Today is a sad day.

I let Bella out into the backyard for just a few minutes while I got a phone call. It wasn't long before I spied out back and saw her gently nudging a small limp furry body. I couldn't see very well and at first I thought she maybe finally caught a bird, but no....it was a wild baby bunny that had the misfortune of slipping into my backyard.

It seemed that there were no puncture wounds, no blood anywhere. I've been told that it could have run feverishly...

bellapup

Bella is still practicing her laps in the water, and it's been really fun to see her become excited now when she knows she can swim.

The last several times we were at the pool, she jumped right in with little hesitation. Even when her big doggy friends jump in and make big splashes, she's a lot more comfortable going right in with them.

Sometimes when we're preoccupied with talking and don't notice that she's dropped the ball by our feet for the next pool dunking, she'll...

bellapup

Just back from the pool and I had to share exciting news.

Bella has already gotten a hang of turning and fetching balls in the pool. I think I was a little more worried than I had to be, possibly because her love of fetching outweighed her fears.

She is an absolute fish in the water! She only goes in from the stairs, but just as on land, she'll get the ball, swim over to me, let go of the ball, then start swimming back the other way in anticipation of the throw.
...

bellapup

The parents of Lily, Bella's best friend, invited us yesterday to swim in their pool, and since it's getting into the 100 degree weather here, I thought it would be a great time to see how my little girl did.

Lily, like Bella, is slightly intimidated by deeper water, so I thought I might be able to help both of them at the same time.

It took several tries and being extremely patient, but little by little, I got the two of them to get down one step by luring them with...

bellapup

I didn't think it would actually work on Bella, because it didn't seem like it was, but I know many people not only here but on tv and books who encouraged owners to praise their dogs whenever they eliminated outside successfully.

It's been long since Bella's messed accidentally, but it seemed like I had to watch the time and whenever we went out back immediately upon my return home, Bella would be so excited she wouldn't go until she was good and calm.

But I still praised...

bellapup