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The immediate trouble with this practice is that it extends the consequences of phone entrancement (let’s employ the clumsy portmanteau: “phone-trancement�), to an innocent species that has co-evolved with us and relies on our leadership. When you mess around on your phone while walking your dog, you’re often not aware of other humans or dogs approaching: individuals to whom your dog may have an aversion. This can cause a lot of chaos. Example: if your twenty-pound terrier were approaching a towering Irish Wolfhound on the sidewalk, I’m betting the terrier would want you to see the Wolfhound coming and proceed with caution. Otherwise, you’re putting the terrier in a vulnerable position that will likely result in: a) intense fear; b) interminable yapping. If both dog owners are staring into their phones, it may result in the Wolfhound having the terrier for a midday amuse bouche.

As a dog owner myself, I take my four-year-old Cane Corso, Toni, to Warden Woods and Silver Birch Beach most days where she can run around off-leash and go swimming to cool down in the summer heat. This is her to roam free and get out her ya-ya’s. But when I’m walking her on-leash, she knows that . Accordingly, I remain somewhat mindful of humans, dogs and inanimate objects (garbage bins really freak her out), in our path that may agitate her. I don’t always let people pet her and I’ve learned it’s never a good idea to introduce her to other dogs on-leash. Admittedly, even though I probably shouldn’t, I sometimes listen to music or podcasts while I’m walking her. But even in this scenario I can still scan our path and guide her accordingly.

There are, in fact, many benefits to tuning your attention to your environment, a skill that in fancy-science-speak is called exteroception. Developing your sense of exteroception means that you will attune to social cues from fellow pedestrians and dog walkers — people you presumably call your “neighbours.� Believe it or not, there are perks to establishing with these strange beings. They may someday rescue your cat, cook you a kebab or jumpstart your car. You will hone your hunter gatherer skills, taking note of the new shawarma or sushi spot in the neighbourhood that may well have a killer promotion on. Best of all, you’ll learn to look well ahead so that you and your canine companion can respond with calm confidence when there’s trouble on the horizon (aka, sinister garbage bins).

While I’m being somewhat glib in writing this, I’m also dead serious. What we’re sacrificing when we get sucked into our phones at inappropriate times is our agency, our awareness and our sense of care and concern for ourselves and each-other as living, feeling, sentient beings. Walking our dogs can be a time to enjoy a warm bond with these lovable, loyal companions. It can be a time to mindfully connect with our environment, get some exercise and disconnect from the increasingly overwhelming stresses and concerns of the day.