The power of walking WITH your dog!

A habit that I have formed and stuck too ever since I became a dog guardian has been to take my dogs on daily walks. For better or worse, my dogs have come to expect them and while every walk isn’t my favorite, I have come to appreciate getting outside and moving my body every day too. 

I want to first preface that every dog and human is different and not all dogs really thrive with a walk, especially when they struggle with many fears and anxieties. I also understand that not every human has the luxury of time and physical ability like I do. But for those of us who make the time, have the physical ability and care for dogs who really benefit from walks, it’s something that can be grounding, frustrating and everything in between. 

As I walked my dogs this morning, I took note of the cool crisp air, the fluffy clouds that blocked the sun and the birds chirping in the distance. I find that the act of being outside has an immediate positive impact on my well being. As I was quickly jolted back to attention, I smiled as I watched my dogs happy tails move at a very quick pace, zigging and zagging from scent to scent. We live in a suburban neighborhood that is relatively quiet. Which makes it easy for my dogs to be on their 20 ft leashes that give them the freedom and movement that fills their cup. 

Our daily walks have a few main objectives, the first being for my dogs to go to the bathroom. While my dogs do have a backyard Waylon will hold his morning bowel movement until we are out on our walk so he can promptly poop in an inconvenient to pick up location. My dogs also like to mark with their pee and make sure the other neighborhood dogs know they were there. We have the luxury of walking at a city park and surrounding trail system so I don’t have to face the wrath of angry neighbors in the Nextdoor app complaining about dogs going to the bathroom in their pristine lawns. I also appreciate the convenience of well placed trash cans so I don’t have to carry the bagged poop for too long. If you’re not a crazy dog mom like me you won’t be able to appreciate the satisfaction I get when I see a nice solid poop come out of my dog, indicating they are healthy and the diet they are eating is having the intended effect. 

The second objective on our walks is to meet my dog's needs. Sniffing is important to any dog, but my dogs are particularly into sniffing and it really is needed to satisfy them on a daily basis. This is why I use such long leashes and the fact that my dogs' natural pace is much faster than mine. After we get the bathroom break out of the way, we move forward and stop to sniff, over and over again. While many dog guardians find the pace of moving quickly and then coming to an abrupt stop to sniff a bit annoying (honestly on certain days I do too) I have come to appreciate that my dogs are following their strongest sense and one that I will never be able to truly understand. I also tell myself that it is good interval training for me physically (this may or may not in fact be true). I also appreciate the reminder to slow down and look around. Something I have also made a habit of doing is taking a nice deep breath when my dogs are heavily involved in a really good sniff. While there is a lot of joy in this pace of our walk there is also an awareness I must maintain to navigate the distractions we face on our walk. My dogs are scavengers through and through and if I’m not on it, they will consume cat poop, goose poop, or any trash they may come upon. I have ripped donuts, cake, pizza, and bones out of their mouths on countless occasions. I used to wonder what horrible person was just throwing these food items around our park until one day I saw a crow take a chicken bone out of an open trash can and promptly drop it. Or the time I saw a squirrel run up a tree with a donut in its mouth, again to promptly drop it to the ground. I also have to be aware of the countless stray cats that my dogs, although well meaning, will try and chase. I also do my best to be a courteous neighbor and reign my dogs in when we pass other people or dogs. To be honest, the walks aren’t just to meet their needs, it’s to ensure I can make it through my work day without the dogs needing much from me.

Our walks are also a place where we work on training. There are many skills that I have taught and trained for a number of reasons. As you can imagine, ‘leave it” is a pretty important cue I am always working on and one that is successful 90% of the time. I also work on other practical skills like walking at my side on cue, recall and stay. But I also do my best to work on some training for fun. Jumping up on tables, cueing a nose touch high in the air and currently sit pretty. I want my dogs training to be strong but I also don’t want to train them for a whole walk. I am always trying to strike the balance of getting enough practice without over doing it. 

Sometimes walks are enjoyable, because I am in a good mood, because the weather is favorable, and because my dogs are responding really well. These are the walks where I really see the power of walking WITH my dogs. Giving them my attention, staying present in the moment and working as their team mate.These are the walks where I feel a flow state that makes me feel like I am the best dog Mom in the world and that everything is indeed going to be just fine in the world around me. Not all walks bring me this satisfaction. In fact there are many walks that are not carefree, that are stressful or annoying or cold or hard. There are walks where other people make my life hard, when random dogs come charging at us. Walks where I am in my head, stressed about things that the dogs have nothing to do with. Walks when my patience is running low and I am not as patient and forgiving with my dogs as I’d like to be. Walks where an entire flock of geese have littered our walking route with an impossible amount of poop and where I just have to accept defeat. While all walks aren’t my favorite, I still wouldn’t miss a day because that is the nature of life. We have highs and lows but what matters to me and I would argue to my dogs, is getting out and doing it anyways. 

We will never be the perfect guardian, we will always face unfavorable weather conditions, deal with people, other dogs and animals but I truly believe that I am a better person for getting out and choosing to be as present as I can be with my dogs. Choosing to share in their simple view of the world and their remarkable ability to bring us into the here and now. So I want to encourage you to do your best to make time to walk your dog and be sure to walk WITH them!

-Rachel