The most common answers are: calm, pleasure, nice. The word balance also often comes up. And that’s a great term because it doesn’t refer to a single emotion, but to returning to equilibrium, to homeostasis. To something we are naturally drawn to.

Connection with Nature = A Key Need for Dogs

One of the most important needs for a dog is contact with nature. But not just for dogs—us humans too. The natural environment supports the regulation of the nervous system. Evolution has tuned us to life among trees, paths, and open spaces. Meanwhile, living in an apartment, city noise, and the daily rush not only make this harder, but actually throw us off balance.

The “Cup” Principle

A dog’s emotional resilience to stressors can be compared to a cup. Every experience, new stimulus, stress, or tension adds a few milliliters of liquid to it. When the cup overflows, even a dog who usually handles things well starts to overreact. You may notice irritability, increased reactivity, barking, pulling on the leash, and sometimes even aggression.

Many owners realize that after a walk, their dogs aren’t returning calm—they’re excited. Instead of relaxing, they are releasing stress. Does this pattern sound familiar?

A Walk in Nature = Emptying the Cup

A walk in nature should be an opportunity to empty that cup. It’s a moment to regulate tension. It also satisfies the need for varied movement, as the dog uses all of its senses—tracking, listening, observing. It integrates sensory stimuli by experiencing different smells, surfaces, and textures. The dog explores the area, checking who has been there and what animals left their marks.