Take Your Time

When it comes to being with your dog, taking your time is essential.

Why?

Because, the energy of rushing is detrimental to a dog’s state of mind.

I often hear people say their dogs are stressed in the mornings before they leave for work, or the day before they leave for a vacation.

And, I always have to ask these people, “Are you in a hurry to get ready before you leave for work in the morning? Are you stressing about packing and getting everything in order before you go on vacation?”

Here’s the thing. Dogs don’t have anything on their schedule for later. In fact, they don’t have anything scheduled for the rest of their lives.

The concept of a deadline is completely foreign to dogs. They simply don’t understand the idea that anything must be completed within a given timeline.

So, when your dog sees you rushing, all they can perceive is your stressed/intensified/anxious/frustrated energy. To them, there is no obvious reason that you are feeling and behaving this way. Inevitably, they become both confused, and stressed as well.

And I have to say that rushing is detrimental to our state of mind as well. When we rush is when we spill our coffee, or forget to check our blind spot before changing lanes and get into an accident. (Yes, I’m speaking from experience).

So, this is your reminder to prepare ahead if you have a limited amount of time to get ready for work or a vacation, or wake up earlier so you have more time. And when you’re in a rush to get your dog walked, remember that it’s better to have a shorter walk in a more present state of mind, than a longer walk in a stressed out state.

The next time you feel yourself starting to rush, remember your dog is watching you and learning how to operate in the world from you.