Man Creates A Dog-Walking Group For Guys Who Need A Buddy To Talk About Their Problems
Rob Osman’s life in Bristol took a hard turn before it started to get better. For years, the 38-year-old dealt with anxiety and depression, and at one point he was living in his sister’s basement with no windows or daylight, smoking large amounts of weed.
Things began to shift when he studied psychology and counseling at university, but the biggest change came from something much simpler, long walks with his Hungarian Vizsla, Mali. That routine helped him feel calmer, and it gave him an idea that turned into Dudes & Dogs, a group built around fresh air, conversation, and men opening up.
What started as one man and one dog soon became a much bigger conversation about how guys deal with their problems. Read on.
Talking helps. It really does, Osman says on the group’s website. It’s helped him immensely, but sometimes, as men, we aren’t the best at it. Well, Dudes & Dogs wants to change that for the next generation. There is no doubt that things are changing. We want to be a part of that. By simply getting outside and talking things through, we can start to change our mood.
It all began during one of those windy, cold, and wet days that the UK is so well known for. Rob didn’t want to go out, mainly because of how he was feeling.
But the dog didn’t care that her owner felt terrible. She didn’t care that the weather was lousy; she just needed to go out and play. It’s been the best therapy I’ve ever had, Rob said.
Soon, Osman started inviting his friends on walks with Mali. Some days, they would talk, but often they just hung out. What was most important was that he noticed his buddies were also benefiting from the dog and the fresh air. This inspired him to include more people, more men.
Men often hesitate to seek mental health treatment. A study by Priori showed that 40% of men don’t want to talk to anyone about their mental health. However, dogs seem to help ease them into discussing it.
They need someone to listen, Osman says. The idea of using a dog gives people an hour away from family and gets them out. Dogs are like four-legged antidepressants. When people are around them, they drop their defenses and play with the dog.
This also feels like the story of an 80-year-old retiree who built an adorable dog train for his rescued furry friends, right here.
To find out more about this program, watch the video:
Here’s what guys who took a walk with Rob have to say about it
Want more heartwarming chaos? See how a stray mama dog tried to get help at a bachelor party, here.
Share this article:
