Dog | on free-range

Because of Bella …

Bella, in front of Niles Pie Co in Union City

(free-range) … I have worked on having her roam my home (rather than her being in her kennel, which she is generally good with) when I’m away.  I also leave the television on (Comedy Central).  This has been for the past two days. So far, Bella is doing okay (e.g., no accidents, no obvious furniture jumping-on), at least for up to four hours.

(walking) … I walk more.  She pees and poops. That’s our tacit contract.

(booty scooting) … I now know what this really means. I know there is a word to what I saw her do yesterday.

(home office) … I have learned I need a break from my home office.

(away home office) … I brought Bella to one of my home office away from home office spots – Niles Pie Company (website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). This is where I learned about her barking choices – at people and at noises. Fascinating, Ms. Bella.

(stretching) … I play a little game with myself – I stretch when she stretches, because she stretches big time and often – in the house, during walks, on the porch, wherever. She also sleeps often, but I don’t because I have bills to pay, and I’m not a 10-year-old dog.

(farting) … I am pretty sure, as Bella roamed around parts of my home last night, that she farted. My home neither makes that noise nor emanates that smell. (This is really the only reason I am writing this post – to share this tidbit. You are welcome, Mommy AJ, Tita Alley, and Tita Lauren.)

Bella at the In-N-Out drive-thru and on the way to Petco

(little road trips) …  I learned she’s cool with car rides. Turns out, Bella will get into a car pronto – evening or daytime (if time of day even matters).  And she pretty much looks the same.  After the away home office jaunt, she was not a fan of getting out of the car (is how I interpreted her dog body language).

(drive-thru) … I survived her high-pitched barking as she leaned over to bark at the order-taker, money-taker, and food-giver persons (and other hoomans that the food-giver called over to see how cute Bella is).

(burr) … I learned burrs can get into her paws. While burrs weren’t buried deep in her paw, it was enough for me to have Katie, at Petco, take ’em out via shaving two of her paws. And meanwhile, I continue to de-burr the best I can her after each walk.

(Day 9) Free-range fun is freeing both of us.
(“Because of Bella” began on Day 0.) 

Dog | on making noises

Because of Bella . . .

Thirsty Bella sitting on my lap, looking at a bird

(snoring) … I learned that little dogs can make medium snore noises, and they dream, right?

(snoring) … I learned that I wake Bella up with MY snoring.

(hardwood floor) … I enjoy hearing Bella’s pitter paw patter around my home.

(hardwood floor) … When I don’t hear Bella’s pitter patter (for a minute or so) as she free ranges around my home, I pitter patter around my home, looking at my floor (and a few area rugs).

(sneezing) … Bless you, Bella.

(brr) … Walks have been a bit chilly these past days.

(burr) … Bella’s hair is a burr sanctuary. For burrs that are squatting around her paws + belly and that have been pretty stubborn to remove (and I’ve been really obsessed with pulling them off), I’ve trimmed them off as a last resort.  Afterwards, sometimes Bella lets out a teeny woof. I think it’s a happy teeny woof.

(Day 6) No accidents since Day 3. Yay!
(“Because of Bella” began on Day 0.) 

 

Dog | the Target store run and walks

Because of Bella … 

Bella at front door porch

(parks and lawns) … That patch of lawn in the picture – one of several grass patches that Bella has visited for relief.

(gardens) … I appreciate neighbors’ gardens and curb appeal, especially seeing flowers blooming.

(shopping) … I learned that I can buy products specifically for dog odor and stain removal/eliminator at my nearby Target.

(cleaning) … After knowing she has cozied up to and rubbed up against wet stuff (aka pee), I wipe down Bella’s hair  (and yes, Bella’s Mom left me with shampoo and a towel as a just in case).

(grooming) … I brush Bella’s hair (way more than my hair), pull nature’s gifts (e.g., burrs, leaves, grasses) off of her, and trim off bits of matted hair.

(Day 3) Please poop sooner than later.
(Because of Bella began on Day 0)