It’s really about being there for your dog, showing them you appreciate them, and that they can depend on you. Being a dog walker is a privilege. The dogs I walk, not only my own, but my client’s dogs, teach me something every day. Every time I am willing to open up and learn, pay attention, be receptive to what the lesson is, I learn more about myself. Walking a dog enhances my awareness and appreciation of myself, of them, and of the present moment.
If you just stay in your old thought patterns, you don’t realize the nuances of animal communication. For instance, when another dog approached my dog, my dog crouched down as if he was going to pounce to attack, but in reality he was making himself small so as to not scare the other dog. This is just one of many misunderstandings you can have when you don’t understand the language of dogs.
Some of the challenges I face as a dog walker include overcoming boredom, acclimating myself and the dog for the weather, staying in the moment with the animal, staying aware of his physical well-being. For instance, one of the dogs I care for has a tumor on his side and cannot walk at the same speed as the other dogs, so understanding and adjusting to the needs of the animal is important.
Therefore, becoming an exceptional caretaker of your companion by putting their needs first, results in their appreciation and them paying you back a million times over with love, devotion, and cooperation. You are learning the “pack” mentality and how to bond with the pack. It’s about being a leader in a positive way, not a demeaning way. It’s about mutual respect where you and your dog begin to move as a unit, instead of you just walking a dog. It is a partnership that keeps getting better.
