Scout Climbed Into the Sled and Waited for the Ride to Begin
Perched in the seat of an old wooden sled, a fluffy black and tan German Shepherd puppy sits perfectly upright, ears standing tall and dark eyes fixed on the camera. Snow covers the ground all around him, and the fence behind him and the porch with its wreath in the distance are softly blurred by falling flakes. A bit of rope trails from the front of the sled, but it has not gone anywhere yet.
Shepherds are working dogs by heritage, so many of them thrive on having a task, even a simple one like riding along on a winter outing. Their thick double coat does a lot to keep them comfortable in the snow, but a puppy's body is still small. Check that his paws are not collecting ice balls between the toes, and keep the outing brief. Protecting paws from road salt and chemicals is wise, and a quick wipe-down when you get home helps.
The tall ears in this photo are a nice detail. German Shepherd ears usually stand up at some point during the first several months, sometimes with a floppy stage in between. Let us call this sled passenger Scout. He looks like he is ready to be pulled up and down the hill all afternoon, and perhaps hopes to be in the driver's seat soon. For now, he enjoys being the most dignified passenger in the neighborhood, and the hill below him is full of promise.
