Flashback: She’s cute, but…

It’s almost the first anniversary of I Still Want More Puppies, so
I’m sharing some of my favorite posts with you this week.  The post
below originally appeared on July 10, 2010.  Hope you enjoy!

 First, if you are a dog owner (heck, even if you’re not), you must go read this blog post over at Hyperbole and a Half.  After realizing that her dog doesn’t know how to go up and down stairs, the author decides it’s time to see if her dog is… challenged.  (Let’s call it that.)

Although I love Bella dearly, I’ve always been aware that she’s not
exactly the brightest of pups.  While she can successfully navigate the stairs, some of the other behaviors in the post seemed similar to Bella’s daily activities… particularly the random acts of licking throughout the house.  The floor, the wall, the cabinets, the dresser… you name it, Bella’s licked it.  Once while on a walk, she even licked a goose.

Other parts of the post hit close to home as well.  My favorite sentence: “But when turning her head at an extreme angle fails to produce a life-altering epiphany, she usually just short-circuits and rolls on her back.”  It’s like the author is talking about Bella.  Bella tilting her head at an angle (we call it the puppy face… or the extreme puppy face, depending on how severe the angle) and rolling on her back (affectionately, and perhaps inappropriately, known as “having a seizure” in our household) occur with frequency throughout the day.

So, after reading this post, I decided that maybe I should try some of the tests on Bella.  The blanket test was out (throwing a blanket over the dog and seeing how long it takes her to get out) – I’ve seen this happen to Bella on many occasions.  I’m not sure she could find her way out even if I gave her a map.  She usually  just gives up and takes a nap under there.

Instead, I decided to try the treat under a cup test.  The test involves getting your dog into a sitting position, letting her sniff a treat (we went with Snausages because Bella loves them in a way that defies description), and then placing the treat under a plastic cup while the pup watches.  Then you see how long it takes the pup to get the treat out from under the cup.

Watch the video below to find out what happened (and try not to judge  – it’s the first time I have ever attempted to edit a video):

 

I love when she looks up at the window, as if considering the possibility that the treat grew arms and legs, found a treat-size grappling hook, and climbed up there somehow.  Although the results were not encouraging, Bella didn’t seem to mind.  After all, she got two Snausages out of the deal.

 

Thank goodness she can get by on her looks.

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Bella Bowl V

All Things Dog Blog
Bella Bowl weekend is traditionally a busy one in our household.  That’s right, it’s not just Super Bowl weekend around here.

  We throw an annual Super Bowl party known as Bella Bowl… we’re up to Bella Bowl V.  The dining room has been christened Puppy Stadium for the day.  Sometimes Bella will rock Giants paraphernalia for the party – but her interest in wearing a jersey is usually short-lived.  Such a fair weather fan…

Anyway, I’m excited to add a new tradition to our Bella Bowl/Puppy Bowl/Super Bowl weekend… the All Things Dog Blog Super Dog Sunday Blog Hop!

I didn’t have the heart to make her wear her jersey and let me take a new photo, given that the Giants didn’t even make the playoffs.  So let’s just agree that the pose above is how she reacted when she learned this news.

Want to join the hop?

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Hope springs eternal

I’ll admit – even though Peanuts comics are now in reruns (a concept I once thought only applicable to TV shows), I still read the strip daily.  As soon as I saw yesterday’s strip, I knew I had to share it with you:

Peanuts
(via comics.com)

I couldn’t stop laughing – Bella deals with this internal struggle every day.  Even though her feeding schedule has consisted of breakfast and dinner since time immemorial (aka when we adopted her), she doesn’t let the past dampen her hope for the future.  When she barrels through the door after spending time outside, she runs straight to the bowl and checks it.  When she comes downstairs after a nap, she checks the bowl.  When she finishes eating, she walks away… then walks back and checks the bowl just in case.  You never know when food might magically appear, after all.

Once I stopped laughing (and believe me, it took a while), I started thinking about how perfectly Charles Schulz portrayed Snoopy.  Sure, he was a (sometimes) talking dog with a bird for a best friend… but strips like the one above really capture the canine personality (or at least Bella’s).  However, I wouldn’t expect anything less from the man who reminded us that “happiness is a warm puppy.”

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Bella Holiday Tip #19

It’s been a busy week… so instead of your regularly scheduled No Frown Friday, I’m going to go ahead and share another Bella holiday tip.  Enjoy! 

I already showed you our 2008 holiday card.  Last year, we moved into a new house a few weeks before Christmas.  Bella used this experience as inspiration.  She advised us to send out our 2009 holiday wishes and our new address at the same time.  She’s a resourceful one:

Bella Holiday Tip #19:
Moving during the holidays is tough when you have lots of bones to pack – so let your holiday cards do double duty.
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Bella Holiday Tip #27

A few years ago, we ditched the traditional holiday card in favor of one with Bella on it.  Each year, Bella shares a holiday tip with the lucky recipients.  Before I unveil this year’s photo and tip, a walk down memory lane seemed appropriate.  First up, 2008’s card…

Bella Holiday Tip #27:
If you can’t find a festive outfit for your holiday party, accessorize any old outfit with a few shiny bows.


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Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember our buddy Roscoe?  He’s visiting us for a few days.  If you’ll recall, Bella wasn’t very hospitable last time he came to visit.  This time?  So far, so good…

I am thankful for many things today, including the Bella-Roscoe Thanksgiving Peace Treaty of 2010.

Have a wonderful holiday!

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