My Walks Make Me Physically and Mentally Stimulated

Hope you read 'Walking is Fun...So I Take Mom Out for a Walk Everyday'. The post was written 9 months ago. Looking back, we have really come a long way since. My walks are more fun...more stimulating and I love every moment of it, except when cows and buffaloes come closer and heavy vehicles pass by.

These days we walk thrice; our morning sessions are the longest and involve some intensive jogging. Dad joins us thrice a week during morning sessions. The afternoon sessions are mostly in the walkers' path around a nearby lake. This would be a relaxed session but sometimes it gets intense too. Our night walks last just for about 10 minutes...of course you know why. 

Jogging is fun for me when I get to see so many joggers and this stretch is always interesting...but sometimes too noisy.

Glad I have only two ears...

Construction work is going on here...family says it is for MRTS. Whatever it is, I am sure they are not going to allow pets. Still, it is interesting to watch some action here. 

I love watching the little plants in the median. I get super tempted when I get to have a look at the roadside kitchen. Most of the times, the people working for constructing MRTS, hang a curtain around their kitchen. I would willingly give up my snacks to just see what gives such aroma.

Curtains block the vision but not the aroma...

Sometimes we walk in calm streets. These are the times I get to see many furry pals who don't have homes. Mom carries some biscuits with her at times. I would look at her pocket whenever I spot these street pals.

So, there are silent moms too!

One day, as we were returning home from a walk, a puppy started following us. She walked close to mom. When we stopped, she sat down and walked when we moved. 

Get her mom...you will never need to give her leash training

Mom gave her biscuits but she did not even sniff them. She just came after us till we reached home.

I feel so sorry for you kid...

Mom had to call dad to see the little one safely off. None of us felt good that day.

Getting to watch animals and birds is always exciting and I feel highly stimulated...the exception being cows and buffaloes. They make me feel defensive as there were a few instances when cows came running at us during walks.

I know mom finds it interesting to watch the nonverbal communication between dogs. She often captures those moments. 

It was one such moment. The mother dog asks the father not to bark at us as we are friends. The father of puppies, who started barking and running towards us, stopped right in his tracks.

It seems dads are good listeners...at times

Walking along the lake is very stimulating. It is so full of trees. It is an excellent treat to walk here on a breezy day. 

We should grow trees indoors mom

I have lots to watch, smell and hear. I have lots and lots to explore.

Oh, is this lake's leash?

I love walking on wet days too.

Wet weather means more animal scent for me

Every day I meet these goats and a lot more goats but mom never lets me close to them. And they don't come close either.

Grow up mom and let me socialize

I love all those that swim in the water. I enjoy looking at them. Deep inside, I very much crave to be a part of all these water activities.

Aren't you all too small to swim on your own?

But they set off and go in circles...

Will you follow me like this when I go swimming mom?

There are more around and I keep looking at each of them. 

Don't you think buying a collar for this bird would be costly mom?

Some birds are on their own...

Hope your partner is somewhere around

Some birds are always in groups...

Oh! All these water creatures don't have ears!

Lake walk delights my senses. One day, just as I was happily walking along the lake, I stopped suddenly and started sniffing. When I behave as if I am seriously involved in some sniff job, mom understands there is some cow or buffalo around. So, she said gently, "Come Chezhi, let's go and see where the cow is". 

And there it was...not a cow but a buffalo.

Nice to know you are pretty far

Some days, when we choose to go near the lake for a relaxed morning walk, my mom does not take me on the walkers' path. So, we just linger on a land close to the lake and watch some action. While this means no physical exercise for me, it gives me mental stimulation...to mom as well, because she keeps clicking pics.

One day, the sun looked so very different. 

Did the sun become moon mom?

Watching sun could be fun but only in the early mornings. Mom watches more of it and clicks pics while I get busy guarding the area to keep mom safe. But she keeps telling me, "Chezhi look here...Chezhi look there...Chezhi look at the tree". Oh, come on mom, I do love your excitement but I hope you realize I can't see all the colors that you see.

Looks like a sunflower mom...

Rising sun is always beautiful.

Oh, the sun climbs the tree first before rising on the sky?

Some days, mom keeps clicking a lot. But I never complain. I love the excitement and wait patiently for her. Here are some pics she took on a day when the sun was playing games.

Did the tree swallow the sun mom?

No, it did not seem so. 

But your shadow is still inside the tree, sun...

Few minutes later, the sun was out and away from the tree..."oh, the sky looks beautiful" said mom.

Does the sun rise everyday to send walkers home?

Beach visits are greatly stimulating. Right from the car ride to beach to the car ride back home, everything is interesting and stimulating - physically and mentally.

Am I taking one step at a time dad?

The beach was magnificent as usual.

Your pic is not complete without me mom

The sound of the waves is often unbearable. So, when the family led me into the waters, I broke free of my harness and ran towards the shore. Dad and mom came running after me, put me on harness and then...dad hugged me and mom clicked as usual.

Father's sorry is always accepted dad

What did mom learn?

Lessons learnt 

1) What are the benefits of dog parks?

2) Should you take your dog out for a walk everyday?

3) Is it fine to allow dogs to sniff during walks?

4) Can you walk your dog through the same route everyday?

5) How to make walking interesting for dogs?

6) How to keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated during walks?

7) What would be the ideal time to walk your dog?

8) Can you take your dog for a walk during rainy days?

9) Can dogs see the sky?

10) Can dogs see the sun? Is it ok if dogs see the sun?

11) Do dogs love to interact with other animals?

Answers I have learnt to all the above questions will make a separate post. I hope to upload the post in the near future.

Learning is an ongoing process in any field. As Chezhi's mom and her walking partner, I enjoy learning.