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!!!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I too love walking Cooper. Sometimes its hard for me to get the motivation to go, especially in winter, but I feel so much better for doing it, emotionally and physically. I too am unplugged - how else would I be able to chat with Cooper (oh yes we have some very good - albeit one sided - conversations).

I also love the destination walks - I think Cooper enjoys the ride just as much as the walk. I take lots of photos on the destination walks and post them on facebook - there are just as many photos of Cooper as the scenery (actually probably more)

here are some photos from our Xmas day walk - the inlaws were away and DH was working so we had some Cooper-and-Mommy-time

[Christine & Shelby]

So beautiful.... yes, I can imagine it's a challenge in snowy weather like in your amazing photos above.  I feel that way during the heat of Texas summer.... 100+ temps with high humidity.  We walk earlier and later.... and desitnation walks must include water for Shelby to take a dip!   Thanks for sharing!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who holds conversations with my doodle :)

[BG and Gavin]

Cooper looks absolutely darling in these pics.  Beautiful park by the lake.  How are you enjoying the Soo?

[Carol and Banjo]

What a great post Christine!    I love the picture of little Shelby!!!   Walking Banjo has brought nothing but positive things our way.  We've explored every inch of our neighborhood and beyond.  Trails we didn't even know existed and met neighbors we'd probably never have met.    DH and I went to the polls during the recent Primary and one of the women checking us in said "Hello Banjo's Mother!"   LOL.....that is how I'm known locally.

[Christine & Shelby]

That is awesome.... "Banjo's mother"  :o)   I love the pic I posted of Shelby.... snow is such a rare thing here in TX.   She kept trying to catch the flakes in her mouth!  Too cute!!!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Hey, Christine! Love your post! Walking Is definitely at the top of the list of the things I like to do with Knox! It's a "good for me, good for him' activity that we both enjoy! It's a great stress reliever for me and an energy outlet for him. Tim likes walking him too and there are times when he beats me home and has already taken off with him! We have a 20 minute loop that we like so it's a quick and easy thing to do, but easily the highlight of Knox's day! Shelby is so lucky to get walked twice a day, but I'm sure that morning walk settles her in for the hours that you are away from her! Kisses to Shelby from Knox!!

[Christine & Shelby]

Thanks Doris!   The morning walk is a great thing for Shelby before I head out to work!   Maybe we can take the doods for a destination walk sometime soon! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We especially love our "destination walks too".  Actually most of our walks are not in the neighborhood.  When Murph started getting reactive we started walking in other places where we wouldn't meet anyone we knew.  We need to be totally focused on Murph...no way we can stop to chat with neighbors.  We also have found so many cool places to walk the Doods....and we always feel better afterward.  We tell the boys we're going on a "road trip"....they know just what that means.  Thanks for sharing this!

[Christine & Shelby]

I love the destination walks.... they are great.  Love that the doods know "Road Trip" and get excited. 

[Kim Williams]

Christine....I loved your post about daily walks.  It is amazing how much our doodles teach us.  I am very patient with Parris and let her smell for about a mile through our neighborhood...then she knows the rest is for exercise and she is so cute about it.  She seems so happy and contented when we come home.

[Christine & Shelby]

Gotta love a doodle who knows when it's time to get to business and get the exercise in!   Is Parris a big smeller?  My Shelby smells everything - more than I've noticed with any of her doodle friends and non-doodles too.  I often joke with her... myself really.... do you have some hound in you?   

[Sally]

I too love my daily walks with duncan. Monday-Wednesday in the winter we really only get a good walk together in the morning. Then he has the dogwalker come for midday and when i get home from work it's a real quick walk. (summers are better because we go to the dog park). 

But Thurs-Sunday are the best! Our midday walk is ALWAYS a destination walk. He loves tracking the scent of squirrels and rabbits mostly. It's also usually empty at the park on a midday afternoon in the winter so we have thoroughly been enjoying the tranquility. We've had a few beach walks too since they don't really keep to the rules as much in the winter.

Duncan is like my furry soulmate. I could spend 24 hours a day with him every day and never get bored of him.

Here's some pics from today's walk. (no clue why they are coming up sideways).