In the middle of all the congestion and rush in our lives, I hear people complaining about how walks with their dogs can be so stressful. The dogs pull, they sniff, they don’t keep up, they lunge, they bark…
I look, but I can’t find reasons to complain. Maggie and Maxwell will do all of those things on the list if the conditions are right (or wrong). But walks with my dogs are mostly about them. I choose locations where we all feel comfortable. And the more I slow down and notice what they’re doing, the more enjoyable our time together becomes.
Here on our morning walk along a quiet street, Maggie has noticed dogs and people off in the distance. Maggie is a dog that needs a lot of information. In moments like this, if I insist that we keep on walking, she will become agitated and frustrated. So instead, we both stop for as long as she needs to process the whole situation. It’s the least I can do; she does the same for me all the time.
Do I know those dogs? They’re off leash, but are they coming this way? What do they smell like? What did those people have for dinner last night? Ok, really, who knows what she’s thinking about. And what does it matter? Just wait it out.
Then, Maggie’s eyes will meet mine, signalling that she’s ready to move on. And off we go.
Communication can be so simple, and yet it’s an instant solution to so many problems.
