Bella's bLog

April 26, 2004
The Ride Home
The ride home from the McGuire AFB area of New Jersey was fairly uneventful. Buffalo stayed curled up with his head on my lap the whole way; fortunately my car doesn't mind skipping 2nd and 4th gears. Bella lay down, except to petrify one gas station attendant and to protect us all from select predator trucks. Tolls booths were a bit exciting - the trucks were obviously ganging up on us, but we survived; thank goodness for EZPass so I didn't actually have to stop and open a window. But she was very good.

Getting from the car to the house could have been an adventure. She managed to slip the halter thing off her nose and I apparently didn't put it back right because it came right off again. Nonetheless, we got to the front door and the reception party. Buffalo waited outside while Bella and I went into the kitchen, and I closed the living room gate on Ski Patrol and King Arthur so they all sniffed through the gate for awhile. Then I let Buffalo in, no problem. When I opened the gate, Ski Patrol ran and hid behind my bed; King Arthur sniffed and backed off; Buffalo headed for the back door. So we all went out in the backyard to learn where out is, nobody bothered anybody, Bella was first to ask to come in. Then she stood just inside the door and King Arthur was afraid to come in until I backed Bella up a bit and assured him it was okay.

Right now Bella and Arthur are lying at my feet in the computer room, Arthur using Bella's back as a pillow; Ski Patrol is behind the bed in the bedroom, and I suspect Buffalo is lounging on Bella's bed in the living room.

April 27, 2004
To the Vet
First trip to the vet. Once again Bella protected me from the trucks on I-95, barking ferociously until each one ran away. She was quite the sensation in the vet's waiting room. Appears to be healthy, and Jan showed me how to put the Gentle Leader halter on so we were able to get back to the car and back in the house uneventfully.

Bella 1, Couch 0
That the living room couch is a settee on rockers has kept the greyhounds off the couch forever. Bella walked up to it, it rocked, greyhounds scattered. Bella sat on it. End of problem.

Bella 3, Trucks 0
On tonight's ride in the c-a-r Bella figured out that nobody's going anywhere until she gets back in the back. She occupied herself opening and distributing twenty pounds of dog food I had left in the car. We start obedience classes May 13 at the Humane Society of Harford County. A young child there reclaiming his overweight beagle asked if my dog was Cujo. I certainly hope not, but we'll see soon enough.

April 29, 2004
The Door
The first day Bella took down the curtain covering the glass upper half of the kitchen door, adding her considerable nose art to Ski Patrol's earlier efforts. I didn't replace the curtain, but I did place a spray bottle of water just inside the door where I could reach it from outside without anybody escaping. The spray bottle worked, as predicted. "Back!" and spray got me out and in the door without being crushed or rushed. And later tonight when I came home from rehearsal all three, oops four, met me at the door and "Back!" without the spray bottle worked to allow a civilized entrance. Hope it holds!

Garden Statuary
I can now drive past that concrete lawn statuary place on Route 40 without lusting after the statue of a sitting greyhound. Everytime I turn around, I almost bump into a huge sitting Bella looking every bit as statuesque and considerably more cuddly than concrete. Not a greyhound, but she does sit much more impressively than greyhounds do by and large. Very by and very large.

April 30, 2004
Places, Everyone
Item for sighthound research: Day 5 appears to be the Day of the Choosing Hat. They all went outside for the morning dash in their usual recent random order, but Bella definitely came back in the house first followed closely by Buffalo, who sneaked past her as soon as they were both inside. He's considerably quicker and slimmer than she. Then Bella turned back and stood at the door. Ski Patrol took one look and didn't even venture up onto the deck. Arthur did, and Bella growled when he approached the door. He left. "Back" worked to move Bella away from the door, but that wasn't good enough for Arthur. I had to go out and escort him in past Bella, who looked disapproving but humored me and allowed us to pass. Once Arthur was safely in, Ski Patrol came up to be escorted into the house.

They seem also to have established computer room / feet of the master sleeping order, forming a zig-zag line from computer / feet to the hallway: Bella at my feet, Buffalo at hers, Arthur at the doorway, and of course Ski Patrol in the bedroom across the hall on the far side of the bed.

