Do you walkitask?

lol in other words, do you multi-task while walking the dog?

I see all kinds around here.. purists who only have a leash on them with their dog all the way to people whom I lovingly call "mobile offices" which I am so guilty of haha, dog leash in one hand, headset talking to one person while also typing on the blackberry and going through flash cards or something lol

Mostly.. I listen to my ipod to/from where we are going (usually to the park) and then turn it off and play with my dog while we are there, although if it's a long park day I will bring a book.

What about you?

I can't imagine being able to listen to an iPod while walking Frodo, lol. I'm not stressed when I walk him, but I have to be able to hear people coming up behind us, or tags jingling behind a fence to manage him best. I don't think I would anyway though, I love just walking with Frodo, so I guess I would definitely fall more on the "Purist side" of the spectrum.

A couple weeks ago Ryan and I took Frodo for a walk in the park with coffee. And it was a HUGE deal. COFFEE! Would have never done that a couple months ago, because I would have spent the whole time managing/shoveling treats in his face at every trigger.

Coffee! Best. Day. Ever.

I totally multitask!

I usually just walk. Sometimes I'll text, or listen to music, but not often.

I walk the dog to the bank sometimes, does that count? LOL. I don't multitask - walks are exercise and relaxation for me. I never could understand people jogging with headphones on, either. I want to experience outside after working indoors all day.

If I have my camera and actually get it out, then yeah I'll be taking pictures as we go.

But mostly? No. Then again I job my dogs as much than I walk them so that would make flashcards difficult . The real reason though is that I'm a just a dogdork and really enjoy spending that time with my dogs in relaxed companionship.

I do it at home in the yard sometimes but especially with the puppymonster here, that time is usually unstructured training and play time so I'm normally busy with that.

I'll usually have iHeartRadio going on my phone, but I don't use headphones with it... dog or no dog, I want to be aware of what's going on around me!

But other than that, I just walk. I sometimes have a conversation with Juno. lol but I need the music otherwise it's too quiet and kinda boring.

Not really. That's time for rosey and I and I enjoy it sometimes I'll take her to the coffee shop, but that's cause I was going out to specifically go to the coffee shop

The most I'll do is read a text while walking, but that's about it. And that's only if I'm with Logan because he does guide work and street crossings. Other than that, it's just the dog and me.

No, not really.

When I walk Missy Ab, I have to remain vigilant and one step ahead of her and other dogs/people. So I'm pretty wired on those walks... so it's also an effort to keep an appropriate levels of calmness some days. Lots of conflicted thought processes and feelings lol - I'm mightily exhausted after some of our walks!

When I walk Grace or Locke, it's blissful and I just do a lot of thinking and chattering to them. Nice mindless fun, whilst still feeling connected.

I don't walk anywhere without headphones in.. lol and certainly can't go running without music.
At the park is one thing, I'm engaged with my dog but walking to/from he is just as busy as I am sniffing and checking out the new things on the city floor lol

Yes. So guilty of this. I listen to music, watch movies on the phone, talk to friends, etc. while walking Trent. Not for the entire duration of the walk - we always have at least 30 minutes to an hour every walk set aside for play and sometimes training. Occasionally I will have only one ear "plugged in".

I'm entirely too much of a music addict to resist, but in some cases it actually helps. Trent's only issue is selective dog reactivity, and I have noticed that he's fed off my tension from time to time, when I spot the dog before he does. Benefits of being unaware of my surroundings.

Usually I just walk lol, sometimes I'll text or answer a call but not very often

I don't. Usually I am walking multiple dogs and while they're well behaved, it does require focus. And if I'm walking them off leash, I need to be able to watch what everyone is doing and where they're going. I don't need any distractions.

Also though, I just don't like to listen to music or anything on a dog walk. I feel closed off from the world. I like to be able to be fully aware of my surroundings.

With that said, I bet I would enjoy leashed walks a lot more if I listened to music. Leashed walks bore me so much unless I'm walking through a nice provincial park or something.

I don't. I actually feel guilty if I even answer a text. However, we rarely just "walk" and are normally training something/making the dogs work/throwing a disc/etc. We do off-leash hikes a lot but I need to be aware of wildlife at all times so I can't be to preoccupied otherwise a coyote may just steal a merle thing.

I don't except for picture taking sometimes. I do carry treats, clicker and tennis balls though.

My dogs are high maintenance. I focus on them when we walk.

As I let them off leash at the trail (and its long and straight so no one can sneak up on us) I listen to my mp3 player (ipod or sansa clip) as we go. I live on a farm, I get the out of doors lol... But the dogs are out there to trundle and run and sniff. We are together but not at the same time, so I don't feel guilty listening to things as I go.

Sometimes, if its early morning and the birds are really singing I will listen to them instead.

This is us.

Sometimes, sometimes not. Well, at least for listening to music. I typically if I'm listening to music will leave an earbud out to hear and I still interact (sometimes more enthusiastically) with them. But I love music so I typically do listen to it while walking them.

When I'm biking with Traveler I'm always listening to music, again with one earbud only.

I will talk on the phone while walking them on leash, not usually when they are off leash. Though typically it's the other way around, I'll walk them while talking on the phone. IE, someone calls me and I feel silly just sitting and talking so I grab the dogs and walk while I talk to them.

I don't really text while out with them because then more focus is on looking at my phone, typing right and thinking of a reply.