People seem to be more friendly when you are accompanying a dog.

I am not what people would call a typical dog person. I like dogs. I haven't lived in a house with dogs for many decades. I grew up with dogs.I have looked after friends’ dogs for up to a few weeks at a time while they travelled. I have taken dogs for a walk on an ad hoc basis when their owners find it difficult to walk them.

The other day a friend of my partner who is visiting had a Cavoodle dog who was very excited so I offered to take the dog for a walk just around the block. I often  walk a couple of times a day locally but this would be the first time in five years I've had a dog with me. So, it's interesting how more people smiled at me and give me eye contact and even said hello when I was walking the dog, rather than when I was alone.

Two young girls playing in the backyard with their mum,  saw the dog and called him over. The girls and their mum chatted to me. I would not have met these people if I hadn’t been walking the dog.

When I moved to this town it was at the start of covid so people would cross the road to avoid being near another human.

While I acknowledge the power that dogs and other animals and young children have in starting connections with other people, I wonder why we need a dog or a young child to help us communicate with strangers.

Moodscopers can you relate to my blog? Do you find it is easier to talk to people you don’t know if one of you has a dog or a young child? Can you think of a time when you met someone because you or they had a dog or other animal? I find when I am with my grandchildren people will talk to me and them, do others find children also help us to connect to others?

Leah 

A Moodscope member