CGC Certified!

I am interested in taking Bella through some therapy dog training to see if I can combine my love of Bella with my desire to volunteer. It seems to do any therapy work with your dog, your dog first has to have his or her CGC certification (Canine Good Citizen).

Yesterday I went to a great training facility, Riverdog, to get an evaluation. The trainer said we could just go through the test instead. Yahoo! Bella passed with flying colors! Now it's on to therapy classes to see what good we can do in the world. Good dog, Bella!

Dog Visitors

Amber

Bella's buddy Amber stayed with us for a few days. Bella is very respectful of Amber's age (11 1/2 years) and doesn't badger her, although I know she wants to play with her. Amber looks fabulous: her coat is shiny and thick and gait is steady, but I've noticed that our linoleum floor is hard for her to negotiate. Her back end slipped frequently. It made me sad. Amber has gone through two ACL surgeries and is now on steady chemo meds for mast cell cancer yet seems so young at heart. The slipping makes me realize that she's old. I kept her on the carpet as much as possible and nothing from her in the kitchen the required speed. Next time, I'll have rubber-backed carpet for her.

Amber, as with all good dogs, never complains. You have to scratch your head at dogs' adaptability. Yes, she know our house and us, but her owner comes over and leaves her. (Emphasis from the dog's point of view.) Amber just fit right in to our schedule. She even learned to wait with a biscuit on her paw before chewing. What a good girl!

In a couple of weeks, we'll be taking care of another dog, K2. Bella and K2 will play hard and have a fabulous time. Bella likes the company and doggie interactions.

Who Bella does not like is our neighbor's maltese-cross, Misu. Misu is not very well socialized, but sweet (if ill-behaved). Yet she must have done some bad dog thing to Bella, because she is the only dog Bella cannot tolerate. I was concerned yesterday when I let Bella into the back yard and realized Misu was there. Bella assumed the pose: rigid, standing over Misu. Misu peed all over herself. Luckily I could remove Bellie from the scene without incident and leash Misu (because she doesn't know the word 'come') and return her home.

Spring is Here

The Mallards are back! Bella and I were in the back yard when we heard quacking and there on the roof sat Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. (Believe me, seeing ducks on a roof is an odd sight! Their feet aren't built for that platform.)

I put Bellie inside and snapped some pictures (one much better than the other), as they strolled our backyard. Unfortunately our yard doesn't provide good nesting sites with only a water bowl and a dog to contend with. They ate some slugs, drank some water and moved on. Sigh.

Bella Turns Four

Yesterday was Bellie's fourth birthday. I have never owned a dog where I knew his or her birth date. It's a cheap thrill. For Bella, each day is wonderful and I feel silly doing doggie birthday cakes, so any celebrating was more for me thanking the gods for bringing Bella into our lives.

She got to clean out the plain yogurt container. Oh boy! Had two games of chuck-it. Thrilling! Received some meat in her evening kibble. Oh joy!

I did take her on a new hike. At this time of year, it has to be local and low because of weather. There is a river that was paved over a hundred years or more ago and is now a pond. There's a trail along side it that I had never walked before. The trail was mucky in parts from all our recent rain, but the salmon berries were starting to bloom and the pond was thriving with ducks and geese. Bella got to swim. Happy girl.

Happy Birthday, my lovely puppy!