There are so many healthy and fulfilling hobbies out there, which is why DiRAD always encourages it’s employees to find the hobbies they’re passionate about. In this month’s Company Spotlight, we’re highlighting DiRADians who enjoy taking walks with their dogs as a healthy hobby. Regular walks are known to help lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce stress levels. Plus, spending time outdoors provides you with fresh air and vitamin D! Then there’s the added bonus of making the day of their fluffy companions.
What furry companion(s) do you take on walks with you?
Jamie B: Two adorable yorkies!
Rami H: Our golden retriever, Isla (“eye-la”) will turn seven next month and she still enjoys taking us for a walk! Yes, I said that correctly. She knows she is in charge of the experience, despite our wildly inconsistent attempts at training her.
Brooke S: Our crazy goofball, Jester. He’ll be 5 this year! Our COVID puppy.
John M: Wilson, our 11 year-old shih tzu.
Addison S: My wife and I have three dogs:
- Rosie – 7 year old Golden Retriever/English Shepherd mix
- Raiden – 3 year old Bernedoodle
- Wrexy – 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog
Where do you go for these walks? Local walking paths, around your own neighborhood, hikes, dog parks, your backyard, etc.
JB: I like to find trails that don’t have a lot of people! They’re yappy!
RH: We do have an extensive wooded trail system beside our house, but she gets so incredibly excited when we’re out there, she forgets herself, her limitations and completely overdoes it, which leaves her sore later. Better to just keep tabs on those pesky neighbor-dogs (and rabbits!) moving in on her territory!
BS: We try to take him around our neighborhood, but we also make lots of trips to Grandma & Grandpa’s to play frisbee and get lots of running in.
JM: We are lucky to have sidewalks throughout the neighborhood so we don’t have to worry about cars.
AS: We try to go everywhere with dogs. We live right by Massachusetts, so our most common walking destinations are the nearby towns of West Stockbridge or Great Barrington. Both are super peaceful and the dogs love it. They also love going into stores when they’re allowed, like Crossgates Mall, hardware stores, pet stores and Michaels. During the warmer months we take them with us hiking on nearby trails and they get to go off leash for a little bit. They’ve all also been on vacation with us in Maine and enjoy visiting the lighthouses, tourist-busy towns and the beach.
How do the walks go? What does your walking companion love to do? Meet new friends, sniff every mailbox, etc.
JB: Definitely depends on the area. They’re eager to always be ahead and make sure to smell all things in their path!
RH: Sniffing is her favorite part of the walk. She sniffs everywhere. Her pace is fast, faster, stop, faster still, backtracking a bit then peeing. Repeat.
BS: We’re working on training his leash reactivity. Likes to use his voice when he sees other four-legged friends, but when we’re in an open backyard/field, he has the time of his life. Frisbee is life.
JM: He’s obsessed with checking/leaving pee-mail. He also has a route that he sticks to, and we cross the streets to get to the best stuff like hydrants.
AS: Rosie and Raiden do well and stay on task. We worked to teach them to walk next to us instead of pulling on the leash, so they stay on task and are better at not getting distracted. Wrexy, however, is the most stubborn dog I’ve ever known and has been fairly resistant to learning to control her impulses on walks. But they’re all friendly and overall well behaved.
Do you both have a favorite time of day or favorite type of weather to go out in?
JB: Strictly warm weather lovers!!
RH: For the most part, she enjoys taking us on sunny mid-day or early evening walks in our neighborhood so she can investigate what all of the neighbor dogs have been up to.
BS: Summer is not Jester’s friend. All he wants to do is stay inside when it’s hot. As soon as the weather cools, getting him back inside is impossible. His fluff keeps him from being a summer boy.
JM: He must be walked everyday. No matter what the weather, he needs his walk. In this brutally cold weather, he wears a coat that he hates, but he gets cold easily.
AS: Rosie prefers the warmer months (she will actively pursue being in the sunlight over shade on hot days), but will settle for any weather. Raiden and Wrexy prefer colder weather by far and can overheat in the sun, so we need to make sure they get water more often on walks.
What is a fun fact about your pet?
JB: Nothing that really stands out. They have more Head scratching moments!
RH: She greatly enjoys all of her human neighbors and will lay down in the middle of the road if it means getting a belly rub from an almost stranger, but she is highly suspicious of any 4-legged neighbors. She agrees that she is not the model student but demands her Queen status anyway.
BS: Weighing in at 60lbs now, he was actually the runt of the litter when we got him! His favorite items in the world are his frisbee and his soccer ball.
JM: We have a mile loop in our neighborhood that Wilson still walks and jogs almost every day, even at eleven years old. I think it’s very important to get that workout!
AS: All three of our dogs are incredibly vain and love wearing clothes. Raiden, in particular, loves to show off sweaters and bandanas when they first go on. Rosie is certified locally as a therapy dog and my wife takes her to the hospital to visit staff and patients. We’re considering therapy dog training for Wrexy, too.
If someone is curious about getting a dog (or cat!) to go on walks with them, what do you think they should know ahead of time? How should they prepare?
JB: Definitely make sure you have the time for them!
BS: Be ready to put the time into training (not just potty training) and make sure you research if haircuts need to become part of your budget. Bath and haircut for this floofball is pricey!
JM: Veterinarians are getting expensive. Make sure you’re ready for the commitment. There are still too many dogs at shelters!! Once you start the walks, you can’t stop. Also, let your dog stop and smell everything during the walk. This is the most fun a dog can have — don’t just pull him along.
AS: This is a loaded question! Getting a dog is much more than for walks, but walks are important. There are plenty of online resources and communities that discuss the experiences of getting a dog. Consider the difference in getting a puppy versus getting an adult dog. A lot of people only consider getting a puppy, but we adopted Rosie when she was already 3 years old. One option has a lot less cleanup.