From A “Little Girl” To A “Young Lady” Our Bella is Growing Up

Three days shy of her ninth month of age, our Bella is experiencing her first Heat cycle.  It started off a couple of weeks ago when Bella was experimenting with play mating with Rusty.  Needless to say, Rusty, who is a neutered male and about as mellow a dog as one can be, tolerated Bella's amorous mating moves by rolling over on his back and playing "feets" with her.   I picked up four pair of Velcro panties and pads, two hot pink and two ...

Read More


Bella Being Bella in our Pack – Stuff That Makes Things Fun

This morning around 11:00 a.m., Mark and I were getting ready to go to the art show in Raleigh.  With three doggie children, it can get interesting when we get ready to leave.  I had just called Luke and Rusty to come into our bedroom so they could sack out while we were gone for a couple of hours.  It was ONLY the three of us in the bedroom and I am straightening things up when I hear what sounds like "mouse or rat" rustlings noise coming ...

Read More


Our Bella is Five Months Old!

Our sweet Bella is now five months old!  She is such a precious part of our family that it is hard to imagine that we were doing okay before she joined us.  I weighed her on Saturday and she topped out at 14.6 pounds.  Still has her cute teddy bear face and we are seeing a blondish tint to her facial fur but still our ginger little red head.  She just had her first official junior puppy trim and it looks like we are now seeing the end of ...

Read More


A Progress Report on Our Sweet Bella

I cannot begin to even figure out a way to tell you how funny, loving and just pure joy this little cutie brings to us each day.  Bella is a wonderful example of  what a puppy owner can expect when he or she puts in the time, love and energy to help their puppy nestle into their family.   I am a firm believer in making sure that the puppy fits the family and the family fits the puppy.   Going to see the puppy that you think you might want ...

Read More


Bella Has Her Cast Off !

On Thursday, September 4th, Bella and I went to Wake Forest Animal Hospital.  Dr. Manning came in and Bella was her usual charming self.  Her cast was removed and her skin and fur looked great.  There were no rubbed or raw places.  I was tickled to see that by having the recommended routine cast changes, Bella's skin had remained in great condition while it was in the cast. Her little leg isn't as strong as her other legs but time and ...

Read More


Bella’s New Veterinarian Service

Sometimes we have to consider when to make a change in pet healthcare providers.   In the area in which we live, we are fortunate to have many quality pet care providers.  That's why, today, I am changing pet care providers for Bella.  As Bella's voice, I like to share positive care given to her and compliment the doctors and staff who are giving Bella that care.  That being said, when the care Bella receives is not satisfactory to me, ...

Read More


Bella’s Fancy Cast Goes “Funky” !

It started Saturday night with a suggestion from the hubby that he thought Bella's cast smelled "funny".   As us Moms are used to doing, I gave it the sniff test.  Old grass stain, a bit of rotting mowed grass, interwoven with the scent of dirt blended together to make an "old" smell was all I got from my quick shot at doing the sniff test.  Sunday came and went and then along came Monday.  It was Mark's birthday.  Amidst the family ...

Read More


Bella’s Second Puppy Check-Up “With Frills”

This past Friday, August 15, 2014, our Bella got to meet her regular Veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Raboin, for Bella's second routine puppy visit.  Given Bella's adventure loving nature, we are on a first name basis with several of the doctors there at the clinic.  We thought we knew about raising puppies but Bella has taken us on quite the learning curve.  We arrived at 3:10 pm and were checked in.  Within a few minutes we went into the exam ...

Read More


Bella’s First Vet Visit for a Broken Leg

Yes, it is true.  Bella's first week here at home was fun.  She fit right into the family. Luke and Rusty were a bit overwhelmed by how "Miss No-Fear Bella" quickly made herself comfortable.  Rusty, true to his nature, opened his heart and by the second day, it was common to see the two of them sleeping together.  Luke was, for want of a better word, flabbergasted.  Bella moves like greased lightning and with her cute little "rufff", one ...

Read More


Bella Picks Us Out !

Finally!  The days being counted down until we could go to pick out our new puppy had seemed endless.  I had been searching for a special mini goldendoodle puppy. Our chocolate Lab, Rusty, is over 7 years old and Luke, our mini goldendoodle, is 2 years old.  When we brought Luke home, Rusty took a good long look at Luke and then at me.  I sat on the floor, allowing Rusty to explore this blonde, wiggling bunch of fur.  After a few sniffs ...

Read More

Bella