A dog (walk) a day keeps the doctor away

My dog Sonny truly is a remedy for anxious times. Walking around, blissfully unaware of the chaos of the world around him. I’m swapping out the morning doomscroll for his simpler version of surfing the net, one tree at a time:

“Happy bitch, eight years old, was here with a ball. Ate beef, feeling curious.”

“PSA, don’t eat the mushrooms over by the big oval.”

I’ve started making up stories for each tree (and the dogs that met it) on our morning walks – it has been such a lovely little escape from things.

My curiosity in canine communication was sparked when I watched the Netflix docuseries Dogs [trailer], which celebrates the interconnections between the lives of humans and dogs, telling stories of this remarkable bond across cultures all over the world.

The therapeutic benefits of my friendship with Sonny go far beyond me living vicariously through him on the morning strolls and scrolls. This article explains the neurological reasons why dogs are so good for people’s mental health.

In times like these, I’m thankful to have a friend like Sonny.