEFORE 6 PM EST Sunday, January 18, 2009, follow me on Twitter.  If you are already on Twitter, follow me here.  If you are not yet a part of Twitter, you can join here (signing up is easy, free, and only takes a few seconds) and follow me here.
2. Send me a “reply” on Twitter, introducing yourself with “#spikegift” somewhere in the message.
3. Leave a comment to this post with your Twitter username as your name.  It is imperative that you provide a valid e-mail address (it will not be displayed, except to the lazy Web guy), so that you can be contacted if you are the winner.

The winner will be chosen at random and announced as an update to this post before 11 PM EST on Sunday evening.

Use caution when choosing what bowls your dog will be eating and drinking from, especially for any bowls outside. Keep in mind that metal dishes can be a risky investment, since frozen metal dishes could cause your dog’s tongue to get stuck in the winter. Also, these bowls can get hot enough to burn your dog’s tongue when they heat up during the summer.

Keep an eye out for plastic or polymer bowls when you shop.