Question for dog owners

[bendmeoverbackwards]

When you take your dog for a walk, do you listen to music or a podcast or do you talk to your dog?

I'm trying to work out if there are similarities to taking a child for a walk...

I am all kitted out with audiobooks etc, but rarely get to listen to them as I need to attend to my dog because he is reactive to other dogs, bikes, people who look odd (to him) etc. A serene peaceful walk is rarely on the cards.

I talk to the dog and engage in the nature and peace surrounding us. Need to know if there are cars/tractors approaching also do earphones would be a no no.
My BiL takes all the dogs across the forest listening to pod casts but he has no reason to listen out for vehicles.

@Waitingfirgodot

I chat to the dog!

Me too. I just hope no one hears me

I almost always chat to my dog. I occasionally listen to music for a short time but then spend the rest of the time talking.

I am sure some people when they hear me, particularly non dog owners, think I am mad but I don't care

@villainousbroodmare

I'm interested to know how many of the dogs owned by the constant chatters have good recall and general obedience.

ha ha - yes.

But talking to the dog doesn't necessarily mean constant chatter.

In my case he is pretty active so if he gets a long way ahead, I call him back, when he is running towards me I say things like - Good boy, and repeat the Come command. When he arrives I say something inane and he gets a treat.

So it isn't constant chatter, but it breaks up the silence and the walk, and if he is full of beans, I am calling him back every few minutes.

There is also the conversation you have for the benefit of other dog owners. Eg steppdog tends to bark at big fluffy dogs, so if I see one coming we move off the path, and I call him to me and make him sit in front of me. I hold his harness/put lead on and say things like - good boy, no barking, that's it no need to bark. Which is basically for the benefit of the other owner ie, he isn't agressive, I am just stopping him from having a barking moment. My voice at that moment ressures him that everything is lovely and no need to panic and bark

When I got my AirPods I mistakenly thought I would be listening all the time to plays and books and whatever. Did it 2 or 3 times, but then would always get distracted by DDog "ooh a pooh? Right there?" or chatting to a random dog who came up to say hello.

Didn't realise so much of my time was spent talking to dogs, but there you are - seems it is.

I actually think DDog's conversation is more interesting than DH's, who has a tendency to blather on.

I rarely listen to music or podcast. I don't talk loads to the dog either. Usually I just like the natural sound of being outside and life going on around me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who chats to their dog on walks - I do worry people must think I'm a bit mad! That said its not full on conversations or anything, more things like PPs said such as 'shall we go this way?' or, as she gets a bit nervous around barky dogs 'don't worry, he won't hurt you, I wouldn't let him' or, as we can normally smell the local chippy at times 'no, we're not going to the chippy' though I don't blame her for trying to guide me there!

I don't listen to anything because I want to be aware and I like the solitude really. I do talk to my doggie but more of a "shall we go this way?" type of chit chat. Walking becomes a completely different regime when you walk a dog, I don't know why but it has purpose I suppose. I wouldn't take myself off for a walk naturally despite living fairly rurally with loads and loads of walks but as soon as I have a dog I can quite cheerfully go for miles. I think its probably to see them having such a great time and enjoying it so much that then gives you pleasure.

Yes...I have aeropex ear phones (they are bone conducting and allow you to still hear what's going on around you) so you can hear traffic noise, or if someone talks to you you are cut off from the outside world!

I listen to hours of podcasts while walking and love it!

Have tried it ( to listern to stuff Thunderstorm soundtracks etc ) but always had to stop and tell asians" no my dog is not for sale, not even for £30 " or call to my dog and say " Oh look its your friend Teddy "
or " No - leave the strange man alone "

Another one who talks to the dog

OH, and you often end up chatting to other dog walkers too

I always hear dog owners talking to their dogs.

I download programmes on BBC Sounds (unless I'm by the main road when it's too noisy).

I do neither. I crave silence 😏

Always talk to him. Sure people think I'm bonkers (and they're probably right 😁) but doesn't bother me!

I chat to my dog.
I don’t have any music or podcasts and my phone ear things were claimed by my DD.
Luckily my dog is very dim and is quite happy to listen to me burble on

I chat to the dog....mostly trying not to let him walk behind me, ...the one we have atm seems to be recall-less, so has a longline and I have visions of having my knees taken out from under me and taking a terrible fall. I am old enough now not to just fall

Also he likes to pee on alllllll the things...so there is a fair bit of "hurry up...you know you did that yesterday right?"

Not much so far this week as he was castrated on Monday but we might venture out for a short lead walk tomorrow, and a chat, of course.

This is making me want a dog even more!

Yes mine pees on everything so I’m always saying ‘ I really don’t think you need ANOTHER wee’ and ‘don’t wee on people’s dustbins’!

@Delatron

Yes mine pees on everything so I’m always saying ‘ I really don’t think you need ANOTHER wee’ and ‘don’t wee on people’s dustbins’!

Mine pees a lot as well on walkies, but he only recently started cocking his leg to pee on things. I was a very proud dog Dad and decided to then film him so I could catch his next leg cock...

Uh my dogs don't talk back so no, not quite like walking a child! I just get lost in my own thoughts.

Come read the puppy threads it may put you off our walks at the moment are not that relaxing as pup is 6mths old so it feels like you are on constant alert training her and managing her interactions with other dogs and humans whilst trying to stop her hoovering up everything enroute!