The Dog Days of Summer
When people talk about the “dog days of summer,” they usually mean those hot, lazy afternoons when everything seems to slow down - including the dogs.
At our house, that’s definitely true…at least for one of them.
Moses has always been a winter dog. Give him a snowstorm, a crisp morning, or a pile of fresh powder, and he’s convinced life couldn’t get any better. Summer, on the other hand? Not so much. He’ll happily find the coolest patch of shade (dig himself a cool crater in the backyard), stretch out, and wait for the weather to come to its senses.
Then there’s Lewie.
Lewie is a Labrador with a completely baffling relationship with heat. While many of us are seeking out air conditioning, he’s out sunbathing on the hottest stones in the yard like he’s on vacation at a luxury resort. More than once we’ve had to coax him inside because we were convinced he might actually melt or spontaneously combust. Somehow, he seems perfectly content baking in the sunshine.
It makes me wonder if dogs have favorite temperatures the same way people do.
I’m definitely happiest in the warmth of summer. Ron enjoys warm weather too, although he’s a little quicker to find some shade than I am. Other people count the days until autumn arrives because they simply can’t stand the heat. Maybe our dogs aren’t all that different. Some thrive in the cold. Others seem to believe sunshine is the greatest invention ever.
Which brings me to something I’ve often wondered: where did the phrase dog days of summer actually come from? I did a little research, and it turns out it has nothing to do with dogs napping on the porch.
The expression dates back to ancient Rome, when people noticed that the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, also known as the “Dog Star” (because it’s part of the constellation Canis Major), rose around the same time as the hottest stretch of the year. They believed Sirius contributed to the sweltering weather, and the name stuck. Today, we still use “dog days of summer” to describe those long, sticky weeks from roughly early July into mid-August.
Whether your dog spends those weeks chasing waves at the beach, snoozing under a shady tree, or soaking up the sun like Lewie, summer has its own slower rhythm. Walks happen earlier and/or later, naps get longer. Everyone seems a little less interested in hurrying and a little more interested in ice cream and pupsicles.
Maybe that’s the real gift of the dog days of summer. A reminder from our dogs, that not every day has to be packed with activity. Sometimes it’s enough to find your favorite spot, enjoy the warmth of the sun, and simply be.
(Unless you’re Moses. Then you’ll just be counting the days until the first snowfall.)
*All images featured are part of Ron’s Fine Art Summer Dog Art Collection. You can find them all here:
Happy Summer!
Amy & Ron