Are Our Dogs Telling Us To Unplug?
Hello and welcome,
As Linda mentioned last week, we’re celebrating Scroll Free Week (all month) here at ‘Supporting Both Ends of the Lead’ this May.
I want to start today by asking you if your dog has ever nudged your phone out of your hand? Our recently lost girly used to do it ALL the time. Why? Well, because the phone not only removed our hands’ availability to stroke her - but it took away our focus too. She was the ultimate social dog - and loved to bask in human attention.
Dogs can’t connect with us through social media. We can’t send them an email. The only way we connect with them is physically - in the same space. And this is just one of many reasons why our dogs are such great teachers when it comes to living more mindfully - as they remind us to be present in the here and now.
A study by Dr Mantilla-Morron said: "Spending too much time in front of the smartphone facilitates sedentary behaviours, reduces the time of physical activity, which increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, different types of cancer, osteoarticular discomfort and musculoskeletal symptoms."
Conversely, people living with dogs are more likely to be physically active - taking regular exercise alongside their furry friends. So, we’re winning, right?
Perhaps physically we are. But we know that over-use of technology is also linked to poor mental health - with research linking compulsive Internet use to a range of mental health concerns including low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, social phobia, and even suicidal thoughts.
When I recently asked my client-base of dog parents what items they took on walks with their dogs - the number one thing on the list was their phone. While I understand it can be important to carry a phone with you in case of an emergency, it saddens me to see the number of people walking their dogs while glued to their phones. While our eyes are looking at a screen we’re missing important opportunities to connect with our dogs as well as the natural environment around us.
So, not only for your mental wellbeing - but for your dog's sake too… let's scroll less and engage more.
Until next time, keep screen time to a minimum,
Caroline