Published July 2, 2023 9:52 a.m. ET
A man strolls his dog in the early morning quickly after dawn, while thunderclouds collect in the background, in Riedlingen, Germany, Wednesday, June 21, 2023. (Thomas Warnack/dpa through AP)
We’ve all seen it. Many people have actually done it.
We treat dog strolls as a possibility to achieve 2 (or 3) things simultaneously, leading our pooches around the area while looking at our phones, talking with a friend, listening to a podcast or pressing a stroller.
The more enthusiastic amongst us even include dogs into our workout programs, running or cycling while our family pets trot together with.
It’s easy to understand. In today’s overscheduled world, this type of multitasking can feel additional efficient. And walking a dog two times a day around the exact same streets can get uninteresting.
But animal behaviourists state that at finest, dog walkers who aren’t paying complete attention can puzzle dogs or annoy by providing contrasting signals. And at worst, they can threaten the dog’s safety — and their own too.
“It’s kind of like the dog-walking equivalent of distracted driving,” says Leslie Sinn, a board-certified veterinary behaviourist in Ashburn, Virginia. “You’re not paying attention to the signs that your dog is uncomfortable … and if you’re missing all those clues because your head is elsewhere, that’s a problem.”
DOGS CAN GOBBLE SOMETHING HARMFUL WHEN YOU’RE NOT LOOKING
Matt Semrad is an avid reader and devours audiobooks from the library — about one a week. He also spends several hours each day walking his two black doodles, Sirius and Sonny.
So to maximize his reading time, the suburban Atlanta resident listens to books on his dog walks.
“I would be bored just walking the dogs,” he says.
Semrad says he doesn’t worry much about his dogs’ well-being on walks because they’re well-behaved and he watches them closely when they pass other dogs on the street.
Other dog walkers may not be as vigilant. CNN spoke to a handful of animal behaviourists who say they routinely see people walking dogs in their neighbourhoods who are on their phones or pushing strollers and appear to be largely ignoring their pets.
This can pose a safety problem for several reasons, dog experts say. Research has shown that only a small percentage of people can multitask effectively. Distracted dog walkers may not notice potential threats: bicyclists, joggers, cars or unleashed dogs, experts say. By the time a person looks up from their phone, their pet could be in an altercation with another dog — or worse.
“You need to be alert at all times,” says Jacob Hollier, founder of Crate Escape, a dog-walking and pet-sitting service based in Atlanta. “If there’s a car out of control or a scooter coming on the sidewalk … at any given moment, it could be dangerous and possibly be fatal.”
Hollier says he requires his employees to stay off their phones while walking dogs — except to snap photos of the dogs to send to their owners.
“I work with an 180-pound Great Dane, and I have to be watching him at all times,” he says. “He’s bigger than me.”
It’s not just the dogs that are at risk. Experts say they have seen distracted dog walkers injure themselves tripping over sidewalks or even their own dogs. One study found that humans’ injuries while dog walking increased more than fourfold from 2001 to 2020.
Also, dogs are notorious for eating stuff that’s bad for them, experts say.
“If you aren’t paying attention, dogs can pick up and eat things QUICKLY — chicken bones, cigarette butts, dead/poisoned rats, etc.,” says Amy L. Pike, a board-certified veterinary behaviourist in Fairfax, Virginia.
“If you didn’t see it, you won’t know to take them into the vet. Or if you do take them in because they are sick, you won’t know what they ingested, which helps your vet treat them.”
DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS CAN AFFECT PETS’ MENTAL HEALTH, TOO
Physical safety is the most urgent concern, but distracted dog walking also can be detrimental to a dog’s behavioural training and even mental health, experts say.
A multitasking dog owner may be missing an opportunity to reinforce basic training — sit, come, stay and other commands — in a practical setting, says animal behaviourist Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog program.
Someone buried in their phone also may not notice when their dog becomes agitated or shows signs of fatigue or an injury.
“Your dog ‘speaks’ primarily with their non-verbal body language,” Pike says. “If you aren’t paying enough attention to what they are ‘saying,’ you won’t know how your dog feels.”
