Why I Need Dog Walks in My Life (A Tehidy Woods Stroll)

The whole exercise thing was actually a huge factor in our decision to get a dog.

I can tell some people do wonder why we wanted to get a puppy so quickly; we’re both quite young and we picked Pepper up only two months after moving into our first home.

Other than the fact that puppies and dogs are adorable (obvs), our decision was largely based on how we both needed a reason to get out of the house and do some exercise. We both sit in front of a computer all day for work, and have a penchant for takeaway pizza, so it was a necessary thing.

I can confirm that there are 101 other reasons why we adore Pepper, and we don’t just keep her for her insatiable energy and need for walks, but it is a great benefit to having a furry four-legged friend.

Here are a few reasons why I need daily dog walks in my life:

1. Work that metabolism

I have a bad history with exercise, and the only types I do now are walking, swimming or paddling (in a kayak or SUP… I don’t actually count splashing around in a foot of water exercise, don’t worry). Pepper is high-energy, so not going for a walk isn’t an option, and most days she needs more than one.

Without a fast-paced long walk each day, my metabolism would be at a snail’s pace, and I probably wouldn’t fit into the clothes I’m wearing now – let’s just put it that way.

2. Clear your head

Sometimes at the end of a long day, or when things are getting stressful at home/work, there is nothing better than getting out for a peaceful woodland walk and letting the air and exercise clear your head.

I never thought I’d be someone who needed fresh air and actual movement to put me in a good mood, but it’s a wonderful unexpected benefit of walking the dog.

3. Explore new places

The same old routes get boring quickly when you are clocking two walks each day, so it had encouraged me to be adventurous and seek out new dog friendly walks around Cornwall to make our routine more interesting.

See a list of my favourite dog walks in Cornwall!

4. Make friends

Around our local walks we tend to see the same people over and over, and it’s amazing how quickly you start to make friends in your area.

It’s also fun to meet up with existing friends for a dog walk and a chat, and let Pepper make some new buddies too. Hannah (Oh January) and I met at Tehidy to let Bob and Pepper get to know each other and they got on swimmingly!

PS. Bob is so cute <3

5. Create a balance

Both N and I are what you might call ‘workaholics’, and I have no doubt that if we didn’t have a dog to walk and care for, we’d be at our laptops for 12+ hours a day.

We still work into the evenings some nights, but we definitely have a better balance of life because we are forced to stop work and do fun things with Pepper.

6. Become less of a hermit

As above, not only are we ‘workaholics’, we’re also both extremely introverted. Without the dog walk reason, I would rarely leave the house – and from past experience I know long bouts of no social interaction usually makes me feel more anxious being social when I do have to leave the house, so it becomes a circular problem.

I owe not being an agoraphobic hermit to Pepper, for sure.

Do you love walking the dog? Or has the novelty worn off?