Is dog walking good for your mental health? Yes, Yes, Yes!!! - HOW dog walking pulled me out of a funk

It’s no secret that I think dogs are amazing (not all the time, sometimes they do things are downright bewildering) but I wanted to let you in on something I’ve been going through the last couple of weeks and how working with dogs has pulled me through.

I also wanted to introduce you to my brand new blog! 

I wasn’t planning on having my first post be so personal, because I am planning on providing content to help you with your dogs or your client’s dogs, but the dogs in my life have been so amazing this past couple of weeks that I wanted my first post to be in honor of them. 

Here’s why I’ve had a rough couple of weeks.  

For Six weeks I went gluten-free and I was feeling great! But for the last 2 weeks, I’ve had to load my body with gluten to get tested to see if I have coeliacs. 

And it has been a rough time. Like seriously rough.

I would never have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it myself but I’ve had such intense feelings of despair and worthlessness and the only things that have balanced me out were forcing myself to do yoga, making myself sit down to meditate and working with dogs. 

Even though I didn’t want to do any of these things (I really just wanted to stay in bed binge-watching Shadowhunters on Netflix), I knew that these feelings of utter despair were temporary, I knew why they were happening (I’d poisoned my body with some form of gluten that isn’t my friend) and I knew I needed to keep moving.  

I had to force myself to put one foot in front of the other, and I gotta say, having someone walking beside me with a big smile on their fuzzy face and looking at me like they loved me anyway, was incredibly helpful.

I knew working with dogs was going to be good for my soul and these last two weeks have really demonstrated to me how much I need them. And I’m guessing that if you’ve read this far, you probably need dogs too.

Sure they may poo in your shoes, or vomit up things you’ve been searching for, like your keys or that novel you were really enjoying, and it’s kind of annoying having to take them outside to the loo when you’re just about to snuggle into bed, but they really are just so special.

The dogs I’ve worked with the past two weeks have looked at me with such adoration in their eyes that it snapped me out of my misery, albeit temporarily, but when you feel like crap even a momentary feeling of normality is helpful.

I usually have a fairly robust sense of self, so it’s been startling to see the changes in my personality over the last two weeks from eating something that is everywhere! The logical part of my brain knew it would be over soon, but the emotions were heavy and as I’m not prone to depression it’s been a real eye-opener.

I just kept my head down and I avoided most people for fear that I’d say or do something I was going to regret and would have to apologize for.

I like eating but don’t really care about food. When I’m hungry, I eat the nearest, quickest thing. I hate thinking about food - planning, shopping and preparing meals, it’s just not my thing, and this lackluster attitude is coming back to bite me - like a dog who is expected to behave even though you haven’t given them any training or guidance!!!

I would love to hear how your dogs or your client’s dogs have changed your life, and if you’re also eating gluten-free, please send me any resources you found helpful because if I can shortcut my journey in any way I’ll take it!!  

I don’t want to spend the rest of my life trying to figure out what to eat, I’d much rather be creating useful content to help you with your dogs or your client’s dogs.

And the great news is, I’ve had my test so things are on the up and after my body detoxes I’ll be back to my normal, chipper self. Can’t wait!

Big love xx M