Yesterday, when Bella and I returned from her last short walk of the day, something frightened her as I opened the door to the house. I didn't have the leash disconnected from her cord yet, but she lunged into the house and tried to race back to her room. She was jolted to a halt by the cord, and she slipped frantically on the cement floor. In the process, my hand was caught in the leash handle and my fingers twisted violently. Just a sprain I think. I'm not sure what spooked her, but I yelled when she hurt my hand.
Through out the day, Bella had done a lot of panting. I gave her composure bites to help relax her. She did not easily accept treats from my hand until I offered the highly desirable chicken after our mishap. I hoped to soothe her and end the day on a positive note. During the night I heard a few whimpers as she dreamed, and later a very muffled bark-one of the two she has made since she has come to live with me.
One oddity to report- On the return side of the road there is a big puddle. I always pull Bella to the left as we approach it so that she will not get her feet muddy. She always resists me, wanting to stay right next to the edge where the pavement ends and the grass begins. Over the last couple of days, the puddle has diminished, and yet, as we approach the place where it has been, Bella pulls me hard to the right to counter my anticipated correction. It is as if this is a part of the routine that she has imprinted on; internalizing the formula: walk up the road, walk down the road, pull to the right here, cross the road, circumnavigate the yard, stand on the porch, stand in the foyer.
The picture below is from this morning as I drank my coffee and spoke with Bella. Intrepid Circe is comes to investigate. Bella is looks toward me as if to get a read on the safety of the situation. Sorry about the quality of the picture. Its hard to get a good shot filming wildlife in the field ;)
Through out the day, Bella had done a lot of panting. I gave her composure bites to help relax her. She did not easily accept treats from my hand until I offered the highly desirable chicken after our mishap. I hoped to soothe her and end the day on a positive note. During the night I heard a few whimpers as she dreamed, and later a very muffled bark-one of the two she has made since she has come to live with me.
One oddity to report- On the return side of the road there is a big puddle. I always pull Bella to the left as we approach it so that she will not get her feet muddy. She always resists me, wanting to stay right next to the edge where the pavement ends and the grass begins. Over the last couple of days, the puddle has diminished, and yet, as we approach the place where it has been, Bella pulls me hard to the right to counter my anticipated correction. It is as if this is a part of the routine that she has imprinted on; internalizing the formula: walk up the road, walk down the road, pull to the right here, cross the road, circumnavigate the yard, stand on the porch, stand in the foyer.
The picture below is from this morning as I drank my coffee and spoke with Bella. Intrepid Circe is comes to investigate. Bella is looks toward me as if to get a read on the safety of the situation. Sorry about the quality of the picture. Its hard to get a good shot filming wildlife in the field ;)
RSS Feed