HOW TO BOND WITH YOUR DOG - PART 1

How many of you get frustrated with your dog on walks?

Maybe they walk too slow for your taste. They want to sniff every inch? Guess what? This is one of the best parts of their day. That sniffing is mental stimulation. It’s fascinating. It’s their sniffari – engaging and relaxing all at once. They don’t walk to get from A to B in a hurry most of the time. Yes, they need a walk to relieve themselves. Yes, they need a walk for exercise. But it’s more than that and we need to remember that and build more patience and understanding. I’ve learned to enjoy watching my dog as he sniffs and then leaves his messages for other dogs. In fact, sometimes I can even tell when he’s leaving a message for a friend who passed the same spot or a foe with lots of four-letter words! Doggie drama unfolds at those outdoor “message boards!” :)

 Scientists believe a dog's sense of smell is somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than ours. Researchers have determined that dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors compared to the six million humans have. That’s 50 times the number we have. I’ve also read that the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. Dogs also have something called neophilia, which attracts them to new and interesting odors. Interesting!....except when they lead us to the overflowing garbage cans on the street or something even more unseemly.

And how about those of you who get frustrated when your dog pulls on the leash? Guess what? You may need a session or two with a positive reinforcement dog trainer. But you may also just need better gear. I saw a neighbor walking her Pittie with an over-sized harness and a small chain-link leash attached at his back. The big-headed goofball was loosely wagging, but excited to see my dog approaching from the distance. The woman got annoyed at her dog for pulling because it’s not great behavior (true), she has a bad back and her hand was getting rubbed or caught on the chain leash. So I suggested she clip the leash to the chest clip of the harness to prevent the pulling and then buy a safer leash and a better fitting harness as well for many reasons like the dog’s own safety. She did a few more laps around the same area with the new configuration. When we ran into each other again, she was relieved to see the difference that simple adjustment made for walks. She was less annoyed with her dog, and her better state of mind is something her dog would pick up on. A win!

We need to set our dogs up for success. Proper gear, proper training, patience with their sniffing and patience even with their undesirable behavior is a key to bonding. 

 They feel our energy. 

They yearn for the good stuff. 

They like positive reinforcement and validation. 

They love when we’re happy and satisfied. Because they love us. 

They also tend to love their walks. Even dogs with yards tend to yearn for walks and all the scents from those walks that are ever-changing while the scents in their own yards are more static and less engaging. 

So consider those walks more than relief walks and exercise. What interests you in your daily routine? The work you have to do, hopefully. A movie you watch at night after work? Social media on your phone. A podcast you listen to while tidying up? Guess what? None of that interests your dog, but they wait patiently as you engage in all of that and everything else you do that doesn’t involve them. Take a holistic view of the value of dog walks for your dog and for yourself. Walk mindfully. Be present in the moment. Enjoy observing your dog’s fascination with every scent. Sure, sometimes it’s freezing - so layer up. And sometimes you’re running late. But carve out time for the longer sniff walks daily. Your dog will thank you with kisses and more longevity.