The 5 Types of Dog You'll Meet on an Autumn Walk

Autumn changes dogs.

All summer, you may have been living with a perfectly reasonable animal. Friendly. Obedient-ish. Capable of walking past a puddle without immediately entering it.

Then October arrives.

Suddenly the ground is covered in leaves, squirrels are behaving suspiciously, every patch of grass contains something worth sniffing for six minutes and your perfect companion has developed a powerful need to roll in mud.

This happens across dog breeds, sizes and personalities. Big dogs. Small dogs. The highly trained Border Collie. The tiny Coton de Tulear who looks as though they should be carried around on a velvet cushion.

Autumn finds them all eventually.

So, in the interests of scientific research, we have identified the 5 types of dog you'll meet on an autumn walk.

Your dog is almost certainly one of them.

Possibly several.

1. The Puddle Seeker

The Puddle Seeker does not simply encounter puddles.

They locate them.

They could be walking through 40 acres of dry ground and somehow find the one patch containing six inches of brown water.

To you, this is a puddle.

To your dog, it is an opportunity.

The approach usually begins with increased speed and a wagging tail. If you're lucky, you'll recognize what's happening early enough to shorten the lead and perform an emergency course correction.

If you're not, they're in.

Some dogs paddle. Some dig. Some drink from it despite having ignored the perfectly clean bowl of water you offered before leaving the house.

The advanced Puddle Seeker lies down.

This is particularly impressive when performed by a dog with a white coat.

A Coton de Tulear, for example, can leave home looking like a small cloud and return 45 minutes later looking like they've been working underneath a Land Rover.

It doesn't really matter what the breed is, though. Labradors, spaniels, terriers and plenty of small dogs can all develop a deep emotional connection with standing water.

Their owners may not share it.

You can train a good "leave" or recall, keep your dog close around particularly unpleasant water and ensure they're safe near deeper ponds and rivers.

But if your dog simply enjoys a harmless shallow puddle?

Accept that you're bringing a towel next time.

Probably two.

2. The Leaf Destroyer: proof dog breeds have no respect for landscaping

Some dogs see fallen leaves.

The Leaf Destroyer sees enemies.

A perfectly neat pile can be sitting beside the path, minding its own business, when your dog suddenly launches into it with the enthusiasm of an animal who has been specifically trained to ruin the council's morning.

They jump.

They dig.

They chase individual leaves.

They put their entire head underneath the pile and emerge looking genuinely surprised that there was nothing there.

The Leaf Destroyer tends to be playful, lively and completely convinced that the world has been arranged for their personal entertainment.

This behaviour isn't reserved for particular dog breeds either. A highly intelligent collie can do it. A tiny companion breed can do it. An elderly family dog who normally walks with great dignity can suddenly decide that today is the day.

Falling leaves move unpredictably, make interesting noises and carry the smells of the ground, plants and other animals, so there's actually plenty there to hold a dog's attention.

There may also be squirrels involved.

There are usually squirrels involved.

The main thing is to make sure your dog isn't trying to eat huge amounts of leaves or whatever mystery stuff is hiding underneath them.

Otherwise, let them play.

You weren't keeping the leaves.

3. The Squirrel Surveillance Officer: usually a Border Collie, spiritually if not literally

The Squirrel Surveillance Officer has a job.

Nobody gave them this job.

Nobody is paying them.

Nevertheless, they take it extremely seriously.

You will recognize this dog because they suddenly stop mid-walk and stare at a tree with one eye fixed on a branch approximately 40 feet above the ground.

You see a tree.

They see activity.

Potentially criminal activity.

A squirrel may have moved three branches away. There may be a pigeon somewhere nearby. A leaf might simply have fallen at a suspicious angle.

Either way, the officer is now on duty.

Certain dogs with strong chasing or herding instincts may be particularly interested in moving wildlife. A Border Collie can bring the sort of concentration normally reserved for air traffic control.

But terriers, sighthounds and plenty of other breeds are equally capable of spending ten minutes staring into foliage.