History
I tracked down Bella's previous vet and talked with the receptionist there who remembered Bella (then Belle) well and was delighted that Belle/a had a new home. When I asked about any secret sins I should know about for Bella, she assured me absolutely none and being turned in to the rescue definitely wasn't Bella's fault.

We're definitely going to continue working on socialization with strangers and other dogs. On a positive note, however, I was able to open the door to leave and to return today with only a simple "Back!" and no problems. I'm so glad her foster family introduced her to that command.

May 1, 2004
Happy birthday, Bella! She's five today. For her birthday, she considered having the next door German Shepherd Dog for lunch. He preferred to continue barking out his window and refused to come out and play - probably a wise decision. Bella woofled a while at the fence but came in when I told her to.

Bella 0, Buffalo 1
She is definitely a pushy puppy. Heart of gold, but. Now, not content with her secured position at my feet, she's rearranging the order of submission. Arthur moves willingly wherever she wants him, Ski Patrol dashes back to his hiding place behind the bed, but Buffalo thinks he's entitled to sleep in front of the outside door if Bella gets to sleep at my feet. She barks at him, he cocks an ear and goes back to sleep, she woofles and sits and lies down at my feet.

May 2, 2004
Kudos
Tonight when we all went out for our evening stroll in the backyard, the GSD next door started up again, Bella went only loping over to that corner of the fence, woofled a few times, and then went back to exploring the yard. And came in immediately when I called. Progress?

and Cujo
After everybody's dinner (without incident) we all migrated to the computer room, and Arthur had the misfortune to be standing beside my chair when Bella arrived. She growled, he growled, teeth flashed, dogfight ensued in which the only blood shed was mine breaking it up before I thought to grab a towel and put it over Bella's head. Arthur went back to his living room bed, I have only superficial wounds but my arm will ache; Bella and Arthur are unharmed. Bella and I had a long talk in which she at least looked a little bit apologetic; and we all settled down to another night at the computer with Bella at my feet. I explained to her, however, that this will not happen again. We'll see what it takes, because it most certainly will not happen again. I hope that potential adopter for Arthur decides she loves him. We who play the piano for a semi-living cannot afford to have a sore right hand and arm.

May 7, 2004
Now that I once again have use of four fingers and carefully a thumb of my right hand ... a tenuous peace has ensued in the household. Bella and Arthur share the bed routinely. The backyard has become an interesting arena. The greyhounds love to burst into full gallop and run insanely their figure eight. Bella runs with them briefly but gets confused by the turns and the speed and stops and watches. If the speedsters run straight towards her, she gets rattled. They've learned either to slow down or to veer off as they near her.

She's also gotten much more civilized about the barking. Now, she sprawls in the sun on the deck while I sit and read and may woofle a little bit but the next-door GSD has to initiate the real barking session.

May 9, 2004
This is one smart dog. I'm working on adding some wisdom, however. This morning she discovered that if she stands on my bed her head is at the level of the window facing the neighbor's window where that GSD spends his day waiting for an opportunity to bark at her. But she hasn't pushed the curtain aside yet for a clear view of each other. Yet. And my thumb is back, weakly. The human body is an amazing machine.

May 12, 2004
The House Ghost
It has to be a male ghost - it left the seat up. Or, it turns out, a thirsty Bella who can't be bothered to walk all the way to the kitchen for a drink of water.

May 13, 2004
She Who Must Obey
Our first obedience class tonight, and it was cancelled because the instructor's minimum of pupils didn't sign up. But while we were waiting around, he made notable progress on Bella's dog aggressive issues and showed me how to continue encouraging her. He expects there to be a full class next week - I hope so, I liked him. The others who came were a year-old beagle, a six-month-old Doberman, and a Shi Tzuh of indeterminate age but much hair. And Bella, five-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback-Great Dane mix, our soon to be gentle giant.

May 17, 2004
Who's on First
... is still a matter of some noisy discussion, although I think they are beginning to sort things out. Now the greyhounds jam on the brakes when they reach the deck and walk sedately to the door - I think secretly sneering at her. Buffalo is definitely yanking Bella's chain. He'll lie there on The Dogbed while she barks fiercely at him to move and at me to tell him to move, he lifts up his head and gives her a long look - and puts his head down and goes back to sleep and Bella goes woofling off the bedroom for awhile.

