Frost Climbed Onto the Old Sled and Waited for the Ride

Perched on a vintage wooden sled with its curled metal runners, the cream-colored Golden Retriever sits very still, looking out with soft, gentle eyes. The yard around him is blanketed with fresh snow dotted with brown leaves. In the background, a green wreath with a red bow hangs on the door of a pale house, and evergreen branches droop under their own frosting of snow. A few leaves still peek through the powder, and the evergreen by the fence wears a neat white cap.

Golden Retrievers are friendly, patient dogs, and many of them love winter. Their dense double coat gives them good protection from the cold, though they still need dry rest areas and fresh water. A light-colored coat like this one can look shiny with snow, but it's worth checking for ice balls between the toes and around the feathery fur on the legs after playtime. If your dog ever shivers, it's time to head inside.

Sledding with dogs is fun when kept gentle. A calm, slow ride on a short, flat slope is safest, and a hill with trees, roads, or hard obstacles at the bottom is better avoided. Many dogs like simply sitting on the sled and taking in the view, which is exactly what this one is doing. A warm towel and a dry bed waiting indoors make the perfect end to a snowy afternoon.

We'll call him Frost. The hill can wait, because for the moment he's more interested in posing with his new throne.