Your Dog Magazine January 2024 Back Issue

This January issue will land in your hands while Christmas lights still twinkle, so let’s embrace the festive spirit a bit longer. Here’s hoping the holiday season is filled with the joy of a sneaky bit of turkey shared with your dog, warmth of new blankets (free of mud and ‘doggy odour’), fun of watching your dog devour their new chew… and saving the best till last, the contentment found in a hearty long walk. We all dream of a snowy Christmas morning, but we’re just as ready for the reality of a drizzly windswept walk in the woods, tinsel adorning our jackets and paper cracker crowns still sitting on our heads.
The walks we share during this time are more than routine; they become a festive ritual. In our local communities, you might not know every passerby’s name, but the faces—and the dogs—are familiar. It’s this that makes our Christmas Day dog walk an essential tradition, particularly for those who spend the day alone.
There’s no doubt that living alone can be an empowering experience, but it can also bring moments of solitude that weigh more heavily around the festive period. Dogs, with their boundless affection and loyal companionship, are the perfect partners and numerous studies have shown dogs can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Their presence ensures a person never truly feels alone. They greet you with the same enthusiasm, whether you’ve been gone 10 minutes or 10 hours, not to mention the sense of security, invaluable for peace of mind.
As well as the benefits of exercise dog walking offers, dogs are also natural conversation starters, and can help break down social barriers and create interactions that might not otherwise happen. This is why I always think the Christmas Day dog walk is one of the most important to be part of in our communities. It’s a chance for everyone to feel some festive spirit from a fellow dog walker.
So thank you to all the dogs, big and small, out there by our side, doing what they do best… being a dog.