Ever since I decided to take Donna down three times a day for her morning walk and two pee breaks, to cut down on the cleaning and disinfecting I need to do at home, I get out of the house more often.

But going down just for the dog to inspect the grass can get boring. Although I’m sure the dog will disagree on that point. I mean, look at it.

That’s the, “It’s opening. It’s opening….oh, it’s not opening…. quick open the door so we can go out” look.

Anyway, once out of the door I start to plan the route we’re going to take because going down the same path all the time is really boring. But pee breaks are really short, and the path can’t differ all that much. That’s when we started to get creative and try to include doing errands on pee breaks.

Some nights, I dropped used and rinsed drink and dog food cans into the recycling bin that is a mere 3 minutes walk away. Or paper into the paper recycling bin which is just by our development. Drop the mail into the postbox. Go withdraw money at the ATM. Anything, as long as it is outdoors and accessible for a person with a dog. It’s really how creative we can get with the limitations that we experience living in a highly urbanised environment which may not be as dog friendly as some countries in the west.

The other night we drove out with the dog to the town hub. One of us goes to buy takeaway while the other walks and sits with the dog so that she also gets to be in a place with more strangers walking about their business. And Donna is getting good at sitting and staying for longer periods if the human is attached to the leash. She doesn’t react when people walk pass her. And she seem to be happy enough to sit and stare at groups of people, the man pushing the trolley in the distance, etc, etc. And mostly people just ignore her presence, except for kids who may go “woof, woof” at her.

Yesterday night we met a trio of kids that made me laugh.

Kid 1: Is it a girl? (referring to the dog)

Me: Yes.

Kid 2: Will she bite?

Me: No.

Kid 3: Of course she won’t bite, she’s a girl!

Heated discussion among themselves start.

But yes, I learnt something new that night, girl-dogs don’t bite! : D