Do you walk with your dog?
I walk with my dog, Tommy every morning. He is a three-year-old Labrador Retriever, and he loves to get out and go for walks.
It makes me feel like I’m taking care of something important, but more than that, it also gives me time to reflect on the other relationships in my life—specifically, my relationships with friends.
So many of my friends have dogs that I’ve started to notice the parallels between walking with friends and walking with dogs and wanted to share some of them with you today.
What I learned from walking the dog
Taking your dog for a walk can be an effective way to learn more about the neighborhood where you live. For example, as I’ve walked my dog around our local area, I’ve gotten to know the owners and their dogs.
They are often thrilled that we have found one another (though some dogs are scared at first—dog parks are great for that), and by chatting on our walks, they(friends) and I have talked about restaurants in the area, kid-friendly stores or parks, and other things going on nearby.
As we begin our friendship together, both Tommy and I learn from walking together. I've also learned from walking the dog that the more you walk, the easier it is to deal with challenges.
For example, when I started walking regularly (with Tommy), I got fitter very quickly, but I also noticed that my mood improved and stress levels dropped.
Daily exercise can improve your well-being and put you in a better frame of mind, making it easier to deal with stressful situations at work or elsewhere.
And it all started from taking just 20 minutes to go out for a walk with him in the morning!
Some helpful tips while walking a dog
My experiences on some helpful tips while walking a dog, so I decided to share them here.
The following are lessons learned from taking my Tommy for long walks around our neighborhood and running into friendly dogs (and their owners) along the way.
When walking your dog, be sure to know what others are doing on their walks to avoid causing them any harm or danger.
For example:-
- Letting them know that you’re coming up behind them and then giving them space as you pass.
- Also, let people know if your dog isn’t well-trained, so they don’t go near it while you wait on a path or road.
Always keep an eye on other dogs while they are playing.
Remember not to shout at other dogs because it will make them uncomfortable and fearful when around their owners or other dogs in public places.
The emotions felt while taking your pet on a walk
Some people take their pets on a walk to exercise them and tire them out, but the physical benefits don’t come close to the emotional ones.
For me, taking my dog for a walk is a chance to clear my head.
As my pet runs back and forth in front of me excitedly, I get an overwhelming sense of peace while looking out into the trees ahead.
Something about being on a path in the woods reminds me a lot of walking down an old road lined with trees and houses on either side as a child.
And no matter how frustrating work was that day or how poorly I slept the night before, nothing brings clarity like taking in the natural world while getting some much-needed exercise.
Both bring a sense of wonderment about what’s ahead; each experience is full of excitement for both my dog(Tommy) and me.
If you’re feeling stressed and aren’t sure why to try going for a walk with your pet: it will remind you just how simple life can be.
What I love about my dog
I love how my dog interacts with other dogs. Tommy has a polite and friendly demeanor.
He’s always excited to play and make new friends—and while he may not be thinking about it consciously, I know that his instincts are telling him that it’s safe to approach these other dogs because they are on their leashes.
When Tommy(my dog) sees another dog off-leash in our neighborhood, he tends to get nervous and bark, but if there’s a dog on its leash who seems friendly and happy to meet him, then he will confidently go over.
Another thing I love about my dog is how he reminds me of my friend Tommy. I love to go for walks twice a day around our local area with Tommy, and we tend to stick to one route.
We become friends with specific dogs, as well as their walkers and owners, in this way.
The diversity of pet lovers is so amusing because it demonstrates how much interest there is in people who are interested in animals.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my blog about how walking with your dog reminds you of walking with friends.
I know that many people love to be outside with their dogs, and it's a great way to spend time together.
I know that it can be hard to find time to spend with friends, and I am here to tell you that dog walking can be a great way to connect with friends and spend time together.
Please feel free to share this post with anyone you believe will benefit from my advice.
I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to comment below. Follow me if you want to get in touch with me.
Walking your dog is a great way to get outside and stay healthy.
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