Hello

Hello Magenta and welcome to our community. We have a wide mix of ages and interests on this site. I am a recently diagnosed autistic person and it is much easier for me to engage with others online than in person. I would like to see other people more but I can’t always manage it and it is hard to make friends. I don’t knit, crochet or do any type of handicraft, but I enjoy the garden and going for long walks with my dog. I enjoy reading and keeping up to date with archaeological developments in the Levant, alongside some archaeological developments closer to home. I hope you enjoy being part of this community.

Hello ArchaeC, dog walking can be quite meditative I think, I like taking a quiet route with my dog, looking at trees and letting him sniff everything. Reading is great, I also like reading.  I don't know much about archaeology - though it sure seems like an interesting topic! 

Yes dog walking can be meditative as there is a certain predictive rhythm to it, but it depends on where we go. I am fortunate that we can walk in the countryside or by the sea. Usually the walks in the countryside are quieter so they would be my first choice. The sea shore walks can be busy with other people so I tend to avoid them at weekends and holiday times. 

Your dog must be happy that you give him time to sniff when he is out. It is fascinating to think that much of how they make sense of the world is through their noses. I too let my dog sniff and we go on ‘sniffaris’, with him choosing the route and the pace. I don’t think dog behaviourists existed when I was young, but I have learned that giving dogs a choice in life, such as letting them stop and sniff, is importantly for their welfare. I have read a few books on dog behaviour, but I haven’t always put everything into practice and my dog’s selective recall will testify to that.

Yes dog walking can be meditative as there is a certain predictive rhythm to it, but it depends on where we go. I am fortunate that we can walk in the countryside or by the sea. Usually the walks in the countryside are quieter so they would be my first choice. The sea shore walks can be busy with other people so I tend to avoid them at weekends and holiday times. 

Your dog must be happy that you give him time to sniff when he is out. It is fascinating to think that much of how they make sense of the world is through their noses. I too let my dog sniff and we go on ‘sniffaris’, with him choosing the route and the pace. I don’t think dog behaviourists existed when I was young, but I have learned that giving dogs a choice in life, such as letting them stop and sniff, is importantly for their welfare. I have read a few books on dog behaviour, but I haven’t always put everything into practice and my dog’s selective recall will testify to that.