I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the local shopping centre and rolled down the car windows to make sure my Labrador Retriever Pup had fresh air.

She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there.

I walked to the curb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically,

"Now you stay. Do you hear me? Stay! Stay!"

The driver of a nearby car, a pretty young blonde, gave me a strange look and said: "Why don't you just put the handbrake on?"