Reflections: Walking my Doodle!

[Christine & Shelby]

Yesterday afternoon after having been gone a few hours, I came home and took Shelby out for a walk.  As we were walking our usual evening route around the neighborhood, I started reflecting on how much I have come to enjoy our walks.  I remember fondly our first walk together.... I was so excited and Shelby was so curious... about everything.  Smells, sidewalks, driveways, trashcans, leaves blowing, you name it - we had to check it out.  Here's a picture from one of our early walks... it was a special treat because we had snow flurries here in Texas!

I also reflect nearly daily about the dog owners behind me who have a german shepard - who lives outside 24/7... and while I disagree, I understand that is their choice.  What I don't understand and what makes me so sad is as far as I can tell, he never gets walked!  I just don't understand... daily walks are so important for our dogs.... for exercise, mental stimulation, socialization and building confidence in various situations.

I have really come to enjoy my daily walks with Shelby.  I know they are a necessity for her (and that is why I do it), but I have also learned and gained so much from our walks...

1.  I am more active!  We typically do two walks a day unless it's a play care day or dog park day.

2.  I love our bonding time during walks... it different than just playing at home, it's like we're on an adventure together!  

3.  Watching her investigate new things is adorable... most recently - Christmas decorations.  I've learned she is very security concious and does not like the large blow up snowmen in the front yard!  She will growl and bark at them.   (I believe she thinks they are an intruder)

4.  I've met many new people in my neighborhood and look forward to seeing them on our walks! 

5.  I've learned patience.  While I am out and about a lot during the day, Shelby get's out less than I do... so I am patient and let her smell and investigate.  Within reason of course - some days, we've got to be tasky and get our mileage in!  

6.  I've learned to really take time to enjoy our beautiful surroundings.  We walk down to our neighborhood park and walk through the park on one of the trials.  While Shelby smells and checks everything around... I am taking in the scenery, birds, trees, flowers, etc.

7.  Our walks are also great decompression/thinking time for me.  I am typically unplugged (carry the phone for safety only...   I really enjoy how I feel after our walks...

8.  I like surprising Shelby with "destination walks" we go for a ride first then walk at a different location and often times I have invited one of her doggie friends to join us!

9.  Seeing Shelby curl up for a snooze after our walk makes me happy... I just know she had a good time and got the physical and mental stimulation she needs.

 

Things Shelby would tell me about her walks:

1.  Thank you for letting me stop at the big streetlight everytime we walk by... it smells so good!

2.  I really like seeing other dogs on our walks... my favorite is Winston the chocolate lab!

3.  I love seeing the neighborhood kitties.... especially Kenny and Nemo - they let me smell them, they actually like dogs!!!   I love kitties and am very gentle with them!

4.  Meeting new people and sometime their kids is exciting, I just can't wait to say hello!

5.  Watching the birds, bunnies, squirrels and blowing leaves is so much fun.

5.  I love our destination walks - especially Lick Creek where I can be off leash - it's so much fun!

6.  But most of all... I like our walks because it is our special time together.

 

So... tell us about walks with your doodle... what do you and your doodle love the most!   Funny stories from your walks are welcomed and encouraged!!!

[Christine & Shelby]

Looks like a great doodle walking adventure!   I wish I could bring Shelby to work... I would love it, she would love it and my staff (college students and new professionals) would LOVE it too!!!

[BG and Gavin]

Great post Christine.  We are big walkers here.  DH does one per day and I do one per day.  It helps Gav so much with his appetite, sleeping and over-all state of wellness.  We try to go a different route every walk.  We cover a number of neighbourhoods near ours and generally do a little off-leash at a couple of different parks.  Gav knows where all of his friends live and will want to go to playtime or lovin' at Marley the Newf's house, or Nuka the Husky's house or Jo and Dave his dogsitters or the elderly couple on the corner who have special treats for him.  He just slows down and veers toward their driveways lol.  We drive to walk sometimes too, which is always a treat - new smells and such.

[Christine & Shelby]

Isn't it funny how they know where things are?!?   Shelby knows where Kenny and Nemo kitty live.... and she also remembers where she saw them last... so we much check out that space too.   One of her good doodle friends (Tucker) lives 5 houses down the street.... she always wants to walk up the driveway and visit... problem is Tucker's mom isn't typically awake when we go walking at 6:15am!   But we get them together for play time when we can!!!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna LOVES to go for walks and knows our "usual" route by heart.  Lately our favorite thing to do is to bring the chuck-it and play some fetch in a local park.  It's a little tougher in the snow, because if she can't find the ball I have to go get it!

Luna does NOT appreciate those big blow-up decorations either, or any that look suspicious in general.  She has this special really quiet, hesitant "wuff ...wuff..." bark that she does with her lips closed that's reserved for suspicious objects or people.  It's hilarious to watch her "wuff wuff" at a blow-up witch, santa or a snowman some kids have made while she "circles" it and sizes it up. 

If we get really lucky we find one of Luna's friends on a walk and they get to play!  Our neighbourhood has quiet streets and we can drop the leashes and let them run around a little bit as long as it's not school bus time.

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby has a "wuff... wuff..." too - I call it her warm up bark.... there are usually a few of those before she lets out her real bark....  How fun for Luna to be able to play a game of pick up fetch on her walk!

[Moe]

I walk Charlie off leash in a local state park. It has trails through the woods that run along cliffs overlooking the Hudson River. It is so beautiful there I can't believe it is 1/2 mile from my house. I love seeing the changes in the woods from season to season. I am literally in love with this park. I have lived here all my life and never went there until we got the dog. I never would have realized how much I enjoy hiking had it not been for Charlie. I am so grateful.

[Christine & Shelby]

I've discovered a lot of things here where I live that I never knew about before getting Shelby - the fact that there are 2 dog parks in town.... trails where dogs can be off leash, super beautiful walking paths... it's awesome!   Sounds like your walks are beautiful.   Take a picture on your next walk and post it... I'd love to see the scenery!