Winter Wienerland: Draper and Rue’s Snowy Adventures

Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Meagan and her dynamic duo of dachshunds, Draper and Rue.

Winter in Canada can be a beautiful season, a time for snow-covered landscapes, warm, yummy drinks, and cozy times indoors, with endless debates over whether snow is a gift from the heavens or a frosty curse. In our household, this seasonal debate is personified (or puppified) perfectly by our dogs, Draper and Rue. These two pups, like in all things, could not be more different regarding their opinion of winter. For Draper, his tiny legs, barely able to conquer a staircase, now face piles of snow that might as well be Everest. His long, low body is a design flaw for frosty terrain. But Rue, the adventurous soul she is, sees no flaw in how she was designed and acts as though her low center of gravity means she can run down our icy, slippery backyard without ever losing her balance! And so, our frosty journey begins!

Rue: The Snow Queen

Let’s start with Rue, our pint-sized enthusiast of all things cold and fluffy. Rue adores winter with the unbridled joy usually reserved for children on Christmas morning. Despite her slender frame and lack of insulation—she’s more sleek greyhound than robust sausage—Rue bounds into the snow as if it were her personal playground. Cold? What cold? Rue barely notices. She treats sub-zero temperatures like an invitation to frolic.

My husband, always keen to indulge in Rue’s snow-loving antics, takes to the yard with a shovel after every snowfall. He carves out winding trails through the drifts, creating a dachshund-sized labyrinth that Rue treats like a racetrack. She zips through the paths, pouncing over the edges like a tiny deer, her long ears flapping with each joyful leap. Occasionally, she’ll pause to burrow her head deep into the snow, emerging with a frosty snout. Rue’s energy is boundless, and she insists on multiple outings daily, no matter how cold it gets.

Draper: The Couch King

Then there’s Draper, Rue’s polar (pun intended) opposite. Draper has a very different relationship with winter. Where Rue sees adventure, Draper sees inconvenience. Where Rue feels exhilarated, Draper feels personally attacked. If the temperature outside dips below -10°C (14°F), what little enthusiasm Draper has for the outdoors shrinks to about the size of his paw. He’ll grudgingly follow Rue out into the yard, sticking to the meticulously crafted trails, but only for one reason: essential toilet breaks. And even that’s negotiable if it’s too cold (yep, we have had our fair share of winter “accidents” with Draper over the years).

Draper’s refusal to cooperate in extreme cold is both pitiful and hilarious. He’ll start out bravely enough, but after a few steps, his pace slows, he lifts his paws higher and higher, and then he just… stops. There he stands, a dog-sicle, gazing back at us with a look that clearly says, “Help me, Mom!” This usually results in a rescue operation involving one of us trekking out in socks and sandals to scoop him up and carry him back inside like the royalty he believes himself to be.

If Draper dares to stray from the carefully groomed trails, he often ends up with snowballs clinging to his chest and belly fur—an unfortunate side effect of having such a low-slung underside and long luscious locks. This frosty predicament usually leads to another one of Draper’s least favorite activities: a bath. It’s the fastest way to melt those stubborn snowballs, but Draper treats it as yet another winter injustice.

Draper’s Winter Philosophy

In Draper’s opinion, bears have the right idea. If it were up to him, winter would be for hibernation—he’d set his status to “out of office” from mid-November to early April and arise in the spring feeling fresh and ready to bask in the sun. But, since Draper isn’t a bear, he embraces the cold season as an excuse to transform into a professional napper. While Rue dashes about in the snow, Draper is curled up on the couch, swaddled in blankets like a cinnamon roll with legs. His winter hobbies include sleeping, snoozing, and the occasional nap for variety. The only thing Draper loves more than a warm bed is the sound of the cheese drawer opening or kibble pouring into his doggie dish.

The Great Jacket Debate

To help our babies brave the cold, we’ve invested in winter jackets, sweaters, and booties. Draper, surprisingly, doesn’t mind the extra gear. In fact, he seems to appreciate the added insulation, rolling over to let us dress him and then happily trotting around in his winter ensemble. The booties, in particular, have been a game-changer for his sensitive paws—once he figured out how to walk in them, of course! They allow him to endure brief ventures into the frosty outdoors without succumbing to a full-on freeze.

Rue, however, views doggie clothing as a wound to her ego. The moment we try to slip her into a jacket, her sunny disposition clouds over. She gives us the most dramatic puppy dog eyes imaginable, followed by a sulky retreat to her bed. If we persist and try adding the booties, she often runs away to our bed, trying to hide behind a mountain of throw pillows. As a result, we save Rue’s winter gear for only the direst conditions, when even her snow-loving spirit needs a little extra protection.

Polar Opposites in Harmony

Despite their opposing attitudes, Draper and Rue’s winter antics bring lots of entertainment to our household. Watching Rue dart through the snow trails while Draper gazes out the window is a daily highlight. Rue’s energy often coaxes Draper outside for a few minutes, and Draper’s cozy napping spots often tempt Rue to join him for a cuddle.

Their contrasting approaches to winter also serve as a reminder of the beauty of balance. Draper teaches us the value of slowing down, of savoring the warmth and comfort of home during the cold months. Rue, on the other hand, inspires us to embrace the season with gusto, to find joy in the simple pleasure of making snow angels or a brisk winter walk. Together, they embody the yin and yang of dachshund life: one part lazy luxury, one part unstoppable enthusiasm.