I played a full concert yesterday for the first time with the right hand again - a relief, but a painful one. It felt good to play despite twinge attacks, but I'm paying for it this morning. But it's another week until the next concert so maybe it will be all better by then. Bella has learned to lead me around by the left arm, since I shriek when she takes her very gentle hold on my right.

May 21, 2004
Obedience class was cancelled last night, so we went for a ride to practice not barking at trucks - with moderate success. We did get pretty good at 'the car's not moving until you lie down, Bella" though.

No Prozac for Arthur
The vet said to take more time before giving Arthur anti-stress medication, and suggested that making a big fuss over Bella so she's sure she's alpha should help. I have been doing that all along, and it does seem to help. Now all three regularly sleep close together in the living room, and Bella has occasionally let Buffalo stay closest to my feet in the computer room. Which reminds me that my hand feels much better except for shooting pains from certain pressures or positions of the thumb and first finger. Last concerts tomorrow, thank goodness.

May 27, 2004
Travels with Bella
... didn't go quite as planned, but we went. The goal for the three-hour trip to Mother's Condo was to learn not to bark at trucks, and Bella actually did much better. When a truck approached I started talking to her, saying 'no truck barking' calmly and "good girl no trucks" and more than half the time she let the truck go by without going berserk. Even at the toll booths - once again, thank goodness for EZPass - she managed to stay quiet. On the trip back, she did well also. Now we have to add pedestrians to the list of things not to bark at; driving through Philadelphia (I took an entirely too 'scenic' route home) got very noisy whenever she saw a person on the sidewalk. But I did feel very well protected, as well as very embarrassed. At least she's not racist; she barks at everybody without regard to race, sex, or religion. Age she may be more selective about. I'm beginning to think it's only young men she doesn't like; noticeably older men seem to be okay with her. I wonder if this has something to do with her previous home and teenaged boys.

Escape Artist
My mother's condo is just the right size for Bella to occupy the entire open area of the living room, but only after having it out with Sam, the cat. Sam spent the remainder of our visit in the bedroom.

The condo has sliding glass doors to the patio. My mother, sitting at the dining room table, watched as Bella walked to the sliding doors, looked out, unlocked the door, slid the door open, and went for a walk. Fortunately a very relaxed walk. I went out and offered her a ride in the car, and she went around the end of the building and straight to the car and waited for me. Believe me, I drove her up and down the driveway a few times. I'm not about to mess with logic with a dog smart enough - and strong enough - to open sliding doors.

Obedience Class
The beagle puppy in the class is totally charming, and his people - mother and daughter - are in awe of Bella, not terrified exactly, just stunned. They keep staring at her. Bella already knows heel, sit, down pretty well so our main task was to not bark at the other dogs. She did pretty well, better than last time, anyway. The two women with the Shih Tzuh came in late and Bella got out one large woof before I corrected her. The Shi T'zuh trembled, but one of the women totally screamed. Wow! By the end of class they were okay, though. The beagle puppy was neat. He really didn't know a thing at the beginning of class, and by the end of class he really did heel and sit and down. Pretty neat. I've added another goal for Bella: I want to be able to get out of the car first without being trampled. Good class tonight.

The most amazing thing of the evening, however, happened after we got home from obedience class. We had the usual rush outside and back inside, and as usual Buffalo and Arthur planted themselves in the computer room blocking the door to the hall to the living room. And as usual Bella walked up to the door and started barking at them to move, and they didn't, and I was just about to get up and tell them to move when Bella stopped barking and went back to her bed in the living room! She actually retreated for the first time. Maybe the greyhounds will be allowed to live! Of course, as soon as Buffalo and Arthur shifted a little bit she came back and is now firmly planted at my feet in the computer room. But no barking!

