Anne in the Rainy Season

The rainy season has settled over Kamakura, bringing cool air, wet streets, and carefully timed walks. For Anne, our Flat-Coated Retriever, however, rain changes very little. She still wants to play the moment I come home.

When I come home after work, Anne, our Flat-Coated Retriever, immediately starts asking me to play with her.

The other day, I took off my jacket and placed it on the bed along with the bag I use to carry my lunch. Anne promptly put her ball on top of them.

I worried that the jacket might be damaged, but Anne could not have cared less.

And when it comes to something Anne has done, I usually end up thinking, well, never mind.

It has been raining since last night.

Perhaps because the seasonal rain front remains stalled to the south, the cool air coming down from the north has so far kept the extreme heat away.

We wait for a break in the rain and then take her out for a walk.

When we put on her raincoat, she stays remarkably still. Perhaps she understands that it is there to protect her from the rain, which makes things much easier for us.

Dogs do not regulate their body temperature with their tongues alone. Through rapid breathing, known as panting, they allow moisture to evaporate from the nose, mouth, and airways, helping heat escape from the body. 

In a sense, it is a kind of air-cooling system that uses the respiratory tract.

That is why, when both the temperature and humidity rise, dogs have more difficulty releasing heat and may become exhausted.

Summer is a difficult season for dogs.

It is hard enough for humans, so we need to be even more attentive to animals that cannot take off their fur coats.

A little extra care is the least we can offer those who must live through summer wearing fur.

・・・

Flat-Coated Retriever
A breed of large, friendly dog known for its black or liver-colored coat and cheerful personality.
フラットコーテッドレトリバー。長い被毛と明るい性格で知られる大型犬種。

promptly
Immediately or without delay.
すぐに、間を置かずに。

could not have cared less
Used to say that someone showed no concern at all about something.
まったく気にしていない、お構いなしである。

seasonal rain front
A weather front that brings prolonged rain during the rainy season in Japan.
梅雨の時期に長雨をもたらす梅雨前線。

stalled
Remaining in one place without moving forward.
停滞した、動かない状態の。

a break in the rain
A short period when the rain temporarily stops.
雨が一時的に止んでいる時間。

panting
Rapid, shallow breathing used by dogs to help release body heat.
犬が体熱を逃がすために行う、速く浅い呼吸。パンティング。

respiratory tract
The parts of the body involved in breathing, including the nose, throat, airways, and lungs.
鼻、喉、気道、肺などを含む呼吸器系。

be attentive to
To pay careful attention to someone or something.
気を配る、注意深く見守る。