What Dogs Teach Us About Being Better Dog Walkers

Sometimes we hear people say things like: “you’re already just like those dogs of yours.” And there is some truth in that!

After almost 20 years of walking dogs in Kensington Gardens, sometimes we honestly wonder how it happens that we slowly turn into our best friends. But maybe that is exactly how it should be.

Spending time with dogs and observing them every day teaches us so much. No book, no lecture, no qualification can teach you as much as simply being with the animals you want to understand. Day after day, year after year, in every weather, in every mood. Watching how they greet each other, how they resolve conflicts, how they forgive instantly and move on. Watching how a nervous dog slowly gains confidence after weeks of walking with a calm, steady pack.

Dogs are wonderful teachers. They teach us not only how to interact with other dogs, but also how to behave among other people. They teach us kindness, tolerance, forgiveness and letting go of what is bad. But also discipline, self-care, ignoring what is wrong in others and focusing on what is good.

They teach us joy from the smallest things – a stick found in the grass, a puddle after the rain, a familiar face on the path. Joy from meeting a friend on the street, the kind of pure excitement that most humans lose somewhere along the way to adulthood.

And they teach us their language. After thousands of walks, you start to read dogs like a book. A slight shift in posture, a twitch of an ear, the way a tail is held. Communication between dogs is constant, subtle, and honest. There is no pretending, no politics, no small talk. When you learn to read it, you can understand them better and communicate with them more clearly. You can spot trouble before it starts. You can help a shy dog feel safe. You can let a playful dog know it is time to calm down, without raising your voice.

This is something that only comes with time. You cannot rush it, you cannot learn it in a weekend course. It is built over years of being present, paying attention, and caring deeply.

Long story short: animals are the greatest treasure of this world. And we are lucky enough to spend every working day surrounded by them.