Marcia and Charlie

Bella was thrilled to see Marcia today. All four times that she came in the door, she worked with Bella on being calm and sitting when someone arrives. She very consistently refused to acknowledge Bella until Bella sat and the moment the Bella broke her "sit" she wouldn't pet her again. By the fourth time Marcia came in you could tell Bella was excited by her wiggle but she sat and waited to be petted.

We talked about many things: the adjustment to just one adult in the house, consistency with allowing Bella on the bed, eating habits (and things she shouldn't be eating habit) off leash training, jumping up on counter tops, using the word "HOT" and how it is more serious than just "off" (stove and oven). We're going to work on "come" and "come find me" alot over the next two weeks in addition to Sit, Down, Stay, Leave it, Take it. Depending on how things are going, Marcia mentioned that we could possibly work on off-leash training at her place. It's a 45 minute drive, but she has an area where there is no access to a road and it's fairly narrow that sounds like a good place to test to see if Bella really will "come" when called. We talked a bit about how it's not so much off-leash training as "coming" when called.

Marcia is going to do a little research about the eating habit that's not so nice. But it seems it isn't completely abnormal and shouldn't make her sick. In other eating related discussion, Marcia encouraged me not to worry if Bella skips a meal, she may only need to eat once a day and now I am going to try giving Bella breakfast and if she doesn't eat it, not treating incessantly or offering her left over breakfast repeatedly, but just feed her again at dinner. We'll see how that goes. Bella is definitely NOT starving.

Bella and I went in the yard, with Bella on leash while Marcia went and got Charlie. As soon as they came thru the first side gate, I started reminding Bella that she knows Charlie and that he is her friend. She started wagging like crazy and by the time he got thru the gate she was so excited. He spotted the sticks and went to play and Bella did a lovely play bow and then immediately started getting him to try and chase her. She never once looked shy or intimidated and she didn't bat an eye when he gave her a good sniffing while she was having a drink of water. She really had a good time and by the time Charlie left, she was exhausted. She layed next to her water bowl, panting and having little drinks until she couldn't hold her head up any longer and then she finally decided to stretch out on the office floor. She is still in the same spot almost two hours later.

Very sweet, my Belladoodle.

Sophie enjoyed the initial coming thru the door and greeting and then she was done and went and laid down. Later she was quite content with a "Bella Free Hour" on the bed.