Incremental Changes

Bella continues to make slow, incremental changes.  Unfortunately, she is also subject to setbacks.  It's hard to fine tune her challenges to the right measure of new and different without being too anxiety provoking.  Today she seems like she wants to lay low.  She is panting in a slow, steady way  as she lies on her bed in my room.  On Thursday I think I went too far.  It wasn't the bath on Wednesday, it was the hour in the living room while another person was there.  She paced and wanted to get back to her corner, never settling down.  Today I'll give her the day off.  

Anyone entering Bella's life now will meet a dog without a mean bone in her body; a soft, pretty girl with deep, expressive eyes, and a reluctance to try new things.  Walks remain quite short, but eating and the functioning of the opposite end are just fine.  She likes to eat, but still prefers to do it in her room.  Aside sniffing out the ever popular easter egg hunt of treats after I am in bed, Bella stays in her/my room when it is up to her.  

I have come to the conclusion that this is how it is likely to continue.  With great gentleness and care, Bella will make very small advances toward becoming a socialized dog.  I believe that the company of another dog, or dogs who are kind to her and accustomed to humans would make a big difference.