Monday, May 31, 2010

Two Dogs - One Crate


We have two crates and two dogs...but both dogs get in the same crate. They're so funny!

Friday, May 28, 2010

First toys...


These two rescue dogs have never had toys before...so we introduced them to a rope and a soft ball. They're learning to play. Buster at the top has the ball...and Bella has the rope...but they kept switching back and forth.

Playing Together


Bella and Buster are beginning to play together...took this photo last night.

"Keeper of the Food"



Here's a couple of photos of Bella on Tuesday when she wouldn't let Buster have anything to eat. She was guarding the bowl...and she was "using her eyes" for control...establishing her position as the "queen". Even after he walked away, she still stayed close to the food.

The saga continues...

Wednesday:
Bella woke me up at 5:30 am ...came downstairs to find her on the dining room table. I had forgotten to put the chair under the table before I went to bed. What's with the dining room table? I have two friends and both of their Cavaliers will get on the dining room table if they leave the chair out.

By afternoon, both dogs seemed okay with each other...and were running down the steps to go to the yard...and then running back up the steps to come back in. They knew they'd get a treat when they came in...but the treats are tiny...and they're healthy.

Yesterday and today were good days with the two of them...running around the yard and playing together a bit...mind you, I said "a bit". Bella doesn't do much playing at all, so I'm pleased with any running around the yard that they do.

This morning, Bella woke me up at 5:00 am...would not quit barking. I decided to come down and check on her...so I slipped downstairs very quietly...and realized what was wrong. The wind was blowing pretty strong outside and our outside "motion light" was apparently going on and off...and I guess she was afraid there might be a "booger in the yard".

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Trouble in Paradise...

There seems to be trouble in paradise...Bella's not happy. She's been sad today and a little miffed at me. I'm giving her way more attention than the new dog...but he's had surgery and I'm having to carry him up and down the steps...so now Bella has quit walking down the steps...wants me to carry her, too. She's staying in the kitchen, guarding all the food...and either growls at him or glares at him when he gets close to her. She's ate more today than she has any day since I've had her.

Definitely need another bed..

Bella (on right) is being mighty good natured about sharing her bed...but we definitely need to get another one.

First night in a new house...



I put the "new dog" in the kennel for the night...since he's used to being outside all the time...and didn't hear a peep out of either him or Bella all night long. I've got to get him a "real bed" though...since he wants Bella's bed...not his nice soft comfy pillow. Bella's such a good dog, she lets him have her bed.

Also I've learned he does NOT want to be a "yard dog" anymore...he's found the comforts of the house to be more to his liking. If I leave him in the yard, he barks...and he's figured out how to slip through the bars on the fence (since he's so skinny) and run up the steps to the dining room door. He's a little booger. We've either got to fatten him up quickly...or put something between those posts so he can't get through.

Monday, May 24, 2010

A new addition...Sammy!




Well, we have adopted another Cavalier rescue dog...Sammy. He's 15 months, full grown, weighs only 8 pounds but the vet says he should weigh about 11 to 12 pounds...so he's been struggling to get enough food to eat. It just upsets me to see how some people treat animals...but he's a lucky little fellow...because he's in a good home, now.

He and Bella took to each other just fine. In fact, it wasn't long before he crawled in her bed behind her and went to sleep. Bella just looked at him and went back to sleep. Later, I brought Sadie (my neighbor's chocolate lab) in to meet Sammy. I think he's going to be just fine.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Developing a personality!

Wow..it's so good seeing Bella developing her personality...she's so cute! It's such a shame she missed out on all that when "growing up"...getting stuck in a puppy mill...ugh! She doesn't even know "how to play". She and I have really bonded. She follows me from room to room....wants to be close!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Play Ball!


Charlie, 15 mos, loves to kick a ball.

Friday, May 21, 2010

5:00 am...

These Cavaliers love to be with people...and Bella follows me from room to room...and sits by my side when I'm working on something. She's very needy when it comes to not wanting to be by herself...but not at 5:00 am. Apparently she wanted some company...or maybe she heard a noise outside...not sure what was the reason, but at 5:00 am she decided it was time for me to get up and be with her. She didn't want to go out...just wanted me in the living room with her...so I spent what was left of the "night" sleeping on the couch.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bella..."who's training who"

We've had Bella now for one week...and I'm trying to decide "who's training who"...LOL Since she's 5 years old and kind of set in her ways...and I'm a bit older and kind of set in my ways...sometimes we're having a "battle of the wills"....but we're working on it. She'll go up and down the stairs here in the house to find me, but when I'm ready for her to go "outside"...you can forget that, unless I carry her down the steps and out in the yard (my poor aching back)...but now, she will come back up on her own...since I walk away and leave her outside... and she certainly does not want to be out there by herself. So...we are progressing...yeah!

She's really getting used to us...no where near as skittish, but she's still a little cautious around us. She loves to lay beside me where ever I'm sitting or working...so I have to be careful when I stand up...not to step on her. When we walk into the room, she wags her tail and hind end...showing her excitement at seeing us.

This morning, when I came downstairs, I was expecting to see Bella either in the recliner (that she thinks is hers)...or in her bed in the living room where she usually is...or laying in the kitchen floor where she likes to lay right in the doorway where she can keep an eye on all rooms....BUT...no Bella. Gosh..I wondered, where can that dog be! ...when I heard the noise of some papers rustling and there right in the middle of the dining room table sat Bella. I had my laptop on the table there where I was working last night...and I had left my chair away from the table. Well...I'll have to remember to push the chair in under the table from now on.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Bella



Here's Bella...a 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue dog that we rescued last week. Bella had been a puppy mill dog and not treated very well....but now she lives with us and we're working with her to get her used to people. She's got such a sweet nature and learns very quickly. She is having to learn to walk on a leash, go up and down stairs, and trust humans.