Shifting our perspective
We write about Smiling Leash walks meaning a special moment that you can share with your dog. But for most of us walks are not really special, we take our dogs out several times per day and it may feel like routine. In this article we take a different perspective on such routine walks in hope to inspire you to do the same.
In this photo you witness such a moment: after a full day of work in a big city Anna is taking her dog Woody on a quick trip around the neighbourhood, to then come back home and relax together.
To help us break from the feeling of routine and enjoy time with our dog more, we suggest taking a different look at such ordinary walks . A different perspective is even more helpful if your walks don't feel good at all.
Mindset is not only something that comes to us from the outside, we can also practise and actively engage in the mindsets that benefit us the most. There is interesting research in this area that reveals many ways in which we can improve our lives by shifting our mindset.
When it comes to walks with our dogs, here are some thoughts or perspectives we can actively practise:
Mindfulness
Being truly present in the moment, away from the past or future events that may bring worry, has many benefits for our brains and bodies.* It's great if you can let go of control for a while and simply become a silent observer of your dog and of yourself.
Try truly noticing what your dog is doing: the way she is walking, what she gets curious about, what and who she chooses to approach or to stay away from? What your body is doing: how fast are you walking, how deeply are you breathing? (Our behaviour affects our dog too, learn how here).
Apart from the benefits of practising mindfulness, we promise you will learn a lot about your dog's choices and natural behaviour, and your relationship will improve.
*If you want to learn more about the benefits and ways to practise mindfulness during your walks, do not miss this article.
Our dog's perspective
Together with noticing our dog's behaviour, we can practise looking at the world from their perspective. Every behaviour has a reason (even standing still is a behaviour!). Exploring the reasons behind what they do and their preferences is fascinating! It's even more interesting to do if dogs can make choices (that are safe) instead of following our cues.
After just a few minutes of this exercise we will quickly realise how clever, wise and cheeky our dogs are. And if we deal with "problem" behaviour such as reactivity, understanding our dog's perspective will help us stay calmer and be better advocates for them.
Did you know? We have a full Blog section dedicated to guardians of sensitive (or reactive) dogs.
Gratitude
Regularly saying or writing down what you are grateful for is a habit which helps us lower our stress level and feel more happy overall. Why not do it during the walk with your dog? You can think about and name 3 things you are most grateful for while you are out and come back home with an uplifted, lighter mood.
As people who practised this for a while we confirm that there is always something we can be grateful for even if things are not looking bright at the moment.
We hope these mental exercises will enrich your routine walking experience and make it more enjoyable. We will be happy to hear from you!
The Smiling Leash Team is wishing you wonderful Christmas time. Stay healthy, warm and happy together with your loved ones! Thank you for your constant support and encouragement.