June 2, 2004
Cujo Becomes Houdini-Not!
Long, long ago I read a Little Golden Book called Mighty Becomes Patsy, about a seeing eye dog named Mighty whose little girl was terrified of him until someone thought to change his name to Patsy.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed a significant chunk missing from Buffalo's side so I called the vet and off we went. Not exactly. I closed the kitchen gate with Bella and the boys in the living room, took Buffalo out the kitchen door, hooked his leash on the storm door handle, and went back in to open the gate to give the gang access to water and food while we were gone. Bella came charging through and pushed the storm door open and out she went. She danced in the front yard a few seconds, then went and stood by the car. I walked over to her, lightly took her collar, told her "heel," and walked her nice as can be right back into the house - and closed the door before she could get out again. This was one angry dog! A new bark - not the 'I might see something' woofle, not the 'somebody's on my bed' bark, but rather a new 'you can't do this to me!' outrage.

When I got home from the vet's, leaving Buffalo for stitches, I couldn't get in the house. I had locked the doorknob lock, and Bella so far hasn't been able to turn that little knob in the center of the knob - although she can turn the knob easily. But this time, she had turned the deadbolt - it's a bigger handle. Eventually I figured this out and unlocked the door. But the implications! I am reminded of the mortifying moment one six a.m. when a neighbor knocked on our door to return our naked wandering two-year-old daughter. We had to put hooks at the top of each door where she couldn't reach. Guess I have to do the same for Bella. Oh my.

Pack Order Revisited
I think the greyhounds are mostly just totally confused. This is the fourth alpha dog since Sunny died in October after ten years as alpha. Then Albert was alpha until he died in April. Then Buffalo was alpha, and then Bella came to take over. No wonder Albert seems permanently entrenched under the grand piano! I hope this settles down soon, however; removing chunks of dog is going too far. And she's such a total sweetheart when she's not being a big bully!

June 14, 2004
Sometimes even I get discouraged. Bella came very close to pushing everybody out the door a few days ago when I took Buffalo alone to get his stitches out. And she sounds so outraged that I could take another dog and leave her home!

Today she terrorized the landscapers just by barking and being huge. I am beginning to wonder if I will meet my goal of being able to take her out in public without being embarrassed or sued. I've been working with her for almost six weeks now; I hate to admit defeat and return her to find a home where she's the only dog and they never take her out in public, but at times it has occurred to me. I've ordered the much-touted Feisty Fido booklet of tips for re-training dog-aggressive dogs. If that doesn't do the trick, I'll have to think long and hard about returning her.

June 16, 2004
Houdini in a Wheaten Coat
You know how mothers can tell just by listening if all is well and immediately know when it's too quiet? Well, it seems to work with dogs, too. I was sitting here at the computer, Bella was out in the backyard with the big fence, and then it got too quiet. I went out back, she was gone, leaving behind her a 3-picket hole in the lower part of one fence panel. I went out front, called her, she came sashaying up to the car, I opened the back, she got in, I went to the front to put a leash on her and take her in the house. No. She wasn't moving until she got her ride. So we went and terrorized the Home Depot parking lot and now I have an 8' section of pressure-treated privacy fence on top of my car hoping someone will show up and hold the other end so I can replace the escape route section. (She was perfect at Home Depot, blast her!)

Walking all four of them on leashes because of the hole in the fence is an experience. Fortunately they're all perfectly behaved on lead - unless Bella sees something to chase, which fortunately she hasn't yet.

June 17, 2004
Peace threatens?
Maybe she knows it's Thursday obedience class day. Last night the three greyhounds arrayed themselves on the three beds in the center of the living room - Arthur out from under the piano, even! Bella walked into the room, surveyed the situation, and started her usual 'get off the bed, I want it NOW' staccato barking - and nobody moved. Even Ski Patrol stood up after awhile and thought about it but then lay down again. Arthur didn't move, although he did look worried. Buffalo played total ignorance. And after about five minutes Bella stopped barking, came over to where I was sitting, and quietly lay down on the bare rug!

June 24, 2004
Hope?
My neighbors seem to like her - or at least they like telling all their friends their neighbor has a dog the size of a horse. I like that, too, actually. And they say she has gotten much better with the barking.

My copy of Feisty Fido arrived (Patricia McConnell, $7.95 at Amazon.com) and does have two very practical-sounding ways to reduce the dog aggression on leash. And the Pet Dog List came up with what sounds like a good suggestion for the 'bully' behavior around the house. I have my work cut out for me, but it does finally sound do-able. And if it's do-able, I can do it. We're already working on Watch! as the attention-getter/distractor when another dog looms.