There is no meaningful conversation during this period.

You can say their name.

You can offer a treat.

You can remind them that you've already been walking for an hour.

Nothing.

The squirrel moved.

Obviously, safety matters here. Dogs with strong chase instincts should be kept on a lead or under reliable control around roads, livestock and areas where disappearing after wildlife could put them or other animals at risk.

A dog's natural instincts don't disappear just because they're normally obedient.

The squirrel doesn't care about your recall training.

The squirrel has chosen chaos.

4. The Mud Magnet: small dogs included

Some dogs come home dirty because the weather was bad.

The Mud Magnet gets dirty because it is their calling.

You can follow exactly the same path with two dogs. One comes back with slightly damp paws.

The other looks like they've been excavating a Roman settlement.

Mud appears on their tail, chest, face, neck and somehow the top of their head.

You do not know how.

They do not know how.

They appear delighted.

Long-haired dogs have a particular talent for collecting half the countryside on the way home. Spaniels may return with twigs, seeds and foliage attached to areas you didn't realize could hold twigs, seeds and foliage.

Even glamorous companion breeds are not immune. A Havanese or Coton de Tulear may be renowned for a beautiful, soft coat, but autumn has absolutely no respect for presentation.

Nor do most dogs.

A muddy dog is often simply a dog having a wonderful time: running, sniffing, exploring and interacting with the outside world.

The problems begin when the mud reaches the carpet.

For owners of a genuine Mud Magnet, the post-walk routine becomes almost military.

Dog enters.

Door closes.

Towel deployed.

No sudden turns.

Do not let them leave the mat.

Do not allow shaking.

You will fail at the last one.

If your dog has a longer coat, a quick check after autumn walks is worthwhile too. Remove seeds, bits of plant matter and anything caught close to the skin, and make sure paws are clean and dry.

Your dog will then immediately stand next to you while you clean the floor.

Loyalty.

5. The Autumn Refuser: often found among small dogs with standards

Not every dog thinks autumn is brilliant.

Some open the front door, feel the rain hit their face and immediately reassess whether going to the toilet is actually essential.

Meet the Autumn Refuser.

They are not afraid.

They are disappointed.

You suggested a walk.

Nobody mentioned weather.

This personality is especially common among dogs who enjoy warmth, comfort and having other people organize their lives correctly.

Certain small dogs, short-coated breeds and dogs with very little natural insulation may genuinely feel cold sooner than larger or thicker-coated companions.

But some are simply deeply unimpressed by rain.

They walk slowly.

They avoid wet grass.

They carefully step around puddles.

They may turn towards home every time you pause.

Their facial expression says you have damaged the relationship.

Chihuahuas are excellent at this, although plenty of other breeds can bring the same energy. A friendly, affectionate family dog who will happily spend all summer outside may suddenly decide in October that the sofa is the more responsible option.

If your dog struggles with colder weather, suitable clothing may help. A comfortable coat can make walks much more pleasant for short-coated, elderly or smaller dogs.

Just remember that the goal is warmth, not dressing them like an Italian duke.

Unless they enjoy that.

Then Italy is spiritually where they belong.

Which of the 5 types of dog you'll meet on an autumn walk is yours?

The truth is, dogs rarely stay in one category.

Your loyal, gentle family dog can begin the walk as an Autumn Refuser, become a Squirrel Surveillance Officer after five minutes, destroy a pile of leaves, locate a puddle and arrive home as a fully qualified Mud Magnet.

That's the charm of autumn.

The season gives dogs an entire new set of smells, textures, noises and things to investigate. For an animal that experiences so much of the world through scent and interaction with its surroundings, that's pretty exciting.

It also gives owners a considerable amount of washing.

Still, we'd rather have the walks.

So take the lead, bring a towel, keep an eye on anything they're trying to eat and accept that the beautifully clean dog who left the house may not be the dog who comes back.

If you're particularly lucky, they'll wait until they're standing in the hallway before shaking.

Very kind of them.