5 Life Observations on a Dog Walk

Time with man’s (or woman’s) best friend reveals simple wisdom

Two dogs run my house; both are rescues we’ve had since puppydom. They like to go outside, a lot. Dog-walking isn’t that easy, to be honest, as it requires a modicum of attention to dog, property, and movement of others. I don’t know how people scroll their phone during a walk. And why would they?

I believe one should pay attention on a walk. One of our dogs is quite anxious about cars and people. She can get a little nutty when she sees them. The other, a slightly chubby beagle, has more singular concerns.

Beagles are scent hounds and nose-to-ground is their walking style. Walking my beagle is not so much a walk as a stop, sniff, and sigh. The sigh is mine. I’ll never get my steps in and burn many calories at her pace.

Between sighs, I have divined a few strategies one can apply to daily life.

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. ~~ Robert Benchley

1. Get Out There Even When It Hurts

As an older dog with a torn ankle ligament, my beagle starts our walk gamely up the center of the road. Playfulness is best done early. She’s a bit hobbled on the way back home. Her slightly chunky body lists to one side as she limps behind me.

Human application: Know your limits. But do stretch yourself when the time is right. Pushing one’s boundaries is a powerful action and an entre into potentially great learning territory.

2. Follow Your Nose

The beagle points her wriggly nose in the air to get a flavor of the local atmosphere. What’s that she smells? A deer? A squirrel? And, digging into a pile of leaves with her snuffling nose can yield the treasure of all treasures — deer poop!

Human application: You have good instincts. Trust them. Whether it’s related to a person or a project, listen to your gut… or nose. You too have chances at treasures — discovering a great story idea or meeting a person who’ll change your life!

3. Be a Leader

My dogs know the neighborhood well enough to know where the good stuff might be found. Sometimes I’m not so willing to let them pull me where they want to go. The beagle is particularly skilled at appearing to curiously sniff new territory all the while slipping closer to that wonderful patch of Mondo grass where deer like to do their big business.

Human application: Change can be difficult to manage, whether at work or at home. A little coaxing, a gradual nudge here or there, and soon “your people” are closer to the prize you seek for the team or the ones you love.

4. Take Care of You

I am not certain why a dog eats grass, but some say it’s because the dog has an upset tummy. Other dog wisdom says it’s because the dog is missing key nutrients. Regardless, a dog has sense enough to address a physical need when it arises.

Human application: See a doctor when you have a health concern. Listen to your body, get the rest you need, eat right, and don’t put crap in your body. (Clearly, my dogs don’t get this last part, since they intentionally eat crap.)

5. Listen to Others

“Come on” is my favorite command to my dogs. They seem to know I mean it’s time to turn around and head back home. Ending the walk is not their wish, of course, and a tug or two may be required to get compliance. But I know more than they about what is trending on the streets and when it’s time to avoid the fray. Joggers and cars spell disaster for the psycho-dog in my life.

Human application: Consider another point of view. You have managers or other people in your life whose word matters. Good advice could help you avoid a mistake or, worse yet, a disaster.

Sometimes, we’re too preoccupied to pay attention in the mundane moments. We perform daily chores on autopilot and let our minds wander. That is when a knife nicks you in the dishwater, the mower hits a rock while cutting grass, and you miss the joyful beauty in a neighbor’s front garden.

But, by tuning into a dogs’ behavior and patiently watching them explore, we improve our special bond and learn things. I believe they appreciate those moments too. No matter how irrelevant the moments may be to our hurried existence, we should defer to their joys and desires on our walks. Within reason, that is. I draw the line at deer poop.