Duke and Sadie are a loving pair of huskies that we adopted through Hollywood Huskies.
Change of scenery.
Routines are important for dogs (and humans for that matter), but when it comes to walking Duke and Sadie, it helps to shake things up. Whether we venture to a neighborhood or return to an old one, they get so excited about the change in scenery! New smells, new dogs, and sometimes new climates. I’ve noticed that I’m the same way and I don’t have to travel far to feel the benefits. It can be as simple as meeting friends in a different neighborhood or working from a coffee shop that makes me feel refreshed. Routines are important, but a change in scenery can be like a breath of fresh air.
The Middle Way.
Duke and Sadie love their walks for different reasons. Duke walks fast and is on a mission to accomplish something whether it’s marking or getting to a destination. Meanwhile, Sadie takes her time, literally smelling the roses and being selective about where she marks. I see so much of myself in Duke, but I want to be more like Sadie. I’ve slowed down over the years, but it’s hard to stay at that pace. Then, I realized it’s not about being one or the other. Different circumstances call for different energies. A sense of urgency is needed in certain situations whereas rest and reflection are critical in other ones. Instead, I want to lean into the middle way of avoiding extremes as taught by David Nichtern, a senior Buddhist teacher.
Communicating Needs.
Walking Duke and Sadie has become more enjoyable over time, but it has its challenges: imagine walking two 60-pound dogs and being caught between one pulling and the other taking her time. To make things a little more complicated, we avoid other dogs on our path because Duke and Sadie aren’t friendly with other dogs (yet). After constantly moving out of the way, I started getting resentful about why I’m the one who moves. On the occasion when other dog owners move, it’s usually not far enough which causes a ruckus. Over time, it occurred to me that other dog owners don’t know that Duke and Sadie are not friendly, so how could I expect them to move further? I can’t. This translates into everyday life for me. It’s up to me to communicate my needs or act on them. I can’t expect others to know what I need. When it comes walking, we always move out of the way now, but it’s from a space of empowerment rather than resentment.
Why We Bark.
The morning after a heavy rainstorm, we wandered upon a family of ducks in a flooded pocket in the park. Seeing the cute ducklings, we got closer. Sadie suddenly started barking as though she was being attacked. Although she does this often, I realized she barks when she’s in fear or in uncertain territory. I don’t know if she’s ever seen a duck before. I’m the same way except the bark comes in the form of anxiety, stress, a need to control, among other responses. I don’t want to have these strong feelings all the time, so hopefully recognizing my responses can help identify fears.
Focusing on the Senses.
Walking Duke and Sadie used to feel like walking through a haunted house. My body would tense up and I’d be on edge (due to several traumatic incidents involving unleashed dogs). After a recommendation to focus on the senses, e.g. my feet as I walk, the scent of the morning air, or the sound of Duke and Sadie breathing excitedly, things slowly shifted. I’m cautious but much calmer. I’ve found the senses to be an effective way to center myself outside of walks. Whether it’s taking a moment to smell freshly ground coffee or feeling hot water as I wash my hands, it helps me feel grounded and grateful.