One of the list owners reminded us that DDWW - Dogs Do What Works, so the trick is to make whatever not work the way they want it to but instead a way they don't - so it doesn't work, so they stop doing it. What a wonderful and simple idea! I am more and more inmpressed by animal behaviorists.

Thus endeth thoughts about admitting defeat and returning Bella. We can do this.

Obedience Class
Tonight is her last class. Last week was phenomenal. The topic was sit-down-stay, and the man with the orange shirt and his pit bull refused to let the trainer do the stay with his dog as long as Bella was in the room. So the trainer moved on to Bella - who repeatedly did the absolutely perfect sit-down-stay, even facing the pit bull. Trainer was quietly smug; me too. We knew she could do it, even with the distraction of that dog who spent the hour staring her down. [The pit bull didn't do well at it at all. Ha!]

Of course, my hand is still not right for playing the piano. I'm seeing a hand specialist next week. Leon Fleischer I'm not, I want my right hand back!

June 25, 2004
Despair
The trainer didn't make it to last night's last class - he has sun poisoning and blisters and can't move. I hope he recovers somewhat before heading off to Iraq to work with bomb-sniffing dogs next week, talk abut sun!

Anyway, not a good night. When we arrived at the shelter where the class is held, Bella spotted another dog in a large crate outside under a tree and bolted out of the car, taking several portions of skin from my leash arm and once again leaving large bruises. So my right hand, which was maybe getting better, is almost back to square one. This won't do. This is the second time she's done this, fortunately both in fairly safe, uncrowded areas - but who can tell where the next time will be? Not to mention the nail marks on the upholstery under every window in the car because she berserks whenever we pass a dog - or a truck, still sometimes, but mostly now dogs. And pedestrians. If you count Buffalo's inch or so of stitches, this is the third time Bella has drawn blood in the almost exactly two months she's been here. That's not good. But she hasn't bitten anybody except Buffalo.

The dominance and stress in the house with the greyhounds I expected and planned for, and although the stress level is generally elevated they seem to have worked out a tenuous peace. What I didn't expect, and have about decided I can't cope with, is the level of dog aggression both on lead and in the car. I had to admit to myself after last night's incident that I'm not physically strong enough to restrain her when she bolts after another dog. And I suspect that if I hadn't stayed in a physically abusive marriage for fifteen years, I probably would be less sanguine about walking around bruised and bleeding for weeks at a time. This probably disturbs other people.

She is such a Jekyll and Hyde. At home, or outside with only people, she's a total charmer. Her performance in obedience class is model - except for when she freaks at the other dogs. On lead, she's perfect - until she sees another dog. She's snuggly and not at all sleep aggressive. She's a wonderful dog - except that I can't take her anywhere without risking being embarrassed or even sued. This is not acceptable.

All my adult life I have enjoyed travelling with my dogs of the moment, promoting dogs as pets, promoting rescue, and having a wonderful time. Now here I am retired, with time and still enough energy if not much strength, and I have a dog I can't take with me. Which to my mind pretty much means I can't go, because I don't like travelling without dogs. I love driving with dogs who don't berserk at the sight of another dog or a pedestrian. This isn't working.

I think I've given Bella my best shot, I know I'm good with dogs, I know dogs like me, but I'm not strong enough to be safe and for her to be safe. Nuts. I really do like her, but I like piano playing even more. I think it's time to go back to greyhounds exclusively. Although I'm sure Bella isn't a berserker by breed but rather by upbringing. I just don't seem to be able to bring her down to the undeniable charms of both her breeds.

June 28, 2004
I vacillate.
Some years ago, probably in some therapy session or psychology class, I glommed onto the concept that it isn't making the decision that's hard, it's accepting the decision you've already made. Everything in me says to keep Bella and admit defeat. Well, not really defeat; adjustment. Except for the dog aggression, she is such a great dog. Gentle, intelligent, snuggly, devoted, humongous, pretty, great face, good conversationalist, a bit over-zealous in the protection area but I feel really secure living alone with her around.

We've been playing recently. She's a Frisbee dog! The greyhounds chase things, but then they chew them up. Bella chases them, catches them (except the woodchuck in the yard), roughs them up, and then returns them to be thrown again. And she's a phenomenal soccer player with her horseball.

