Spring at 8,000 Feet

Requires Adaptability

Tessie

I might not be a purebred, but according to my DNA test, I’m at least 64% Australian Cattle Dog (ACD). In fact, over 80% of the breeds identified in my genetic test are in the Herding category. I’m a redhead, so people refer to me as a red heeler.

In case you’re not familiar with ACDs, we’re known for being strong, compact working dogs with muscular builds for strength, stamina, agility, and endurance. ACDs are intelligent, devoted, and watchful dogs with boundless energy. We are also affectionate and sometimes referred to as velcro dogs because we like to stay close to our humans. Yep, that’s me.

The reason I’m sharing all of this is that ACDs are known for our adaptability to various environments and weather conditions. My smooth, double-layer coat protects me from the elements and enables me to tolerate extreme temperatures. My outer coat can repel water and insulate against both cold and heat, while my dense undercoat offers an additional layer of insulation, trapping heat close to my body during colder weather. I guess all of this has allowed us to live and work in the Australian Outback.

This means I’m ready for spring in Colorado. We live at 8,000 feet above sea level, which means April can bring warm, sunny days like we had last Saturday when it reached 75 degrees, or a snowstorm, which is what we have today. I loved our nearly 11-mile hike last weekend and enjoyed lying in the sun on the deck the last couple of days when the temperature stayed around 60 degrees.

Today, the snow is falling, and it’s hovering around freezing. Between today and tomorrow, we’re supposed to get around 10 inches of snow. That will make my sister, Mala, happy since the snow in our yard was almost completely gone, and what was left was icy and dirty. Now we have fresh snow to roll around in. If we get as much as predicted, we’ll even be able to slide down the hill on our sides. I learned how to do it by watching Mala.

Being adaptable is an important trait, not just when it comes to the weather in Colorado. The one thing you can count on in life is change, so it’s vital to go with the flow. Not all of my days are the same. During the week, my parents often work many hours at their computers, which means I take long naps on the couch in Dad’s office or the daybed in Mom’s. We go for walks (usually after lunch) and play a few times throughout the day, but on the weekends, I need to be ready to go the distance. We all enjoy hiking, and sometimes we even jog a bit on the trails (Mom and I like to walk the uphill parts).

I’m always watching and evaluating the situation. I can tell by how my parents dress whether I’m staying home to watch the house or going with them on an adventure. When they pack bags, suitcases usually indicate I’m going over to stay with my foster parents and foster brother, Cody, who is also an ACD, but he’s blue. If they pack duffle bags and backpacks, we’re going on a road trip! I’m pretty in tune with my family and can adjust based on the situation. Mala might disagree with me because I always try to get her to play even when she’s not in the mood.

Anyway, to make a long story short, living in Colorado requires a certain amount of flexibility, especially in the springtime. It’s important to be adaptable.