The Walk Ended in a Downpour, and Duke Came Home With a Look on His Face
Rain is still pouring outside the open door, and the entryway tiles are dotted with wet paw prints. Grandpa Ken, in a green sweater vest over a plaid shirt, has a big beige towel draped around Duke and is gently rubbing his damp head and shoulders. Duke sits patiently in the middle of it all, fur spiky with rain, ears tucked and dark eyes looking off with the faintly long-suffering expression of a dog who did not choose this weather. A doormat, a basket, a row of shoes, and an umbrella hanging on the wall show that this is the house's official drying station.
Drying your dog after a rainy walk helps keep it comfortable and your home cleaner. Short-coated breeds like Boxers don't have much insulation, so they can get chilled when wet, especially in cold weather. Use an absorbent towel to rub down the coat, and pay extra attention to the paws, between the toes, and inside the ears' folds, where moisture can linger. Wiping paws also removes mud, road salt, and chemicals picked up on sidewalks. For dogs who dislike the rain, a lightweight waterproof coat can make wet-weather walks more pleasant.
Duke may not be thrilled about his rainy-day rubdown, but he's in the best of hands. In a few minutes, he'll be dry, warm, and probably curled up somewhere cozy, with Ken not far away.