Maybe it's just that my bruises are again fading, although my hand is still useless for piano playing, but once again I suspect I'm going to let heart overrule head and keep her, and keep working with her - not only is it something to do, but it might work! I always especially liked and succeeded with the kid or two each year who was too bright for his/her own good and nobody else wanted to work with. Bella may be that kid for my retirement. I like the idea. And she's such a neat dog.

July 2, 2004
Hmmmm
Climate has somehow changed around the house. Buffalo has taken over the bed under the piano, leaving Arthur to brave a bed near Bella, and Ski_P has moved into the hallway outside the bedroom door. At the same time, Bella has been more vocal again recently. Perhaps she senses she's losing control. So I'm sure her self-esteem got a boost today when the trash-hauler left the gate fastened loosely enough for her to push it open and escape to the neighbor's picnic table across the street again. He caught her with two cookies and brought her back home. For a dog who shows such distress when I leave her, she's certainly cavalier about leaving me!

July 4, 2004
Independence Day
Robert Frost style. Something there is that doesn't love a [fence] ... and its name is Bella. The greyhound list recently had a thread about Friendly Fence, so when Bella pushed on the right spot in the six-foot privacy fence and it yielded without protest so she could start digging and pushing under it, I decided to try poor-man's Friendly Fence: 3' x 25' plastic heavy-duty poultry [isn't 'heavy-duty poultry' an oxymoron?] mesh from Home Depot for about $8 instead of replacing entire eight-foot fence sections for about $30 each. Then of course I had to buy an electric staple gun, but hey, I have this attractive blue and beige "Freedom brace" on my right hand now - it frees you from having an opposable thumb - and after only six weeks of physical therapy I may be able to play the piano again. Speaking of Bella. Then I had to buy huge ground staples to fasten the bottom of the fence to the dirt so she wouldn't dig under it. Fortunately I already have an extensive mallet collection and a 100' heavy -duty outdoor extension cord.

July 7, 2004
Banned breeds
By insurance companies, that is. Rhodesian Ridgeback isn't in the Top 11 on the 'bad dog list', but it is 'way down on a list attributed to the 'Automobile Club' by one website. (My homeowner's policy is with State Farm, and I checked: State Farm does not ban breeds, although they do examine individual cases.) In Europe, on the other hand, there's no question. In both the US and Europe, pit bulls and Rottweilers head the list everywhere there's any breed-specific banning, but Ridgebacks are right up there in much of Europe. And in Australia - which also bans Great Danes. Someone told me seriously that this is because the Dane's skull stops growing (thank goodness!) but his brain keeps on growing so he gets excruciating headaches and goes amok. I doubt this, but maybe in Australia???

It does give one pause. I knew but hadn't connected the dots that the Ridgeback was created by mixing the original Hottentot hunting dog of long ago with Rottweilers and pit bulls and other scary things to make it a more effective hunting machine - although apparently the Hottentots did just fine with them long ago without the complications, which is why the British hunters picked up on the breed in the first place.

I was an inner city teacher for too many years to believe in banning whole breeds, but I also lived in the inner city and watched the signifying and preening by youthful owners of uncuddled rotties and pit bulls and read the news stories of family pets stolen for fodder for dogfights. If there's ever even an instant that I am afraid of Bella, that will definitely be it. Hasn't happened yet.

Years ago I took my greyhounds to a playday at the home (with large fenced yard) of several greyhounds and an Australian sheepdog. Whenever three or four greyhounds found themselves in a line abreast, they took off at top speed racing for the love of it; whenever the Aussie came upon three or four or ten greyhounds milling around, he rounded them up and herded them to another part of the field. Needless to say, greyhounds like being herded about as much as sheepdogs like racing, so great adventures were enjoyed by all - especially the spectators. Both were obviously bound by their long breeding to do what they were bred to do, whether anybody told them to or not, and have a blast doing it.

Greyhounds need training and conditioning to be champion racers, sheepdogs need training and conditioning to be champion herders. But even if the only training they get is to go outside to potty and to wait a minute, please, when they're alone in the open field racing dogs race and herding dogs herd. So perhaps it follows that Ridgebacks ridge and Great Danes are great. And the combination sleeps a lot, slurps a lot, and barks at lesser beasts. In Bella's case, people are nowhere near being lesser beasts.

