The dog stole my phone (& why that’s not so funny)

Google the words 'the dog stole my phone' and you’ll find endless videos of dogs stealing their owner’s mobiles. While they’re meant to be funny, they’re also quite telling in that it seems our pets have worked out something many of us struggle to admit: that phones can divert our attention, our emotion, and even our love – away from many things that really matter (including dogs apparently!) We’re addicted.

In just a few short years, the mobile phone has often become an all-consuming device, training us ‘Pavlovian style’ to respond to a 'ping' or vibration and eagerly unlock the next vital message.

What’s somewhat ironic is that it’s our pooch pals that are trying to tell us something: ‘Make time to put your phone down and connect with the real world’. Dogs desperately want our attention and it’s amazing to think they’re the ones that have figured out that their biggest rival is a little electronic device.

I get it. You might get a lot of enjoyment from your phone and they have many plus sides of course, but the question is ‘what is it replacing?’ or, ask yourself, ‘do I have a balance between time spent on my phone, and off it?’

There is a lot of research about the up-sides of tech-free time and the wellbeing benefits of getting out and about in nature (Healthy Parks, Healthy People, SA Govt 2016-2021) and let’s face it, time on tech is usually time spent indoors, or at least not truly engaged with the environment you are in.

Do you know how much time are you spending on your phone? Internet addiction is real and it’s one of the fastest growing addictions in the world¹.

There are several apps available to help you manage your on-screen time, such as AntiSocial - developed by Melbourne software company Bugbean to monitor people’s use of social media. According to AntiSocial's developer Chris Eade, Australian men and women spend about two hours a day on their phones, and that is not including use for music streaming, video streaming, or making calls - that is pure Facebook, web surfing, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat².

When you are immersed in your digital phone world, you’re probably spending less time being mindful – just sitting quietly with your own thoughts and thinking how you are feeling³. It also means you’re likely to be having less conversation and creating a true connection with other humans; intimate conversations with eye contact and touch.

So, where does that leave our humble pooch? Evidence shows that dogs keep you more active. Researchers have discovered that, even during days with bad weather, dog walkers were more active than non-dog walkers were on the nicest days*.

So, listen to your furry friend – put down that phone and go for a walk. Dogs on a leash are welcome in the Adelaide Park Lands and there are even a couple of designated places where dogs can play off-leash and enjoy some social time of their own.

If you really can’t let go of that phone while you’re out with the pooch, use it to take some playful photos together or download one of the many apps that can help you create videos of your time in nature together - like 1 Second Everyday, where you can compile a full length video using a collection of 1 second video clips!