Meet Bella, my delightful 21-pound mix. She’s not just adorable; she’s got a personality that could light up a room—if only she could calm down long enough to do it!
One sunny Saturday morning a few years back, I was lounging in bed, Bella snuggled up against me as she often did when she was just a puppy. The cheerful chirping of birds outside and the gentle sun filtering through the curtains created a lovely ambiance. Suddenly, my boyfriend, Mark, burst into the room, raising his hand dramatically as if wielding a knife, channeling his inner Anthony Perkins from Psycho.
Bella leapt into action, jumping up, straddling my neck, and barking fiercely—her first bark ever! She sounded like a guard dog. But once she recognized Mark, her growls faded away. That’s when we noticed the smell. To our horror, there it was: an impressive splatter of liquid dog mess on the wall.
“You’re cleaning that up,” I told Mark as I got out of bed.
I felt conflicted. On one hand, I was proud of Bella for displaying her protective instincts. On the other, she had been so startled that she had literally lost control. As days passed, I put it behind me. Bella had her quirks, like being shy around strangers, but she was also a quick learner. After mastering basic commands, she became a Frisbee pro. I even taught her how to roll over and hop into a large tote bag that initially terrified her—an unusual trait, for sure!
Fast forward to when my daughter, Lily, was born nearly two years later. By then, Bella’s list of eccentricities had grown. She was scared of dumpsters, awnings, and flags, and at dog parks, she was more interested in her Frisbee than making doggy friends.
But the biggest issue was her growing protectiveness. She would bark and lunge at familiar faces, like our neighbors and friends, not to mention new visitors and children. To them, Bella seemed downright intimidating. Mark and I tried various training techniques, but our quirky pup refused to obey the command “Quiet!”
As Bella continued her barking crusade, Lily entered her “scared of monsters” phase. Gone were the peaceful bedtimes and cozy evenings of streaming shows (and the occasional romantic interlude). Now we had two little beings causing us stress.
One day, Mark pointed out that Lily was confused about why she had to sleep alone while everyone else, even Bella, was together. It was a fair question. After some thought, Mark suggested, “Let’s have Bella sleep with her.”
We braced ourselves for a struggle on the first night, but when we called Bella, she settled right into her bed as if she knew that protecting Lily was her new mission. Miraculously, they both slept soundly through the night! For six glorious months, bedtime was peaceful once more.
But then, not too long ago, Bella started whining and scratching at Lily’s door. “Mommy! Daddy! Bella’s keeping me up!” Lily cried out. We sighed in unison, “We know, sweetheart. Bella’s just having some … issues.” Translation: we were at our wits’ end.
Just when we thought we were heading back to sleepless nights, Mark had a revelation. During tuck-in, he told Lily, “If Bella gets out of her bed tonight and scratches at the door, I want you to firmly tell her to go back to bed and stay.”
“But she won’t listen to me,” Lily protested.
I chimed in, “She will if you’re assertive.”
“Okayyy,” Lily replied, sounding unsure.
Minutes later, as Mark and I sipped our bourbon in the living room while watching Daredevil, we anxiously awaited Bella’s antics. When they began, we leaned into the monitor, holding our breath. Then we heard Lily’s voice, sweet yet firm: “Bella, go to your bed. Go to your bed. Stay.”
And guess what? Bella complied!
We still can’t pinpoint what triggered Bella’s latest episode. Life with her is a chaotic blend of comfort and mayhem. In the end, I realized that Bella had done such a fantastic job making Lily feel secure—who would’ve thought she needed Lily’s support in return?
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Summary
Bella, our spirited dog, has had her share of quirks and challenges, especially when it comes to protecting our daughter, Lily. After some unexpected issues arose at bedtime, we discovered that the bond between them was strengthening. With a little guidance, they both learned to find comfort in each other, bringing back peace to our home.