Diggory Turns Five This month.

Diggory turns five and, as always, birthdays make me a little reflective.

As we were out walking this morning, I found myself thinking about how much he has shaped not only the way I work with dogs, but also the way I see them.

When Diggory first came into my life, I had all the usual hopes and dreams. I wanted a dog I could enjoy adventures with, take to new places and trust off lead. Like many dog owners, I imagined the journey towards those things would be built through training. Better recall. Better lead walking. More focus.

The Lesson I Keep Coming Back To

What I didn’t realise at the time was that the lesson I would keep coming back to over the years had very little to do with obedience at all.

It was connection.

Not the kind of connection that asks a dog to ignore the world around them, but the kind that allows them to experience it whilst remaining emotionally available.

Learning to Appreciate the World Through His Eyes

One of the things I love most about Diggory is how much he enjoys being out and about. He notices everything. A scent drifting across a field, movement in the distance, a change in the environment that I would have walked straight past without a second thought.

I wouldn’t want to take that away from him.

In fact, I think that’s one of the reasons many of us love dogs so much. They help us notice things we might otherwise miss.

Yet if you’ve ever lived with a highly sensitive or high-energy dog, you’ll probably know that there can be a fine line between curiosity and becoming completely absorbed by the environment.

When I Realised I Was Asking the Wrong Question

There were certainly times when I found myself wondering how I could become more interesting than whatever Diggory had just spotted or smelt. I think many of us have been there. We head out for a walk together and suddenly it feels as though we’re competing with the world around us.

Over time, though, I realised I was asking the wrong question.

I didn’t actually want Diggory to ignore the world.

I didn’t want him glued to my side, looking at me every few seconds for reassurance or direction.

What I wanted was for him to be able to enjoy all the things that make him who he is, whilst still remaining connected enough that we could experience those moments together. That feels very different.

These days, when I think about freedom, I don’t really think about distance. I don’t think about how far a dog can run or how long they can stay off lead. I think about capacity.

Can they notice something interesting and then move on?

Can they become interested in a scent and still remain emotionally available?

Can they experience excitement without becoming completely overwhelmed by it?

Can they return to connection when it matters?

For me, that’s what connected freedom looks like.

The Small Moments Matter Most

It’s not always dramatic and it certainly doesn’t always make for exciting social media content. More often than not, it looks like a small glance back, a dog choosing to move with you, or a moment where they notice something in the environment and then carry on with their walk.

The more I work with dogs, the more I realise that these small moments are often the ones that matter most.

They’re the moments that tell us our dogs are thinking.

They’re the moments that tell us they are coping.

They’re the moments that remind us that connection doesn’t have to mean constant interaction.

Looking Back

As I reflect on five years with Diggory, I think one of the greatest gifts he has given me is a different perspective on what freedom really means.

Freedom isn’t about controlling every decision our dogs make, it’s also not about giving them complete independence and hoping for the best.

Somewhere between those two extremes sits a relationship where both dog and human can move through the world together, noticing, exploring, learning and sharing experiences, whilst remaining connected along the way.

That’s the journey I’ve been on with Diggory.

It’s also the journey that sits at the heart of everything I now teach through the Calm Rhythm Method™.

So if you’re heading out on a walk with your own dog today, perhaps take a moment to notice where connection already exists.

You might find it’s present in more places than you realise.

Ready To Explore This Journey Further?

If this way of thinking about off-lead freedom and calmer adventures resonated with you, there are a couple of ways you can continue exploring the Calm Walk Journey™.

✨ Download the Calm Walk Guide

A gentle introduction to calmer, more connected walks through the Calm Rhythm Method™.

HERE

Wherever you are in your journey, remember:
off-lead freedom starts long before the lead ever comes off, check out this previous Blog – Off Lead Training – The Calm Unclip