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What Dogs Know That Could Improve Your Life
“Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.” — Emily Dickinson
“Or do they?” — Me
I was walking one of my dogs this afternoon when I was struck with the thought of how our experience of this shared event, a walk, was completely different. I was on a break from work, eager to get back into the flow of an interesting writing project. Though I enjoy our walks, it felt like a bit of a chore and I was in a hurry to get it done. She had been stuck inside since our morning walk and was eager to feel the wind on her face and see what might have changed since earlier in the day.
I snapped her leash onto her collar and quickly headed across the street towards the wooded area where we walk. We had a routine and getting her across the street where she always peed first was my current priority. She was in no hurry. Nose to the ground, something had caught her attention just barely outside the door. She sniffed the driveway as I tugged her leash encouraging her to hurry up. She stared into the bushes, ears up, alert. Was she sensing a bunny, a squirrel or a bird? I didn’t want her encountering any of the three, so continued trying to get us across the street.