I’ve been thinking about gratitude having shared some reflections on the subject last week. And, I particular, I’ve thought about the need to “pause, breath, appreciate” as the antidote to my usual hurry-up-and-get-it-done approach to life. My Scottish terrier decided to give me an object lesson on the subject.

Since moving into the townhouse, my husband and I need to trade off taking the dog for walks every time our pooch needs to respond to the call of nature. I view the task as a utilitarian effort to get the job done as expeditiously as possible, particularly when the weather is less than hospitable. My dog views it as an opportunity to take in every smell that may have settled on a blade of grass, a leaf, a tree trunk, or even the sidewalk since his last go round. Our difference of opinion has not resulted in favorable results.

For several nights running on the last walk of the night, Brodie and I have been in a tug-of-war. I tried to move things along with (significant) pressure on his harness. He resisted. Even if I just gently attempted to move forward, he pulled in the opposite direction. I know that Scotties are stubborn, but even this behavior seemed atypical for the breed.

I decided to give dear old Google a try and see what some experts had to say about it. Reading through several posts, I was reminded of my dog’s need for stimulation and his pleasure at noticing every little scent to which his nose might be attuned. Other than eating, it’s his happy place. I learned that resistance was an instinctual response to my tugging and that, perhaps, giving him some slack (and judicious use of treats) might get better results. And, as I thought about it, I realized: What in the world was I doing trying to rush things anyway? Couldn’t I stop and smell the roses while he was doing it, too?

The last few nights, I’ve done just that. I’ve let him control the pace while I paused, breathed, and gave thanks. For the lovely neighborhood. For the freshly cut grass. For the Spring flowers. For the stillness in the air (and relief from the heat of the day). For the adorable little dog who has given us so much love and joy over the years. For the gift of life.

The tug of war has more-or-less ceased. We still have a few moments where I need to remind him that I’m the “alpha dog” in this relationship. But having cut him some slack for most of the walk, he falls in line pretty easily.

Thanks for the lesson, Brodie.