Tell me what dog walking does for you.

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Someone who used to run marathons ended up in a wheelchair. She was devastated to not be able to run anymore, but after some thought, realised it wasn't the use of her legs that made the marathon so pleasurable, it was the 'team' effort and being involved with a cause 'for the greater good'.

She retrained using a wheelchair and continues entering marathons, now saying she enjoys them better than ever before.

I used to LOVE walking my black lab over the hills for miles. It was real therapy. Now my legs don't work so well, I haven't replaced dog-walking with something else because I can't think what else would be as therapeutic. The same goes for gardening. Except that with gardening people have suggested I do table-top gardening, and it just doesn't do it for me. It's not just the "getting my fingers dirty", and it's not just "being outside in the fresh air" because sitting and watching someone else garden doesn't fulfil me!

In the same way, I can't imagine sitting and watching other people walk their dogs will be the same therapy that it used to be.

But I can't say why! So I was hoping doggie people might be able to identify what it is about walking your dog that is so therapeutic?

I think you can let your mind wander when walking a dog. You can be sociable or not depending on your mood, so I'd go on the trail and through fields and woods if I wasn't wanting company but would go to the park if I was. For me, Eric's enthusiasm is catching, he is always so happy to be out and about that it makes me smile.The walks add routine to the day and break up the tedium of chores.
That's what I get from walking Eric anyway.

If its rainy I can put my coat and wellies on put my headphones in and walk along the deserted beach just me and my dog maybe nod my head in solidarity at the few other dog walkers we may come across and enjoy the view undisturbed by holiday makers etc.

If I'm feeling more sociable I can walk her in the park or into town where we will normally meet a few small children who want to stroke her, otherdog walkers who stop and chat and get a smile even from the most hurried of office workers.

I think walking Ellie gives me a purpose sometimes, for instance today is my day off work. DH at work, DS at school no shopping to do. If it wasn't for Ellie I would probably not cross the door until school pick up time. But as it is I'm actually planning taking her for a lovely long walk in a moment because I know she will enjoy it and I'll feel better for having done it.

Another broken runner here .

Took me along time to accept I would never run another step as I ran competitively and to a reasonably good standard. The running club and daily training was a big part of my life. I loved the off road and cross country stuff especially.

Taking my two spaniels for long walks all over our lovely rural countryside location doesn't quite give me the runners high that I used to get, but it fills my soul in a totally different way.

The dogs have to be walked, whatever the weather and regardless of how much other stuff I have to do. But I can do any of it while walking them, so I switch off, enjoy their delight, interact with them etc.

Mainly a solitary walker myself, once a week I walk with my non dog owning friend, but she loves my two and it's a chance to catch up and chat, which, to be honest, we wouldn't do weekly.

It also gives me the opportunity to explore places so very close to my doorstep that I just wouldn't have done without running or the dogs. I've found some amazing woodland trails that I didn't even know existed! Being on my own miles from anywhere doesn't worry me, but totally get it's not for everyone

'can't do any of it'

Interesting that all 3 replies so far have touched on the enthusiasm and enjoyment that seems to be contagious from the dogs!

Perhaps like the marathon runner, it wasn't so much about using the legs.

Needsastrongone - I'm really sorry you're in the position you find yourself. You sound like a strong person yourself more than someone who needs a strong one!

Another one here that's had to give quite a few things up for health reasons. Had to stop dog walking too for a while, still do intermittently. I really miss it when I can't go and find I am jealous of my dh when he takes them instead.

For me I enjoy the chance to escape the four walls of my home, as I have to spend far too much time there. Like ybtml said, dog walking is often my only reason for getting out and about - other than school runs, which I hate.

Similar to others, the dogs' sheer joy at being outdoors, loving the space and freedom, is something I find extremely contagious. Seeing my dogs run free lifts my spirits every single time without fail, it's a thing of beauty and something I will never tire of. It's also something I can do for them, when so many of the things I would like to do for others are beyond my reach these days.

I'm not very sociable, so prefer walking on my own with my dogs - there's nothing I love better than a nice long walk in the pouring rain when we can have the park/field to ourselves.

Can you perhaps change the way you walk, rather than trying to find something else to replace it? When I am bad, but can still manage to go I walk from bench to bench and spend time enjoying watching my dogs explore the space while I rest. You can take a ball or frisbee and throw it from the bench for them to retrieve and/or play hide and seek with them, sitting down behind a nice big tree and getting them to find and join you.

