A blog post by Clutch, the super shady Yorkie
This is Clutch, your helpful neighborhood shade investigator. The July heat has gotten crazy, and sunlight keeps popping out everywhere. It’s overpowering all those huge, green leaves on the trees, finding places to sneak in and bake the ground.
I’m on a mission to make sure every shady spot in the yard and house meets my expectations for summer coolness.
Miss Janet likes to sit outside in the yard off and on. She’s from a subtropical town, so she thinks it’s delightful to melt outdoors. Sometimes, when she deems it safe for me, I have the dubious privilege of sitting with her. I have to be sure the shade meets my standards.
Shade must feel cool, not just look cool. A shady patch needs to be wide enough that I can stretch out, roll over, and not have to touch sunlight. I prefer that a shady spot feels and smells like grass and not a deck.
My shady spot should include a balmy breeze and be perfect for napping. Not too many bugs crawling around to disturb me. Maybe one or two to snack on.
When the sunlight tries to creep in, I will relocate. If Miss Janet doesn’t move with me, she’ll find her chair tipped over rather quickly.
Before I’m ready to enjoy a summer day, I have several missions to complete as the local shade investigator.
Mission 1: Check for Shady Spots Outdoors
In the morning, I go to the window and see what games the sun is up to. Backyard and jungle are shady. Meadow has shady spots, but a river of sunlight runs right down the middle.
I can’t see out front, but I know from experience the porch is covered in morning shade. By afternoon, it will still be shady but way too warm. If I want to track a lizard, morning is the best time. If I don’t find one then, I can check back in the evening.
The sun isn’t the only thing I have to watch for. Those clouds try to fool me into thinking the sun is taking a break. I’m onto them! I won’t fall for their tricks. I know good and well the sun can pop back out in a second, and I won’t be caught stranded in a sun-scorched field. Yes, I have learned the hard way.
Mission 2: Scout the Optimal Walk Routes
In the morning, the river of sunlight in the meadow isn’t too strong. I’ll cross it from one shady patch to the next. That little bit of sunlight actually feels good on my shoulders. But I won’t linger there. Besides, all the fun creatures—bugs, birds, deer, groundhogs—are in the shady spots. Much more interesting.
Two baby deer hang out under a tree at the edge of the meadow. They’re very cute, but they always run away when they see me. Why? Can’t they see I’m on a leash? Do they not understand that my growling is just a friendly greeting?
The baby deer find another shady spot along the far tree line, and I look for someone else to greet. Maybe I’ll see a squirrel scramble up a tree. Squirrels are always willing to chat, usually quite loudly.
For midday walks, only the backyard is satisfactory on the shade scale. The midday sun consumes the meadow, but the backyard has lots of tree cover. Having a smaller space to roam isn’t exciting, but if I’m lucky, I might see a chipmunk. That’s always a thrill—the only backyard creature that runs faster than I do.
When evening arrives, the summer sun is still high up and strong. It covers half of the meadow, but the other half finally sits in shade. I avoid the sunny side. It’s hot and humid, two things I don’t like. The voles burrow underground on the shady side, so I go exploring to see what the voles are up to.
When I get back to the evening porch, it’s in complete shade and not as hot. I can search again for lizards after my evening walk.
Mission 3: Check for Indoor Shade
I love how the coolness of the air conditioning washes over me each time I head back indoors. But I’m still vigilant about checking for shady spots inside. We have floor-to-ceiling windows, and those sunbeams are sneaky.
I carefully investigate each potential nap spot, and I adjust throughout the day as needed. My dog bed is in the middle of the living room, where it’s always nap-safe. Under the couch—can’t go wrong with that spot. Sunbeams can’t reach me there. The chair in the corner has potential in the afternoon, but morning is hit or miss.
Miss Janet keeps the blinds closed on one side of the bedroom, so that side of the bed is always in shade. Never mind she considers that her side. If she’s not using it, it’s up for grabs. That side is also closest to the breeze from the fan. A Yorkie has to stay cool.
Mission 4: Practice My Cooling Signals
In the summer, it’s very important that I practice showing Miss Janet my need to stay cool. If I do this right, it will get me some cool treats!
Here are some of my best cooling signals:
- Exaggerated panting.
- Stretching out on the cool bathroom floor.
- Staring longingly at the freezer door, hoping for an ice cube in my water dish or a few frozen peas to chase and eat. A well-timed, pitiful whine doesn’t hurt.
- Stretching out next to the AC floor vent—even more effective when combined with exaggerated panting.
- Sitting right under Miss Janet’s feet as she opens the fridge door, and hoping it’s watermelon time.
- Lying on my back, right in front of the fan.
I know Miss Janet is onto my exaggerations, but she’s got this squishy heart, so I can still work this to my advantage. I just have to look pathetically warm and desperate for all things cool. If I play it right, I’ll get to enjoy a watermelon treat.
Mission Complete: Debrief and Nap
After I’ve completed all my shade investigation missions, it’s time for a nap. I think I’ll choose under the couch. It’s shady year-round, it’s a big enough space for me to stretch out, I’m least likely to be disturbed, and it’s close enough that I can hear watermelon being removed from the fridge and respond quickly.
Even though summertime is hot, it’s also a great nap season with backyard adventures in the shade and nighttime breezes. Not a bad way to spend Yorkie days.
Stay cool, my friends,
Clutch
The Inquisitive Yorkie 