In many ways, Bella has changed very little in the 7 weeks since she has come to live with me. She stays in my room all the time unless she is walking with me. In my room, she stays on her bed. But subtly, she is changing in slow, distinctive ways. She's on her bed, and not on the floor. She is interested in the treat I offer after each walk, and has learned to expect it. She often takes chicken from my hand, and sometimes a dog treat. Bella seems to be cautiously refining her awareness of the world around her. She varies her walk depending on her mood. The first walk of the morning is rather short. Is that because breakfast comes right after it? Although she is not sniffing the ground, there are certain places along the way that she checks out visually, turning her head to look in the direction of the area that concerns her. Is the dog that sometimes barks near this house around? What's happening in the house with the puddle in front of it? I saw a person going into it once.
She is a little bit better about cars. Not every car causes a sharp tail tuck and a picked up pace. If the car drives by slowly, giving us a wide berth, as some considerate drivers will do, Bella seems fine. The big vehicles, the noisy ones, and the fast ones make her nervous, but usually she recovers quickly. If not, she will turn and lead us to the safety of home. Bella Is frightened by people, and especially by people with dogs. She is also concerned about dogs without people-the neighbor's Rottweiler in the electric fence who charges at her barking, and the unseen barker a few houses down who seems pretty assertive when seen. I don't think she would be frightened of a mild mannered dog in an off leash setting.
Bella is beginning to express her opinion. I usually lift her tail as she pees to avoid it getting wet. She has decided she doesn't like this and moves her rump aside when she pees, inconveniently placing her tail just out of reach. (This conversation between us isn't concluded yet. I don't want her to pee on her tail!) She has also indicated some reluctance to be petted on the porch. I usually haven't been petting Bella since the trainer has suggested that I wait for her to approach me. The exception to this is when we arrive at my porch after our walk. I'll pet her just a bit under the chin as a sort of test. Bella has indicated this is not ok by not stepping all the way onto the porch when we come home. I've stopped, and now she is back to standing patiently on the porch as I deal with the poop bag or wipe her feet. For some reason, she accepts the foot wiping process. She is less keen on the butt wiping process when it is necessary, but cooperates. She has the habit of beginning to walk before she has finished her toilet business, making the indignity of a butt wipe mandatory. Galen, one of the Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue gals, remarked that dogs can be like little children with food on their face and hands-they don't mind at all! Bella may well have been accustomed to defiling herself in her cage, and may be eager to keep walking if she feels vulnerable doing her business.
She is a little bit better about cars. Not every car causes a sharp tail tuck and a picked up pace. If the car drives by slowly, giving us a wide berth, as some considerate drivers will do, Bella seems fine. The big vehicles, the noisy ones, and the fast ones make her nervous, but usually she recovers quickly. If not, she will turn and lead us to the safety of home. Bella Is frightened by people, and especially by people with dogs. She is also concerned about dogs without people-the neighbor's Rottweiler in the electric fence who charges at her barking, and the unseen barker a few houses down who seems pretty assertive when seen. I don't think she would be frightened of a mild mannered dog in an off leash setting.
Bella is beginning to express her opinion. I usually lift her tail as she pees to avoid it getting wet. She has decided she doesn't like this and moves her rump aside when she pees, inconveniently placing her tail just out of reach. (This conversation between us isn't concluded yet. I don't want her to pee on her tail!) She has also indicated some reluctance to be petted on the porch. I usually haven't been petting Bella since the trainer has suggested that I wait for her to approach me. The exception to this is when we arrive at my porch after our walk. I'll pet her just a bit under the chin as a sort of test. Bella has indicated this is not ok by not stepping all the way onto the porch when we come home. I've stopped, and now she is back to standing patiently on the porch as I deal with the poop bag or wipe her feet. For some reason, she accepts the foot wiping process. She is less keen on the butt wiping process when it is necessary, but cooperates. She has the habit of beginning to walk before she has finished her toilet business, making the indignity of a butt wipe mandatory. Galen, one of the Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue gals, remarked that dogs can be like little children with food on their face and hands-they don't mind at all! Bella may well have been accustomed to defiling herself in her cage, and may be eager to keep walking if she feels vulnerable doing her business.
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