I’ve often wondered what my dog is thinking when he looks at me with these big, brown, eyes. He always looks at me like he’s going to say something. I’ve always assumed it’s, “I love you, Daddy Dog. I love you so much.”

Now that I’m working from home, we’re spending a lot more time together. I love it. The dog loves it or so I think. I’d love to know. So, in my crazy head I’m half convinced he might talk to someone outside of his pack. It would be great if a stranger could go up to him and ask, “Hey big dog, during these unprecedented times, tell me how you spend your days inside your house?”

When I get up every morning, Daddy Dog takes me outside to the backyard to go pee and poo. Most of the time I go number one and head straight back into the house. The hunger pangs hit my tummy like a knock outside our cave. At exactly 6:00 am (don’t tell me how I know time, I just do), he feeds me a bowl of chow. I eat like a ravenous animal and when I’m finished, I smack my lips, walk into the living room, and curl up on the couch next to Double D. He’s looking at a rectangular object in his hand which sometimes makes funny noises that I can never make out. One side shines as bright as a light. He keeps sweeping his finger over the screen and smiles or frowns or sighs or presses his finger so hard I think his paw is going to poke on through the device. I put my head on this thigh when I want his attention. I don’t know how else to tell him it’s time for our walk or to rub my belly.

At precisely 7:00 am (don’t ask), he hooks a harness and leash on me and we venture outside for the most amazing adventures outside of our cave. We used to spin around the neighborhood in about 20 minutes where I’d piss on every tree trunk and stop to smell every blade of grass but the walk would only last 20 minutes. I could do this walk in my sleep. Now, we go on these marathon journeys that last nearly two hours. We walk down sidewalks and walking paths and empty streets and see the most incredible sights like Gray Squirrels, Mallards, Canadian Geese, Nutria, Hawks, Crows, Garter Snakes, and even Dark-eyed Junco’s. I nearly yanked him off his feet once when we saw a Brush Rabbit as his precious plastic rectangle fell to the ground and he yelled at me. Yeah, he brings it along to track how far we’re going, I guess, or take pictures like of the precious bunny I wanted to chase and to play loud noises which causes him to shake his butt like I do after I get wet. Double D spins, sings, bobs his head to the sounds. He’s so funny. Oh, for me, this is the most glorious 2 hours of my day.

When we get home he makes this black, hot, liquid only DD and MD drink and I jump up on the couch and take a long nap. Sometimes I’m there for hours unless I hear a car door slam, a knock on the door, or Mommy Dog coming down the stairs holding Grandma’s hand. Grandma is frail and I’m always careful around her. Well, until she eats. Grandma Dog drops a lot of human food. Mommy Dog loves me like Daddy but in a different, softer, way. She smells better and gives me treats and pets my belly. I don’t know why they’re spending so much more time with me lately but I sure like it.

While the humans eat midday I wonder when my next meal is going to come. Of course, I know it’s always later in the day but I’m hungry. I’m ALWAYS hungry. Why can’t I have another bowl, huh? And, you wonder why I eat grass, old chewing gum, or cat poop on our afternoon walks. You’re starving me with only 2 servings per day! Still, I love you and don’t know what I’d do without you. Now feed me.

Just before sun down, I get another, albeit, shorter walk. Moving along the sidewalk gives me another opportunity to do my business, preferably on the grass, on a tree trunk, or on some other dog’s poop. It’s the perfect time to get all this out because after this, I’m usually in for the night. After dinner, we watch television as a family. But, after a brief nap, I can’t understand anything on the television screen anyway, so I go into the quieter part of our cave for a cushy nap on the dog couch. I can smell the canines who were here before me on the cushions. It feels soft and I am at peace and I quickly fall asleep until it’s time to go upstairs to the big bed where we all 3 – DD, MD, and I – of us sleep until we do it all again tomorrow.

Oh, I love our new routine and hope it never stops.

Good boy!