Dog Days

It's been a roller coaster weekend. But my search for a dog is over! On Friday I saw an advert on Gumtree for a Jug, a cross between a pug and a Jack Russell, small, cute and still available when I rang the owner. Kitty and I went to see her yesterday, with firm instructions to each other to make no snap decisions, to go away and think about it if we liked her. And so we did: like her, and go off to the Bildeston Crown for lunch to think about it. So far so sensible. She is younger than I wanted, just over 4 months, but house trained and sits on command. She was boisterous and lively, but living in a tiny Army house with a small garden, and a mother of two little children who didn't really seem the walking kind. I decided to take her, and loaded up the car with crate, basket, shampoo, treats, chews, poo bags and enough food to last four months. Ten minutes later we were having problems. Sitting in the back of the car with her, Kitty's hands were being chewed to death. We decided to put her in the cage, and cue more chewing and struggling. By the time we got home we were both emotional wrecks, and the evening was no better. By 8pm we'd got her booked into puppy training classes, and by 10m we were in bed, shattered.

By the morning I'd decided I'd make a terrible mistake and wanted to take her back. But as the day unfurled a miracle happened: she calmed down, settled down, stopped trying to eat our hands off, became nice. We walked her, we played with her, and we walked her some more. She slept. By the time Kitty went off on the train I was feeling in control again, and delighted with my new dog. She's an absolute charmer, a beautiful little thing. She's only been here for 30 hours, but despite what must have been a hugely traumatic time for her she's already contented and happy.

Bella

The highlight of the day was being stopped by people in the village on our evening walk, people I've never seen before who appeared from nowhere and stopped to admire her. She was wary but friendly, and everyone loved her. Given that I hoped she'd help me to meet more people, I think she has been a great success already. Bella (non) ciao, Bella (non) ciao, Bella (non) caio. Or to put it in English, stay Bella, stay.