THE WALK Continues

I've typed it here many times. I love walking with my dogs. I am happiest when I am walking in the woods with my dogs and no day truly begins until we have walked together. I love everything about walking. I feel fortunate to have the physical strength to walk, and I appreciate all my senses that experience the outdoors. I love using my eyes to see the trees and the wildlife in my neighborhood. The feel of the grass and the pavement and the leaves under my feet makes me feel secure. The dogs often alert me to the direction from which the nature sounds we hear came, and the smells and even the tastes in the air are distinct to each season. Being outside, walking with my dogs, is a complete and perfect experience for me.

It is a complete experience because walking isn't just a physical experience for me. It is an emotionally recharging one, and it deepens the bond between me and my dogs.

Dogs have been domesticated, yes, but just as humans have "primal instincts" and needs, dogs do as well. Dogs need to migrate and work for their food and water. Dogs need a job; a place within the pack. Within a pack of dogs there are more followers than leaders, and the followers trust that the leader will provide for them. I am the leader in my pack and pretty much everything my dogs need in a day comes from me, and in subtle and obvious ways, they work for it. One of the ways they work for their meals is to follow me on a walk. They don't pull me down the street. They don't resist and prevent us from walking. They don't criss-cross in front of me or decide where we're going. They follow me, and together we enjoy the journey.



My dogs didn't come into our family with what I call "leash manners." Luna had been on very few walks in her 10 months of life before becoming our Perfect Peanut. Foster Dog, at 2 years old, had spent half of his life in a shelter, and the other half living we-don't-know-how before becoming our Fosse. With patience, leash accommodations, and encouragement for behavior I like, I now can walk down any street, any wooded path, in any county park, or any public space and know that my dogs will follow me. Luna is so experienced, she will follow without a leash. Foster and I are still working on that part of our relationship. It's not like you'll never see me telling me dogs, "We're going this way. Come on. Let's go. Foster, get down," but I don't have to avoid any area because my dogs will run away or because they don't like other dogs or because someone might get hurt. It's wonderful to have nature open to you.

And that is what structured, purposeful walking does: it strengthens your relationship with your dog. It binds us into a family. Knowing that we will walk each day, at least twice, shows my dogs they can count on me to provide them with the physical and mental stimulation they need, enjoy and crave. My dogs and I grow closer and stronger with each walk, with each day.