Allow Adventure Into the Daily Dog Walk: 5 Tips to Keep Yourself Open to Exploration

Here at Bumblebee Pet Company, we believe that every day is an opportunity for adventure. Sometimes it can be a challenge to get yourself into a mindset that keeps you open to exploration and new experiences. I know for me, I can easily get caught up in my daily tasks and to-do lists that I scramble to fit a walk with my dog Piper in at the last moment before sunset — that’s a quick way for our walks to turn into a chore instead of an opportunity for bonding and new adventures.

Even the best of intentions and the shortest of walks can fall flat if you find yourself unprepared. For me, being prepared on a dog walk means: wearing comfortable clothing that I can move in and walk in. It’s wearing sunscreen and sunglasses when it’s sunny. It’s making sure I have a water bottle (for me and the dog!) and making sure I have plenty of extra bags for dog waste. Part of the trick of being prepared is to keep all of your dog walking necessities in one place in the house - so you don’t spend precious minutes of your dog walking time trying to find a leash or a harness.

Being mentally prepared and engaged is more important than being physically prepared, in my experience. Allow yourself to deviate from what you think your experience should be — and simply allow it to unfold. This could be a mantra or a meditation of sorts that you carry with you as you walk, to remind yourself that you don’t have to follow along your typical route (physically or otherwise). Having a mindset that is free and open will allow you to interact with your dog and your surroundings in a new way. A helpful exercise is to first notice what your preconceived notions of an experience may be, and then consciously choose to let your expectations go in favor of going with the flow.

When freeing myself of expectations is difficult in my daily route, I find that walking a new trail or in a new neighborhood is the best way to shake things up! You’re forced to acknowledge what things are different along your route and be in tune with your surroundings. Your dog will surely appreciate the change in scenery and the new smells and sights that accompany a new area. If I’m planning to explore a totally new location and want to plan a new route, I like to pull up Google Maps and use the satellite feature to see if I can find any hidden parks or greenways as a fun stopover. I am fortunate enough to live in a city with beautiful hiking trails nearby, but getting out of your walking rut doesn’t have to mean a new epic destination - it just has to mean a change from the norm.

One of my favorite ways to spend time with a friend is to go for a walk! It’s a win-win-win: walking can help stimulate interesting conversation, it combines exercise with socializing (for you and your dog), and it’s free! Another reason walking  with a friend is a great way to allow new adventure into your dog walk is that it’s more than likely your friend has a different walking route or favorite destination than you do. I’ve discovered some of my favorite hiking trails thanks to friends - and my dog loves to see her favorite people and favorite dog friends. Plus, your friend is bound to notice things that you don’t, and vice versa.

If something piques your interest, check it out. Explore it. It’s easy to brush an impulse to explore out of your head (because of a time limit, an uncertainty, or even a fear of a new experience). If you have a fear of exploring whatever caught your eye - acknowledge that fear, but don’t allow it to determine your actions. Of course, if you are walking with your dog, there are certain things that can’t be explored in the moment. But for some, a simple deviation from a known route or an encounter with a new person can be a challenge. Allow those new experiences to present themselves to you and be open to the new opportunities you might encounter.