Bella
BELLA’S HISTORY
Bella is a 15 week old puppy who was surrendered to IRR through no fault of her own.
FOSTERER’S INITIAL REPORT – UK: September 2012
Bella is a typical pup who runs around playing and throwing her toys all over the place. She has bright eyes, a mischievous look and she is very pretty.
Bella has a very playful and energetic character and during the course of this week she has had a variety of ‘play dates’ and has not been afraid to initiate playtime, even with the biggest of dogs.
During this first week Bella has been to the woods and lake and visited friends (who have dogs). She has been around my grandchildren who vary in ages, and she loves joining in the fun. She does tend to mouth, though we are working with her on this, and she is always supervised with the children.
Bella has begun to appreciate her limits and boundaries. She is a very energetic dog but she does have her quiet moments, and will have several power naps during the day.
Bella has done well with house training and is also learning to walk nicely on the lead. She can be left for up to two hours and I have begun to introduce some basic training, such as, sit, stay, thank you (give paw) and I must say she is a quick learner.
Bella has moved to a new foster home
NEW FOSTERER’S 1ST REPORT: SEPTEMBER 2012
Bella is an absolute stunner: clever, fun loving and outgoing – this is a dog for an active couple or family that has some experience with bringing up and living with energetic dogs. She is good with cats, kids and other dogs.
Bella loves people and she has got nice, gentle manners around new dogs. After a minute or two’s introduction she’ll play with anything; large, small, old and young. Of course, as with any four month old puppy, socialisation is essential. She hasn’t shown any signs of being food nor toy possessive.
So far Bella has been completely clean in the house, including overnight. She has got frequent access to the garden but she clearly appreciates that the toilet is outside. She also ‘asks’ nicely to be let out when nature calls.
Initially Bella would jump onto anyone and anything. However, with consistency she has learnt to curb her enthusiasm and increasingly sits for a fuss and a cuddle instead of demanding it with both paws!
This is a very sociable puppy. She prefers to be where you are and if for example you are in the kitchen and she is in the lounge behind a baby gate she demands attention. Perhaps someone has given in to this kind of behaviour in the past. It is certainly something that will need some work to avoid it becoming a problem. I wouldn’t describe it as separation anxiety; just desire to be with people and lack of boundaries.
Leave this puppy alone at your peril. She eats everything! I would strongly recommend a crate or she will decorate your house with fluff. We feed her in a crate at the moment and she is entirely comfortable inside it.
Bella is great in the car. She sits calmly without any trouble at all.
I would describe Bella as a confident and well-adjusted little girl. Next to our 1-year old Welsh Springer (Pickle isn’t the best at sharing food or toys!) she yields without appearing cowed. In fact I think she would develop well living with a confident, adult dog.
Currently living with three confident cats she approaches them with the curiosity you would expect from a puppy but with no harm intended. She is keen to play with anything that moves but is quickly leaning where to draw the line when facing a dominant Norwegian Forest Cat with a short fuse. I am confident that she would live happily with cats.
Bella LOVES cuddles and gives endless kisses to anyone who will have them. A snooze on the sofa is well received and she is happily picked up and touched anywhere by anyone.
Bella is very leggy (currently 18″) and will grow into a good-sized dog. So although she would probably keep going for hours, care must be taken to not give her too much exercise for the coming months.
New Fosterer’s 2nd Report – 26 September 2012
Bella continues to do really well. She has not had a single accident in the house since we collected her on Friday which I think is brilliant for a 4-month old pup.
Today she spent a few hours in a local dog day-care centre to see how she would mix with a wide range of dogs. There is no-one this girl doesn’t get on with! She is very confident, playful and easy going.
As I have mentioned previously, I think she needs to live with another dog to be fully content. She is very sociable and energetic. On her own she could very easily become bored. With company she is very loving and cheerful and insists on sleeping next to our Pickle. She really is a snuggler and LOVES her cuddles.
As we were at risk of flooding yesterday we moved all the animals upstairs for the night (just to be safe). She didn’t mind at all sleeping in a different room – not a peep!
If anyone wonders how she gets on with cats I’ve attached another picture. Aside from the fact that I’m sporting a rather snazzy dressing gown I think it illustrates her state of mind rather nicely around cats. Of course, when they are on the move she takes an interest in them but nothing she can’t learn to do nicely.
That’s it for now. Overall she is a great dog and ready to go to a new home (if it’s the right one) whenever. She will just need continued training and consistency.
Bella – Fosterer’s 3rd report: 26th September 2012
Bella continues to do really well.
She has not had a single accident in the house since we collected her on Friday which I think is brilliant for a 4-month old pup.
Today she spent a few hours in a local dog day-care centre to see how she would mix with a wide range of dogs. There is no-one this girl doesn’t get on with! She is very confident, playful and easy going.
As I have mentioned previously, I think she needs to live with another dog to be fully content. She is very sociable and energetic. On her own she could very easily become bored. With company she is very loving and cheerful and insists on sleeping next to our Pickle. She really is a snuggler and LOVES her cuddles.
As we were at risk of flooding yesterday we moved all the animals upstairs for the night (just to be safe). She didn’t mind at all sleeping in a different room – not a peep!
That’s it for now. Overall she is a great dog and ready to go to a new home (if it’s the right one) whenever. She will just need continued training and consistency.
Bella has gone to her forever home 12th October 2012
Chris, Bella’s adopter says: “Currently got Bella on one side with her head on my leg and Macky (the cat) on the other purring away. Not bad for day 1”.