Bella has been here 9 days now. I wanted to give you an update 4 days ago on Monday but have had to jump a lot of hurdles since then, including finally shipping one of the two Edward Tulane rabbits I had orders for (again). So have been to the shippers and one is on its way to Illinois.
Oh but it has been a challenge this week with a new pup and the A/C going off during a weekend and I refused to pay the exorbitant cost for an emergency call. So I turned on all the ceiling fans in the house and brought the oscillating fan down from the attic. But night time sleeping was a little uncomfortable but thank gawd this past weekend temps weren't the ones in the 3 digits as we'd experienced the week prior.
Since Bella was new and wanting to crate train her she had been sleeping in the crate all night until Sunday night. Since it was to be really really warm in the room I turned on the ceiling fan, and had the oscillating fan mostly directed in the direction of her crate and two (yes, 2) beds outside the crate. Hey, my girl must have her choice of memory foam or fluff. And decided to let her sleep outside the crate so she could go in if she wanted (door remained open) and at least she would have access to water in case she wanted to hydrate herself.
Well she was a perfect roommate, no accidents or other incidents and she has been sleeping outside the crate since. I'm happy she is getting more freedom. Of course I don't totally trust her for 1-2 hours alone while I run errands yet for fear of the separation anxiety.
So we did get the A/C back in operation on Monday afternoon and it was like heaven in the house later.
When Terry of Majesty Rottweiler Rescue was here she suggested I elevate the bowls to ensure her stomach didn't flip by too much water, too much food, too much play, which I guess with any combination of the 3 could or has caused the problem. I've never had a dog with that situation but didn't want to start now either. So I went out and found something suitable to elevate her bowls.
You can see that my little girl still needs to put on weight and you can readily see the eye which had the entropian surgery as she is sleeping by my side in the computer room. I'm hoping that with time the hair will grow back and eye will take shape again. Naturally I will love her even if it doesn't, but you know how we girls are sensitive about our appearance.
Lovin' my little girl and think she and I will embark on the trek to the mail box to retrieve mail since it is relatively mild outside albeit somewhat humid. I'll carry some water with me in case she gets panting.
Oh, in the picture above to the left is a stool with a hooked top which I purchased from Mad Hen (Tonya Robey) and the stool to the right is an antique one but the hooked design was the design which came with the dye recipe box and samples. I figured that since I keep my dyes out of sight I may as well enjoy the design where I can see it every day.
Bella and I getting along wonderfully and it is as if this were her home all along. We are still in the process of developing a schedule. She is very good at listening and knows a 'sit' and easily goes into a 'down' position, and then she rolls over and wants her belly rubbed.
My initial thought was to have the crate in the kitchen. But then re-thinking that decided to put it in the bedroom so that she can be contained during the night and be near me. It might not be too long before I'll start trying to trust her closed in the bedroom with me during the night and not put her in the crate. But since she hasn't been here a week yet will wait just a bit longer.
Terry and Diego of Majesty Rottweiler Rescue were very kind in giving me a slide show of the day Bella was adopted. It is rather long but has certainly been fun for me to view it a few times. Bella was put in a shelter because her homeless owner could not take care of her. In the slide show you will see how she and I connected from the very beginning. I went to the garage refrigerator to get bottled water for all of us and she wanted to be right with me ~ we really hit it off right away.
http://www.slide.com/r/LAiDcCfhzz-WwW9MockM0puWK0f_cvri?fbr=1
Bella is one sweet girl and we will get a little meat on those bones. Two of my gal pals stopped by yesterday to meet her and they confirmed that she was a gentle, sweet girl who will learn fast.
I want you all to meet my new companion Bella. Bella is my first rescue animal and was adopted thru Majesty Rottweiler Rescue. This picture was taken by them during the home visit to see how the match was and so they could see where and what conditions she would live.
Obviously the interview process with references I provided, calls to my vet, home visit and conversations with me, I passed the tests. Since I never kenneled any of my dogs when I went to rug camps, they even required that the person who will watch Bella when I go to camps be in attendance too. They wanted to see how that person would interact with Bella as well.
Bella does need to put on some weight and I am feeding her small amounts of food several times a day, with a little non-fat plain yogurt mixed in for digestion. So we are working on that. I was quite surprised to learn that she was, according to the rescue, "close to total emaciation". Just do not understand how anyone could let that happen.
And frankly I am very surprised that Bella is as sweet and friendly for her to have come out of a situation like that. Of course the rescue organization temperament tested her to see how she responded when food was removed, interaction with children, dogs and cats and she passed with flying colors.
Once Bella was healthy enough they did a spay, micro chipped her and did an entropian surgery on her eye. She has had all sutures removed and her eye will gradually begin to look normal.
This sweet dear girl is beside me as I type this. I am on the left but she prefers the coolness of the bathroom tile. She does like to play and likes her toys and go for long walks, but she is being typical Rottweiler and comfortable just chillin'.
I've neglected lots of duties in the last couple days and need to leave and make a shipment of patterns to someone, stop at the grocery store and maybe even pick up something new for my girl. So Bella will go in a crate while I'm gone for an hour and we will both be happy to see one another. It will be much better when I have had her long enough to trust her out alone during my absence. But until then when I come home and no accidents in the house and no table legs chewed off I greet her all excited and happy. And because of that she is happy. Bella wants to please and seems to learn fast so I'm sure it won't be long before the crate training is a thing of the past.
