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Meet Bella: Our Quirky Mutt
Meet Bella, my quirky, strikingly beautiful (seriously, she’s a head-turner), and delightfully crazy 21-pound mutt. A few years back, on a lazy Saturday morning, I was snuggled up in bed with her while she was still a puppy, blissfully spooning me. The birds were chirping outside, and sunlight was streaming through the curtains when suddenly … the bedroom door creaked open. My boyfriend, Mark, burst in, humorously pretending to wield a knife like Anthony Perkins in Psycho.
Bella sprang into action, leaping onto my neck and barking fiercely at him for the first time ever. Her bark was deep and bold—more akin to a Doberman than a little mutt. She calmed down once she recognized him, but then we were hit with a foul odor. Upon inspection, we discovered a three-foot splatter of liquid dog poop decorating the wall.
“You’re cleaning that up,” I told Mark, rolling out of bed.
I felt mixed emotions about Bella’s reaction. On one hand, I was proud of her fierce protective instincts; on the other, it was clear she was so startled that she had an accident. As days passed, I brushed it off. Bella had her quirks—she was shy around unfamiliar faces but loved learning new tricks. After mastering basic commands, we taught her to fetch and play Frisbee like a champ. I even trained her to roll over and to jump into a big tote bag that she initially feared, making it easier to take her into stores.
Life with Bella and Lucy
Fast forward to when my daughter, Lucy, was born nearly two years later—Bella had accumulated quite the list of oddities. She was terrified of dumpsters, canopies, and flags, and at dog parks, she was more interested in her Frisbee than mingling with other dogs.
However, her insecurity morphed into an overly protective demeanor, barking and lunging at anyone who approached, even familiar faces. This was challenging, especially with new visitors and kids. Mark and I tried various training techniques, but Bella remained resistant to the command “Quiet!”
As Lucy grew into a typical 5-year-old, she entered a phase of being scared of monsters and the dark. Our once peaceful nighttime routine devolved into chaos, filled with her questions about why she had to sleep alone when even Bella was with us. Mark came up with a brilliant idea: “Let’s have Bella sleep with her.”
On the first night, we expected a struggle, but Bella hopped into her bed and curled up like she knew her new job was to protect Lucy. They both slept soundly through the night for over six months.
The Latest Challenge
But a couple of weeks ago, Bella started whining and scratching at Lucy’s door, prompting Lucy to call out for us. “Mom! Dad! Bella’s keeping me awake!” We sighed, knowing it was going to be a long night. “We know, sweetheart. Bella’s just dealing with some issues,” I said, feeling utterly defeated.
Just when we thought we were heading back into exhaustion, Mark had another lightbulb moment. He told Lucy, “If Bella gets out of her bed and scratches at the door, I want you to firmly tell her to go back to bed.”
“But she won’t listen to me,” Lucy argued.
“Yes, she will if you’re assertive,” I added, trying to reassure her.
Minutes later, Mark and I were in the living room, sipping some bourbon and nervously awaiting Bella’s antics. When the scratching began, we leaned into the monitor, holding our breaths. Then, Lucy’s sweet yet firm voice cut through the tension: “Bella, go to your bed. Stay.” And to our amazement, Bella complied.
We’re still unsure what triggered Bella’s latest episode. It’s a wild mix of chaos and comfort with her. But perhaps she needed Lucy just as much as Lucy needed her. Who knew a little reciprocation could go such a long way?
Further Reading
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Conclusion
In summary, Bella, our quirky dog, turned out to be an unexpected source of comfort and protection for our daughter, proving that sometimes, love and support come from the most surprising places.