Today Queenie's owner dropped her off for an extended visit at 7:30 am. Queenie was sweet, and cooperative and curious, like you might expect from a puppy with a good home. I tried a few things to see if Bella would interact with her. Outside of specific efforts, I let Queenie wander freely in the house during the seven hours she was here. Sometimes she chose to be with me, experimenting with laying down next to me. More often, however, she chose to stay in the foyer, as if patiently awaiting her owner's return. The patience was illusory, and easily interrupted by attempts to sample the cat food on the table, and efforts to see if the cardboard I put down to soak the water off damp paws was edible.
Queenie seemed to know to give Bella some space. Although she approached Bella's bed (which Bella never left except when I put her leash on her for a walk) Queenie left a respectful foot between herself and the edge of the bed. I offered treats to Queenie and Bella in Bella's room. As before, Queenie accepted enthusiastically. Bella acted concerned and a bit reluctant. She accepted the treats from me in slow motion, and sometimes would not take them from my hand, in what seemed like a sort of regression. I dropped those treats in front of her and she ate them when I turned away.
In Queenie's presence, Bella mostly looked at me. I imagined a faint accusation in her face, or at least a worried inquiry. Sometimes she glanced at Queenie doubtfully. Later in the day, I took Bella on a walk. She cooperatively got up from her bed when I put the leash on her, again in a sort of slow motion, and moved cautiously down the hall with me to the front door. In the foyer, I snapped Queenie's leash on her, too, and tried to give her enough rope not to crowd Bella. Queenie sniffed Bella's hind end a few times, and looked at her expectantly. Bella, however, kept her nose low and focused on the business at hand. A quick march up the road, business, then a quick march back, Queenie or no Queenie.
While there was very little interaction between the dogs, with the limit on Bella's side, the cats had a strong opinion about Queenie. Imja spent the entire visit in the box high up on their cat tree. Braver Circe made several halloween cat postures, and then decided to ignore Queenie with great dignity, making a show of her refusal to alter her routines.
So, I am sorry to say, I once again succumbed to disappointment. Bella seems like she is under water. Somewhere in there is a dog, or at least I think so. I am calling into a tunnel, hello, hello, are you there?
Queenie seemed to know to give Bella some space. Although she approached Bella's bed (which Bella never left except when I put her leash on her for a walk) Queenie left a respectful foot between herself and the edge of the bed. I offered treats to Queenie and Bella in Bella's room. As before, Queenie accepted enthusiastically. Bella acted concerned and a bit reluctant. She accepted the treats from me in slow motion, and sometimes would not take them from my hand, in what seemed like a sort of regression. I dropped those treats in front of her and she ate them when I turned away.
In Queenie's presence, Bella mostly looked at me. I imagined a faint accusation in her face, or at least a worried inquiry. Sometimes she glanced at Queenie doubtfully. Later in the day, I took Bella on a walk. She cooperatively got up from her bed when I put the leash on her, again in a sort of slow motion, and moved cautiously down the hall with me to the front door. In the foyer, I snapped Queenie's leash on her, too, and tried to give her enough rope not to crowd Bella. Queenie sniffed Bella's hind end a few times, and looked at her expectantly. Bella, however, kept her nose low and focused on the business at hand. A quick march up the road, business, then a quick march back, Queenie or no Queenie.
While there was very little interaction between the dogs, with the limit on Bella's side, the cats had a strong opinion about Queenie. Imja spent the entire visit in the box high up on their cat tree. Braver Circe made several halloween cat postures, and then decided to ignore Queenie with great dignity, making a show of her refusal to alter her routines.
So, I am sorry to say, I once again succumbed to disappointment. Bella seems like she is under water. Somewhere in there is a dog, or at least I think so. I am calling into a tunnel, hello, hello, are you there?
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