Step-by-stone-step across the stream at Bishan Park

We were scheduled to meet with some small dogs for the first time.

And because we had a not so successful introduction to another dog before, and knowing that Donna can sometimes be overly friendly and want to approach some dogs we walk pass on our walks. And also that she has, admittedly, a past history of antagonistic relationships with other female dogs – namely her mother, siblings, a former cell-mate called Grace – I thought it prudent to take the dog for a long walk in the morning…  2 hours. :P *pats self on the back*

Aside: Doggerel recently published a post on that gives  the key points how to introduce unfamiliar dogs, if you are interested.

We went to the pretty Bishan Park. (I have more pictures and a related news article on my previous post on this link to dog urban agility at Bishan park, if you are interested.)

One of the lovely features in the park is the man-made stream that runs through the length of it. At various points of the stream, there are stone steps that one can traverse across to get to the other side for the fun of it. We’ve never tried going across them before, but there’s always a first for anything isn’t it?

So I thought hey, Donna can parkour across the stream by hopping across the stone steps!

But first, the coast has got to be clear, so we waited for this man to come across. I thought to take a picture of Donna before she starts her journey across the stream, but she didn’t want to stay. She wanted to forge ahead.

And perhaps because she was fronting me and being very assertive about it, she gave a bark at the man when he came across and towered over her. Very numbskull of me to let us be in that position, I know. Lesson learnt and still learning. Again. If I don’t focus on the walk the dog won’t too. Did you read the post about the time how she ate the cupid’s shaving brush that I was trying to photograph? Same thing.

But of course, the human was easily distracted… again. Here’s a picture of a psychedelic clutch of eggs stuck to the side of the rock. The pink eggs were apparently laid by giant apple snails.

..usually found in aquarium shops… (Giant apple snails) have yellow shells, but those found in the wild usually have a .. brownish-green coloring due to the algae and food consumed.  They lay their eggs on boulders and leaves above the waterline in bright pink clutches. These (soft, milky coloured) eggs … harden within hours. …after 2-4 weeks, the baby snails eat their way out and drop into the water… The naturalized river has provided an ideal habitat for snails …thus, numbers are very large here at Bishan Park and we need to clear them when the population (explodes)… They can grow as large as fist sized. – source: FOBP

Back to the dog that was supposed to hop, skip, jump with flair across the river, except she didn’t.

Nope, took it into her head that she should just wade into the water. – – I should have known dogs can’t read the minds of humans very well.

So anyway, I did get her back on the stone steps, so you can see there’s a slightly better picture of her looking to the right as we paused mid-stream for the photo. :P I only took a couple with none too steady hands, because we were perched on wet rocks. I had one hand on her leash, and the other on my phone, which has no warranty against water damage. – – So you should be wondering why I was foolhardy to attempt it at all. But we did make it safely across, hooray!

There was a lady with a very calm beagle waiting to cross from that side when we landed. The meeting between the two dogs was peaceful. :D And you can see midway across the stream, that little beagle was still stopping and turning back to look at us.

I quite like the skies that morning.