July 10, 2004
Bella Frustrated
Or maybe obssessed, to whatever extent the two differ. She's spent the morning trying to get under the larger shed in the backyard. That's where the woodchuck has gone twice when she didn't catch it, and I guess she's decided it's time to catch it. She can get her head under the shed porch, sideways, but her shoulders just don't fit. She's trying every foot or so all the way around the shed, though, just to make sure.

Then when I made her come inside for awhile out of the heat - it's about 92 F., as she lay panting on the computer room floor Arthur got tired of waiting for her to move - or telepathy wasn't working for him - and carefully stepped over her. She whirled around and started to growl, then looked at me and stopped and lay down again. Good manners, very frustrating I'm sure.

We have an appointment with a highly recommended trainer / animal behaviorist in a week or so. When I'm tired, I look on this as Bella's last chance to stay; the rest of the time I can't imagine why I ever even consider returning her.

July 13, 2004
Sleep aggression?
Working at the computer, with Bella sleeping soundly at my feet, I began hearing low rumblings and mutterings that developed into quiet growls and woofles with the occasional curled lip. First conversational tones, then fiercer sounds. I spoke her name and told her to come to me; no response. I spoke more loudly; no response. I just about yelled and reached down to pet her - and she woke up, very startled and puzzled. The greyhounds often run in their sleep; it appears that Bella talks in her sleep.

July 26, 2004
Bella becalmed???
We finally had our hour with the super trainer, and I am definitely encouraged. Lot of work ahead, but it once again, or maybe even moreso this time, seems probable that Bella will be calmed. A bit.

Slight setback
I left the plastic bag of treats, with the clickers safely inside it, in my purse on the floor beside my bed last night, as I always do. I can't prove who ate the treats and maybe the clickers, but I suppose the clickers will turn up one way or another. Meanwhile, I've already bought more treats and another clicker. To be kept in the refrigerator unless in use or in my pocket.

October 20, 2004
The New Bella
It's been awhile, but it's been an eventful while. Ski Patrol has come out from behind the bed and moved into alpha position - much to Bella's relief, I think.

About two weeks ago Bella walked towards the food in the kitchen as usual, but this time Ski Patrol, lying on a bed in the living room, snarled at her - and she stopped! Bella turned around and went back to the computer room - and Ski Patrol went into the kitchen and helped himself to dog food. And peace has ensued ever since.

She stands in the doorway when they want to come inside, they walk around her. She woofles when she wants a particular bed, the occupant gives her the look and she goes to another bed. And I think she's much happier not being alpha; she's become less pushy and less noisy and generally even more cuddly. I'm properly amazed. I knew she was a neat dog, and now maybe she's beginning to know it, too.

Justice in the Dog World
The reformed friendly cooperative Bella now wants desperately to play with the other dogs. She perks up her ears, wags her tail, and playbows at them, picks up a toy and brings it over to play tug of war with them ... and they totally ignore her. I wonder if they'll ever forgive her for the hard time she gave them for so long.

October 31, 2004
Bella's Debut
With trepidation to rival that of Henry Higgins, today I took Bella out in public for Hallowe'en - no, not as monster-dog, as Smarty Jones complete with Preakness winner's blanket of black-eyed Susans. I went as her jockey, complete with Smarty Jones' racing colors. It made sense - little horse, big jockey. Oh well. Pictures to follow shortly.

We went to today's afternoon rehearsal of the Arundel Singers for the debut. And by george, she did it! She was polite, friendly, peaceful, kept her costume on, just perfect for the whole two-hour rehearsal. She slept by the piano and allowed nearby singers to pet her. Not one growl, not one bark, the perfect dog. Fortunately the only dog. But this was a good start. She didn't bark at any trucks or people on the ride to and from rehearsal, either.

At the risk of sounding entirely too anthropomorphic, I think that mostly what Bella needed was lots of loving and reassurance. At any rate, she certainly is a changed dog. Even when we were almost home and someone was walking two dogs as we drove past, she only barked once and then settled down again.

