Science is observation: What I learned while walking my dog
by Jen Davies, nerd
Feb 25, 2026
About a year and a half ago my spouse and I adopted a dog for the first time. She is a black lab and boxer mix, so she wants to be everyone's friend but you have to know she's in charge. We've had cats, but this was the first dog, and walking her daily has led to some observations on my part. And as a social scientist, I realize there are lessons I can learn from my dog.
Lots I can't see
Sometimes my dog stops to sniff nothing, just spots on the road or in people's yards, and there is absolutely nothing that my eyes can see that could have drawn her attention. Clearly there's something there (probably another dog's pee from the day before), but I can't detect it. And that reminds me that human senses are so very limited: we only see a segment of the light spectrum, our noses are pretty good but we miss a lot compared to molecules that are available in the air, and other senses like hearing and touch are pretty limited.
And this is true in the rest of life beyond sensory questions, there is just a lot that I don't know because I'm never exposed to it. There are ideas, arts, and facts that I never hear about. That's partly why I try to read a lot from sources that seem trustworthy due to who the author is, but of course I'm limited to what's available in English because I don't read any other language very well. (My French isn't bad, but I miss a lot of cultural meaning because it isn't fluent for me.) So there's a lot I don't know, and will likely never know - so when something new DOES catch me attention, like my dog I should stop and examine it!
Lots I don't see
My dog will often stop in her tracks and stare at something, and I'll be confused, and then realize there's a dog looking out of someone's living room window at her. I would never have noticed te dog in the window, but of course she's hoping to play so she never misses the silent look through the glass. Brain research tells us that human senses capture WAY more information than our brains can consciously process, so I'm only ever aware of a fraction of what my senses are picking up (which remember, is already only a fraction of what I'm exposed to in the environment). So there is a lot of information that I'm perceiving, but simply do not see / hear / feel etc because my brain is prioritizing, lest I be overwhelmed.
It's a helpful reminder to maybe pause and pay attention to something small once in a while, to gain some awareness of those things that I don't usually take the opportunity to prioritize. It might be the flowers growing among the grass in my yard. It might be the sparkle of individual snowflakes on the window of my car while I'm clearing it off. I'm not usually aware of those things, because I don't choose to see them.
Pleasure in little things
That last observation reminds me that I should probably imitate my dog more, and take pleasure in little things in my life. My dog's favourite things are chew toys (I can buy the same ones over and over as they wear out, and she still loves them) are freeze dried chicken. I have tried buying her fancier toys, and they don't catch on. I have tried buying her fancier food, and it's hit or miss - but she always loves chicken. Oh, and she loves to hang around in the yard when the weather is good, and chase the chipmunks and lie in sunbeams.
That's good advice for me too. There are things all around me that are easy to access and heck, even present in front of me right now, that bring me a lot of pleasure if I take a moment to enjoy them. I love a fine cup of coffee (and hot). I love watching snow fall (I just have to push away the knowledge that I will have to shovel it later). I love talking with my spouse, and even with my dog although she doesn't say much back. And enjoying those things recharges my batteries every day, versus other things that I might use to recharge like a fancy vacation or an object.
My dog's life is pretty good (because we're good to her). And it seems like she's teaching me a thing or two! Who or what else teaches you in your life? I encourage you to pay attention to your informal teachers.
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