13/07/2025
I Know Where I’m Going
You might have seen us going up the road, back down again, stopping to sniff, sitting in one spot for a while.
But I know exactly where I’m going.
There was a time when going for a walk was the best thing but then it became scary. A loud bang, something I couldn’t predict, made me feel unsafe in the world.
Some dogs might thrive on new places, novel experiences and variety in their routines. For those dogs, change is enriching and brings joy. But we’re not all the same and we don’t need to be.
What helps one dog grow might overwhelm another. The most important thing is that we’re understood and supported for who we are.
Familiar and predictable surroundings help dogs like me feel safe, having control over our environment helps build confidence and emotional resilience, routine helps to reduce stress without adding pressure, force or fear from anyone telling us how we should feel.
To some, that might look boring or repetitive, no set goal, no training as such. But to me, it is comfort, reassurance and predictable.
When I know what to expect, I feel relaxed, I don’t feel on high alert, I can stop focusing on what might happen and start to explore with calm and confidence.
I began to enjoy my walks, asking to go out, walking a little further. I started sniffing more, noticing the world again, not with panic but with curiosity.
I still hear everything, I might just flick my ears, pause for a moment, turn in the direction of where I heard the sound, sometimes turning to my human, asking “Did you hear that?” when she stays calm and acknowledges, yes I hear that too, I know I’m not alone.
I get to choose how far we go. How long we’re out and when it’s time to turn back. Because of that freedom, I’ve grown, giving me a sense of agency, healing and learning that the world I felt so anxious about is safe and predictable again.
So next time you might see us going past you a few times, just know, Im not being difficult, I don’t feel stuck. To me, this is everything because I know where I’m going.
From Murphy xx