Second week with "Mia Bella"

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Bella continues to amaze me with her doodle intelligence. We thought Murphy was quick to learn, but she is just amazing. She is just 12 weeks and already has been going to the door to go potty, sits and even does a short "stay". She is so much fun for Murphy and she plays with him and then gives him his space when he goes off by himself. I have not had to crate her to give him alone time at all. She goes right into her pen when we need to go out and always comes running when we say "Come Here Bella" Murphy STILL doesn't come that quick at almost two years old. My guess is he never will.

We can tell the wheels are turning when we say "Go Potty" and she doesn't do it on command, but it's not too long after we say it that she does go. She came to us with the habit of eating her poop, just as she learned from her mommy, but she now stops going near it when we tell her "no". BTW....pineapple in her poop didn't seem to make any difference in her attraction to it.

She is much more tolerant of baths than Murphy was at this age and that's a good thing since we had the flea issue this monday she has been bathed at least 3 times since then. She has also tolerated all the flea combing I have been doing on her which is also something Murphy would never have tolerated at this age. He attacked the soft brush if it came near him till he was about 5 months old.

So all in all it's been going well. I am exhausted, but that is to be expected, as just when I sit down she decides to eat something she shouldn't or wants to go out. But it only gets better from here and I just love watching her puppy ways. She really is "Mia Bella".

[Joy Williams]

Wow, Sue, it sounds like you really got a jewel! I'm so glad that she and Murhpy get along so well together - that will sure make things easier for you. So smart and so cute too! Congrats to you all!!

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

Mia Bella sound like a wonderful little puppy! I know what you are talking about when it comes to watching the puppy non stop......it wears me out!! Wheezy is about 5 months now and it's getting so much better!!! They are worth all the hard work!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are off to a great start with Bella. Congrats.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Saturday: Bella has found out she fits under our bed and can play Hide & Seek with mom. I can almost hear her giggling under there when I call her. She is grasping the concept of the doggie bells and continues to go to the door about 90% of the time. Still having about one pee accident a day and that's when I am not watching like a hawk. She may have gone to the door but I didn't see it. Today she started learning Lay Down with the clicker and that is going better each time. She is now waiting for me to put her food bowl down and my saying OK. We got a slow feeding bowl for Murphy, so there is no need to seperate them as I had before. They are equally food possessed so I will probably be getting her one some day. It works great BTW,.

She is still very mouthy and nippy, but that's to be expected. With the way she and Murphy play tug of war I have a feeling her baby teeth are going to get ripped out very easily. I think I have a harder time with that than the potty training as I'd hate to have teeth marks on some of my nicer furniture. But again, I just have to watch her like a hawk and keep her penned when I can't.

Well, the pups are resting so I think I will take the opportunity to do the same. Stay tuned for further adventures of Bella.

[Camilla and Darwin]

She sounds like the perfect pup! Such a smart doodle.

[cheryl & oliver]

I am so happy that you are enjoying this little one so much!!!!...She sounds like the perfect sweet little girl, and she is sooo smart for such a little one....Their is nothing like a sweet new puppy, I sort of miss those days, and I say sort of, lol, Oliver was much more difficult then your Bella, but he is a sweetheart now for sure...Keep those stories coming please...

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Oh, I remember that feeling of being excited and exhausted all at the same time!!! A little girl that likes to be bathed and brushed!! Wah Hooo!!! That's the BEST!!! She sounds absolutely wonderful!!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

That's great news! Bella sure does sound like a very intelligent doodle - and so cute, too!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like you're off to a fantastic start with Bella! I always felt like once we had the potty training down, and they were telling us when they had to go, life became so much easier. That's awesome that she's doing that already. What a good girl.