I like finding new routes too. I am a creative person so it gives me time to look, be and imagine :)

I am lucky enough to live a short walk from a medieval wood and English heritage ruin which used to be a hunting lodge, then in the opposite direction to that there are meadows and a big old rectory. It makes me imagine all sorts :o

Op, you don't say if you can walk, but are there other ways you access trails via other means? Horse riding for example? You can tell me to chuff off if you want

at owllady

Thank you, but I am not strong, just reference to the strength of the gin I usually need

Lovely thread to start, reminds us how lucky we are to have dogs.

Mine currently are looking at me wondering why we are not going for our usual afternoon walk. It's baking, they are panting in the garden but they don't seem to have figured that a 90 minute charge through the fields isn't the best idea

My dog realised she could swim today :) I take her to a lake at least once a week as there are more dogs for her to meet and the last time we were there she watched (with her ears back) a big bounding lab swimming about. Today she must have decided to give it a go herself.

She is so sweet :)

This thread has made me feel many emotions so thank you OP. The joy that I can be out with my dogs and also the sadness that this is not accessible to you . I have just come back from a walk and for me it is literally my passion. It feels rotten to say why dog walking is so great when the OP is not able to do it.

For me being outdoors in all weathers, the isolation, the beautiful countryside, the huge skies, the companionable yet non demanding presence of my dogs. The joy they get from just running because they can, or the sitting in muddy puddles because it is fun just lifts my mood.

I had knee surgery, was on crutches and at my six week check up the consultant said that I could gradually start to walk - I held back that I had been walking my dogs on crutches since 3 days after the op although less distance and my OH had to hold the dogs I will fight hard to keep up the ability to make sure I can have this time.

I would find it extremely hard to not have the dog walking time and watching others walk dogs would not do it for me. Thinking about where I walk, some walks would be inaccessible to me but some of them would be possible by a motorised wheelchair and I would be having cake sales so that I could get one.

OP is there a way that the dog walking could be made accessible to you albeit in a slightly different manner?

Is it dog walking or dog ownership OP?

Some dogs need very little exercise or would that breed of dog not be your ideal? I know I love the high energy breeds so understand that.

There's a lady in our village who has a mobility scooter thing that is adapted to be 'all terrain'. She doesn't get to do the routes that I am lucky enough to do, but I often see her on the local playing field, throwing the ball etc. I think she has a small Yorkie or some such breed.

It's bittersweet isn't it? I watch the London Marathon and feel so many emotions. But have not been strong enough like you to do my marathons in a different way.

Owllady - Ddog1 is half dog half fish. Ddog2 is all wuss

I also know somebody who walks a dog from their mobility scooter . Floraldog has been out of action for 4 weeks due to having an operation on his foot and we have only started going out this week ,today was his first day off lead and it was fabulous seeing him back in action.

I can't stop thinking about this OP. I have been involved with assistance dogs. They are given to some severely disabled handlers who are expected to look after the dogs welfare as well as the dog look after the handler.

In fact the dogs are used as physio for some owners eg grooming the dogs is great for arms and backs etc.

There will be a way to get you out there walking and enjoying your dog. If I am being bossy and this is none of my business just tell me - no offence taken.

If walking is out of the question there will be other activities you could enjoy with your dog - training, rally, I know of several wheelchair agility handlers and HTM competitors, PAT dogs would be brilliant.

Thanks all

I'm not the woman who used to run marathons - I just used the story I heard about her to start my post because it opened my eyes to the fact that she found it wasn't the use of her legs that was therapeutic in her marathon running. So she discovered she could still get that same reward, and I was drawing a parallel to my loss of dog walking.

Everyone is right, I could use a mobility scooter suitable for the job. I'm not quite at that stage but because it's a degenerative illness, the prospect faces me potentially. At the moment I have severe weakness, poor balance, and my legs keep buckling under me.

I always thought dog walking was therapeutic because of the walking, but I'm starting to think it's not ALL about the walking (just as it wasn't for the marathon runner now in a wheelchair). It seems to be as much the sights and solitude, ability to socialise or not depending on how you feel!, and the enjoyment of watching your 4 legged friend having so much contagious happiness. That is really encouraging to hear as it give me hope that I perhaps haven't necessarily lost this form of therapy forever after all, thank you all so much!