Walking the Dog to Enjoy the Woods

Taking your dog for a walk every day can be an invigorating experience, a way to check off a chore, an exhausting exercise, an immersion in nature, a training opportunity, or all of the above. Never minding the flies or gnats, ticks or pollen dust, rain or wind or flurries, just getting a leash on the pooch and a foot out the door starts another adventure. Sometimes I take along a ball or a frisbee, but other times I head out sans toys. The same with treats, sometimes yes and sometimes no, with a view to keeping the dog guessing and her interest high.

In my case, I have acres of woods to walk in, with changing vistas across the seasons, plenty of scenery to engage my pet and, for me, many options for picture taking and sketching. I try not to rush the process, but some days we take shorter routes. Occasionally the cat comes along and slows us down considerably.

My dog has favorite sites to inspect, such as underneath fallen logs, previously dug holes that may have changed overnight, any new traces of other animals, whether squirrels or chipmunks, raccoons or skunks, even the bear we sometimes hear hooting in the distance. I haven't seen a coyote or a bobcat in recent years, but they are still potential visitors. My German shepherd would surely notice if they were around today.

This year (2011) has brought an unusually extended autumn here in New England, with colorful leaves still on many trees, and even some oaks with green leaves at their very tops. The Halloween snowstorm provided some unusual views, with a combination of snowy ground and snow-dusted orange leaves in all directions. Cooler weather means the bugs go dormant, but the ticks remain adamant and ubiquitous this year. My dog wears a tick collar still, and I dutifully check my own attire often to get rid of the pesky little monsters.

Soon it will be deer hunting season. My dog and I will still go walking in our woods, but will take the precaution of wearing something bright orange, both of us.

My dog responds well to a whistle when she starts to run off out of sight. To bolster my own whistle-making ability, I carry a plastic one and have trained the pet to return immediately upon hearing a three-whistle blast. I'd like to report a 100% recall, but can only say that most of the time she returns very quickly. The 5% to 10% of the time the dog chooses to delay returning is when I start to imagine all sorts of disastrous scenarios. But, then, there she is, out of breath, and not even remotely apologetic. Such energy!

Walking in the woods is good for thinking about all sorts of things, from making lists to recalling forgotten chores, from menu planning to realizing exactly how you could have countered an unkind remark, as well as being ideal for bird watching and even collecting acorns or pine cones. And then there's the general, not to take for granted, enjoyment of the wonders of God's handiwork, with nature always changing in the light and with the time of year. Not least, indeed, is the benefit of time spent with your pet, always a bonding exercise, and never not a good thing.