Cold Winters, Warm Hearts: How April Learned to Love the Chill at Ananda Neelam”

COLD WINTERS & WARM HEARTS: A DOG’S STORY OF WINTER COMFORT

(A Sriranga Narrative of Dog Wellness)

“Appa… the air feels different today.”

That’s what April wanted to say yesterday morning.

She stood at the verandah, nose quivering, breath misting in small white clouds.

The farm was soaked in winter silence —

sharp air, cold soil, a pungent sting in the wind....and fog....

Sita walked out confidently, her thick coat already preparing her world.

Mylo hopped out like the cold was the new joke...

Arjuna shook once, puffed up, and strutted like winter was a personal challenge...

But April…

April shivered.

She tucked her paws under her chest and looked up at Dr. Chari with the gentlest plea:

“It’s too cold, Appa… hold me?”

And in that moment, the truth was clear:

Just like humans, dogs experience winter differently.

Some thrive.

Some struggle.

Some pretend to be brave…

yet whisper their discomfort through small, almost invisible signals.

How Dogs Feel Winter

Not all dogs feel cold the same way.

Sita, a Labrador with a dense coat, enjoys the chill.

Arjuna’s a labby with massive size gives him natural insulation.

Mylo — ever the entertainer — warms up quickly because his energy is always one spark away from explosion.

But April? The slender lady Retriever...

Light frame, thin coat, sensitive temperament.

Cold seeps into her faster than she can resist.

Dogs don’t say:

“I’m cold.”

“I’m uncomfortable.”

“My joints hurt today.”

They say it through:

* curling into a tight ball

* lifting paws repeatedly

*trembling or shivering

* hesitation to go outside

*sleeping more

* seeking your lap or blankets

* licking joints (for those with arthritis)

Winter is not “bad” for dogs.

But winter demands awareness.

**How Dr. Chari Keeps the Dogs Comfortable in Winter**

1. Warm bedding — not soft, but supportive

April sleeps on a warm mat layered with an old cotton saree of Radha’s.

The scent?

Comfort.

Belonging.

Home.

2. Gentle morning sun therapy

Before the walk, Dr. Chari lets them all sit in the first beam of sunlight.

He always says:

“Let the sun touch you before the world touches you.”

Sunlight regulates hormones, warms muscles, and melts stiffness.

3. Warm, fresh food

No cold curd from the fridge.

No refrigerated leftovers.

Everything freshly warmed.

For April:

Rice + pumpkin + turmeric + a few drops of ghee —

a bowl of comfort.

4. Shorter but meaningful walks

Winter isn’t for long, harsh walks.

It’s for slow sniff walks that warm the mind and body gently.

5. Paw care

Arjuna doesn’t care.

Sita manages.

But April?

Her paws crack.

So Dr. Chari applies a thin layer of coconut oil —

soft enough to heal,

light enough not to slip.

6. Extra emotional warmth

In winter, dogs seek not just heat —

they seek closeness.

April curls into Dr. Chari during evening reading time.

He holds her, strokes her ears, and whispers:

“Cold day, kanna? I’m here. You’re safe.”

And she melts…

not just from warmth,

but from belonging.

So… Are Winters Good or Bad for Dogs?

Winters are beautiful

for dogs with coats, thick bodies, strong joints, and adventurous spirits.

Winters are challenging

for dogs who are:

• thin-coated

• small

• elderly

• arthritic

• anxious

• low-energy

• recovering from illness

But winters become comfortable when a human knows how to read the signals.

April doesn’t fear winter anymore.

Because she found a life where her discomfort is seen, heard, understood.

She now walks confidently,

eats happily,

sleeps deeply,

and thrives safely.

Not because winter changed.

But because her world did.

The Sriranga Takeaway

Every season is good for dogs —

if humans learn to listen.

Build warmth.

Offer sunlight.

Feed consciously.

Walk mindfully.

Touch lovingly.

Observe deeply.

A dog doesn’t need perfection.

A dog needs presence.

And in winter,

presence is the warmest blanket of all....and Love, of course for all seasons..