Woof woof, guide dog Fletcher here! Glad you could join me.
Wasn’t it a wet dark start to the week with all that rain?! Seems the rain is out again today. Now I like the rain. And as a guide dog, I go out and about in all weathers keeping my human safe with paws at the kerb™. Anticipating their every need. For example, I’m very good at tracking down seats just in case they want to sit down when the rain stops. See I’ve even got a photo to prove it.
Mind you, I’m not so keen on puddles and will avoid them if I can. I like to zig zag round them. Much to my human’s delight because where I go, they follow. It’s been a wonderful week.
Of course, wet weather = wet Fletcher.
I don’t stay wet for long because, as soon as I’m inside, I do a great wet dog shake. But, according to my human, I’m not that good at getting dry. I need the towel treatment. I’m mean, honestly, do I have to? A towel on my head is not a great look. You’ve only got to glance at the photo to agree. And yes, I know I’ve got my cuddly toy with me. But still.
So, my human’s keenness for towels might have something to do with wet Fletcher = smelly Fletcher.
I have a fantastic “eau de wet dog” smell. Every dog has their wet dog smell. Mine stands out.
And now for the science bit (I’ve always wanted to bark that out. Got a grand education at Guide Dogs’ school. And it’s getting topped up by my human). According to the American Chemical Society’s video on canine chemistry, I have micro-organisms in my fur like yeast and bacteria which produce “sticky volatile compounds”. They’re there all the time and giving me a bath won’t get rid of them. Actually a bath will make the smell. Because any water, bath or rain water, “liberates” these “sticky volatile compounds” from my fur enabling them to get right up your nose.
Lastly, to compensate for any possible distress that a blog post about wet dog smells might have evoked, I’d like to remind you that I’m pawsome. Quite literally. If my paws aren’t at the kerb, then they’ll often be outstretched in friendship. Like in the photo.
Join me on my adventures and follow my blog. Hopefully you’ll find them little bursts of happiness…
(c) pawsatthekerb™, October 2015. Updated November 2015.
paws at the kerb 