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  1. #1
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
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    What do you say?

    I totally love my walks with my dogs in the park. There have been a few occasions where I arrive and run into someone I know who wants to join us. I don't know what to say. I usually just make like it's great to have the company however I am one of those people who needs a bit of solitude to decompress. It's not that I'm not social honestly. And there is this one friend who constantly tells me to text her when I plan to go walking. One time along time ago I mentioned that I really prefer that quiet time...I think she forgot. So what do I say?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Can you do what I do? If we meet and I want to go faster or slower I just take a turn and say, "We're going this way." We are usually on bush trails though so this is easy to do. I do feel badly but one lady I was friendly with and our dogs were friendly wanted to meet up but she moved at a snail's pace so I never did phone her. If I meet her now we just do what we did before, walk a bit and that's it.
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  3. #3
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    I've got a built-in excuse for not joining up with slower people....my back (sacroiliac) can't handle slower or stop-and-go walking until I've warmed it up with a good long fast walk. So the dogs get walked after my solo exercise walk. You can walk with me if I've got my dogs....but not if I'm by myself. And I can't stand still for any length of time to gab. "I've got to keep going or my back will seize up."

    I've made the mistake a few times of saying "OK" to someone who wanted to join me and I paid the price for that...don't do it anymore.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    Im the slow folk and I decline walking with friends because I hate being left behind.

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Blackboy98's Avatar
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    Be honest with her and tell her this is your quiet time to unwind with your dog and the sounds and sights of nature. A good friend will understand honor your request. Good luck on your 'me' time.
    Last edited by Blackboy98; 07-31-2017 at 07:11 AM. Reason: spelling
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  6. #6
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
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    wow. I guess she is pretty persistent or...something else.... because I have done ALL of these things. I started off telling her that I like this quiet time...and when my dd is with me I utilize this time to talk with her-really talk with her. Her dd is the same age and the girls are very good friends so that is most of the reason she insists on coming along so the girls can have time together. Her child does not listen very well and often will slow down to have more time with my dd. (hence the reason I do not do play dates for my dd with this child often -because the girl doesn't follow rules) Sometimes they pull in seconds after we do and I'm like so annoyed because I was looking forward to that time...

  7. #7
    Best Friend Retriever soberbyker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackboy98 View Post
    Be honest with her and tell her this is your quiet time to unwind with your dog and the sounds and sights of nature. A good friend will understand honor your request. Good luck on your 'me' time.
    This answer was what I suggest as well. It bothers you enough to share it here on the forum so you may need to be more insistent with her, that you prefer to walk alone.

  8. #8
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Got me stumped. Was going to say that maybe walking together very infrequently to keep the friendship. Maybe during those infrequent walks together explain how you use that time to unwind and decompress, that you are not ignoring her but need your time with your pup. Then again, if done once, she may think it should be an every time thing. Not sure if she would take the hint.
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