Walks are about more than physical exercise for dogs — they offer mental benefits as well, says Valli Parthasarathy, a board-certified veterinary behaviourist at Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon. Parthasarathy says dogs like structure and consistency on their walks.
If their owner is just marching forward or not paying full attention, the dog could become confused by conflicting signals — for example, being allowed to sniff one bush but jerked away from sniffing another.
Dogs experience much of the world through their nose, and can become frustrated if they’re not allowed some latitude to explore, Parthasarathy says.
“My ideal walk for a dog is one where they have a lot of time to sniff and take in their environment,” she says. “They have their own doggy priorities. Using the nose is their enrichment … it’s like they’re reading the news.”
Parthasarathy says she’s even seen oblivious dog owners yank on the leash while their dog was in the middle of peeing.
A distracted walker also may be missing an opportunity to bond with their dog, says Burch of the American Kennel Club. “Interacting and having fun together forms a bond that can last a lifetime,” she says.
Some dog owners try to multitask during walks without sacrificing their animal’s wellbeing. Teddy Thomas of suburban Atlanta likes to listen to music or audiobooks on his walks with Stella, a tan-coloured rescue mix.
“I don’t feel like I look at my phone all that much while I’m walking her,” he says. “I’d say she has most of my attention — maybe not 100% of it, but enough to keep us both safe.”
Parthasarathy says she understands why some people multitask while walking their dogs. Some overworked parents can’t leave their kids behind during dog walks, so they bring the kids along. Other parents don’t have time for separate outings each day.
“Everyone’s trying the best that they can,” she says. “But going for a walk with your dog should be about building that relationship and focusing on what your dog needs. That may be the only time he gets out of the house that day.”
“If you didn’t see it, you won’t know to take them into the vet. Or if you do take them in because they are sick, you won’t know what they ingested, which helps your vet treat them.”
SIDETRACKED DOG WALKERS CAN AFFECT FAMILY PETS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH, TOO
Physical safety is the most immediate issue, however sidetracked dog walking likewise can be damaging to a dog’s behavioural training and even psychological health, professionals state.
A multitasking dog owner might be missing out on a chance to strengthen basic training — sit, come, remain and other commands — in a practical setting, says animal behaviourist Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog program.
Someone buried in their phone likewise might not observe when their dog ends up being upset or reveals indications of tiredness or an injury.
“Your dog ‘speaks’ primarily with their non-verbal body language,” Pike says. “If you aren’t paying enough attention to what they are ‘saying,’ you won’t know how your dog feels.”
Walks have to do with more than exercise for dogs — they use psychological advantages too, says Valli Parthasarathy, a board-certified veterinary behaviourist at Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon. Parthasarathy says dogs like structure and consistency on their strolls.
If their owner is simply marching forward or not paying complete attention, the dog might end up being puzzled by contrasting signals — for instance, being permitted to smell one bush however jerked far from smelling another.
Dogs experience much of the world through their nose, and can end up being disappointed if they’re not permitted some latitude to check out, Parthasarathy says.
“My ideal walk for a dog is one where they have a lot of time to sniff and take in their environment,” she says. “They have their own doggy priorities. Using the nose is their enrichment … it’s like they’re reading the news.”
Parthasarathy says she’s even seen unconcerned dog owners pull on the leash while their dog remained in the middle of peeing.
A sidetracked walker likewise might be missing out on a chance to bond with their dog, says Burch of the American Kennel Club. “Interacting and having fun together forms a bond that can last a lifetime,” she says.
Some dog owners attempt to multitask throughout strolls without compromising their animal’s wellness. Teddy Thomas of rural Atlanta likes to listen to music or audiobooks on his strolls with Stella, a tan-coloured rescue mix.
“I don’t feel like I look at my phone all that much while I’m walking her,” he says. “I’d say she has most of my attention — maybe not 100% of it, but enough to keep us both safe.”
Parthasarathy says she comprehends why some individuals multitask while walking their dogs. Some overworked moms and dads can’t leave their kids behind throughout dog strolls, so they bring the kids along. Other moms and dads don’t have time for different trips every day.
“Everyone’s trying the finest that they can,” she says. “But going for a walk with your dog should be about building that relationship and focusing on what your dog needs. That might be the just time he leaves your house that day.”
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