The other day on our walk, Myles, my “mini” schnauzer, was doing the absolute most.
Stopping every few seconds.
Sniffing one patch of grass like it held something important.
Completely distracted by… nothing I could see.
He reminded me of that one kid in kindergarten who just won’t stay in line. You keep saying “face forward,” and they’re turned around, fully committed to their own agenda.
At first, I was annoyed. Like, we do this walk every day. Why are we suddenly acting brand new?
But then I realized, it’s spring.
And for dogs, spring isn’t just a season, it’s a full experience. New smells, warmer air, more movement, everything shifting all at once. While I’m just walking, Myles is processing an entirely different world through his nose.
What looked like him being difficult was really him being aware.
So I slowed down. Let him sniff. Let him pause.
And the walk felt different, less like I was pulling him along, more like I was stepping into his world for a minute.
By the end of it, I had to laugh.
Dogs aren’t acting weird.
They’re just being dogs… and honestly, probably a little smarter than us as usual.
A Few Things Worth Reading
If you’ve noticed your dog acting a little different lately too, these are actually helpful:
- James & Ella — great breakdown on seasonal behavior changes and “spring fever” in dogs
- American Kennel Club — explains why dogs sniff so much and what they’re actually picking up
- Happiness Is Pets — helpful guide on allergies and behavioral shifts in pets
(Photo by Max Bvp on Unsplash.)
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