Beautiful Belle!

 

Hello dear friends at Colonel Potter -

Update:

Saturday Jan. 30

It's been a great week. Little Madam is settling in very well and now leads the pack on our walks. James allows her to sleep beside him on the hassock in front of the fire ( amazing!) and Rob seems to be emerging from his "now I am a middle child" worries.

Miss Belle has graduated to her own comfy bed beside James rather than her crate - we put it in the garage as she just abandoned it one day. We took that as a very positive sign that she was over her need to hide. She's been to Vancouver on an excursion - visit to the dentist for us - and was perfectly happy in the car as long as her brothers were closeby. They look like Winken, Blinken and Nod all lined up at the window.

The only on-going issue - and one that was certainly expected - is that Belle is constantly on the look-out for food. Her brain tells her that she is hungry even when her tummy is full. Several times she pushed open the door to the pantry where we store the dog and cat food and managed to get the containers open. After several firm voice corrections, she knows that is not part of the game plan and so now cruises by the door - just to check!

We've discovered that, good Scottish lass that she is, Miss Belle loves porridge in the morning - with milk, please. We usually have it for breakfast so the Cairns have a some in their dishes after they finish their morning meal.  If I'm tardy in getting the porridge underway, Belle parks herself in front of the stove until she can see good things happening. I think her reasoning is that if I trip over her often enough, I'll remember to start the cereal. This is one smart little bunny!

She had her first bubble bath this week - loved it- then I gave her a good towel rub and brushed her until she shone. I can't believe the way she will stand on our bathroom counter, admire her reflection in the mirror and let me brush and brush. You could almost hear her purr! 

I can see that having a Colonel Potter Cairn go to a forever home that already has a dog can shorten the adjustment period dramatically. Dilys' dogs and our boys are teaching Belle how to be a dog - something entirely new to her. We've had only one "bathroom" mistake and that was my fault for not allowing her enough time on an evening walk. She really likes to sniff everything before making any location decisions.  Belle watches her brothers very closely and they have been very patient with the little girl when she almost crawls on top of them to see what they're doing!

As I write this, Belle is curled up under my chair, the boys are asleep by the fireplace and the cat is on Glen's lap - with all recognizing that she is the queen. All is well in our world.

Best regards,

Rosemary in Pender Harbour

Miss Belle is home!

Hello dear friends from the Colonel Potter Network,

I am very pleased to provide you with a photo of Sweet Dumpling ( now Campbell but we call her Belle ) taken last evening at the end of her first day with us.

Belle is one amazing little girl. She is hesitant, but not at all intimidated by her new surroundings that include two new Cairn brothers and a senior cat. They pass in the hall - sometimes touch noses - and then keep on to their appointed destinations as if they had always been together. Wonderful.

Our neighbours have come by to meet the new addition and Belle is the perfect lady - she sits on whatever lap is offered and then curls up to receive copious amounts of affection. Given her life in a puppy mill, we all marvel at how willing she is to trust - totally unexpected. Another unexpected bonus is that her time with Dilys' family of five Cairns resulted in her being fully house-trained when she came to us.
Can't thank you enough!

Once I can get all the fuzzy bottoms to line up for a photo, I will send you a family picture. Until then - thank you for all your guidance, support and encouragement toward our adoption of this little girl. You have given us an amazing gift.

With best regards -
Rosemary in Pender Harbour, BC

Update on Belle Star

Here is a great update (photos to come later) from furever mom Susan in Topeka, KS:

Ms. Belle (Bellie Boo as I find myself calling her) couldn’t be doing any better! You can tell how comfortable and secure she now feels. We are back to 2 long walks each day and she absolutely loves them. Her tail is erect and wagging the entire way and she doesn’t want them to end. Lots of the time she is leading the walk, even in front of Sydney. You would be so pleased to see how well she is doing.

We are going to Nashville for Thanksgiving, from Tuesday through Saturday, so Belle & Sydney will be staying at Woof’s Play & Stay. Sydney stayed there for 2 weeks in July. It is an awesome place, with very caring people who run it. The dogs have their own “rooms” for sleeping at night with raised beds and free play areas during the day, divided into 3 areas by size of dog.

Belle already visited last Tuesday for ½ a day to become familiar with the place. She interacted very well with the other dogs her size and everyone there knows her “situation” and was very careful with her and gave her lots of love. They all fell in love with her. She & Sydney will stay together at night in the same room while they are there.

I need to send you some pictures. I will give her your love. I ‘m anxious to see the calendar!

Thank you again for bringing Belle into our lives. She still has a little trouble with Tommy (and other men also, I have noticed). Tommy is trying his best to gain her trust. Take care and thanks for keeping in touch.