February 21, 2005
Greyhounds 2, Bella 0
Bella has decided she's a herding dog, and what she herds is greyhounds - especially greyhounds who want to go in the house from the deck. She yips at them and nips at their heels and body-blocks them very effectively. But greyhounds have decided their secret weapon is speed. So the two of them approach the door, which sends Bella into a herding frenzy. So they play her game; they let her herd them away from the door and off the deck and about fifteen feet away from the deck - then they turn and sprint to the door, leaving her looking puzzled.

March 4, 2005
The Year (almost) in Review
My goodness, Bella's come a long way. A way to go still, but wow. For one thing, it's become very clear that she's not dog aggressive, she's a bully. She's all talk. As soon as her apparent victim talks back, she backs off peacefully. Most of the time all it takes to stop the barking or the growling is a fairly soft "Bella." in good old teacher voice (works on dogs as well as on teenagers.)

And the vet astutely observed that the only constant in all three actual fights has been Arthur, and perhaps Arthur is the one who needs a new, only-dog home. So Arthur, who was a return foster, found a new forever home all his own. And we have had no fights since. It was Arthur who started the actual fighting with Bella that ruined my hand; it was Arthur who took the chunk out of Buffalo; and it was Arthur who ripped half Ski Patrol's face off (this I know for sure - Bella and Buffalo were with me in the computer room.) So it was in everybody's best interest for Arthur to find a new home, and he has. Everybody seems much happier.

Bella's still a bully. When I come home, she barks ferociously at the greyhounds to be sure I greet her first. She barks at greyhounds who dare to come into the bedroom when I'm sleeping - with her politely on her side of the bed. And she makes it very clear that she's not happy when I pet another dog but she'll be big about it and wait impatiently (and quietly!). She still wants to go through the door first (after me, of course), she still wants to be fed first; but she's much calmer with company and much calmer in general. And there's no thought of returning her now. I knew she was going to be a great dog, and she is. Even though she's now up to 138 pounds and so on a diet, i.e. not eating the greyhounds' food, too. It's working - I think Bella's losing weight, I know the greyhounds are gaining weight.

We're still going to Rover Reform School in the spring session, and we're still working with the clicker (an amazing thing!), and life is still good. We've had our rough times, but I'm awfully glad Bella is a [big] part of my really neat family.

Definitely time to get more pictures up. Stay tuned!

June 12, 2005 - Didn't someone once refer to ...
The lull before the storm

Oh my. It's been an interesting three months. I'm not sure whether it's me or Bella, or both, but things have gotten lot worse. A few days ago I at last came to my senses, or my declining body parts, whichever is speaking more loudly at the moment, and realized/admitted to myself that I can no longer safely manage Bella - for her safety or mine. This took a lot, I mean a lot, of self-debate as I'm sure the preceding log shows, but I took the big step and asked MAGDRL to find a younger, stronger home for her.

Bella, being ever cooperative and supportive as long as one keeps the weather eye on that curl in the middle of her forehead, helpfully reinforced this very hard to accept decision with last night's dinner moment. When I took Bella to the vet about a month ago, it was obvious that her diet isn't working. She was up to 144 pounds and crotchety to match. So I've been feeding Bella in the kitchen as usual, but feeding the greyhounds on the deck with Bella shut indoors. Every now and then Bella gets out before I get the door closed and starts eating from a greyhound dish. So I take her by her collar and she walks beside me back inside nice as can be, no argument, no struggle, no problem, the greyhounds eat their food outside, and Bella goes peacefully back to her own food in the kitchen.

Except last night when I took her collar to walk her back in the house she apparently decided that not only should she stay and eat greyhound dog food but that it would taste even better with fresh greyhound meat. And I wasn't fast enough or strong enough to keep her from almost tearing off SkiP's right front leg before I was able to drag her to the door and inside. So SkiP is dripping blood and crying, I'm collapsed in a chair gasping for air, and this morning I wake up with a whole new bunch of sore muscles. Bottom line... my career as a wrestler of 144-pound Dogzilla moments is clearly over. Very sad. But it makes the decision to return her a tiny bit easier to accept. I don't know what got into her, and I'm really sorry it did, but it doesn't really matter because whatever it is is too much for me now. Getting old has its not so great moments. My son Douglas said a few days before he died at thirty, this is not the way it's supposed to be. And this is not the way Bella's bLog was supposed to end.