All about bella & enzo
Exploratory Play
Bella is about 1 1/2 when I’m struck by how creatively she plays with her plush dog toys and items which aren’t really dog toys such as the tie out leashes around the house and my Pilates Magic Circle. I feel I’m witnessing something extraordinary but have no idea what it is. I buy a small camera to photograph what Bella is doing. I also begin taking contemporaneous notes of my observations.
Bella is about 1 1/2 when I’m struck by how creatively she plays with her plush dog toys and items which aren’t really dog toys such as the tie out leashes around the house and my Pilates Magic Circle. I feel I’m witnessing something extraordinary but have no idea what it is. I buy a small camera to photograph what Bella is doing. I also begin taking contemporaneous notes of my observations.
One day I find Bella lying down in the family room with a stuffed ball as an extension of her tail. Another time I find her asleep with her head on a stuffed animal.
Exploratory Play and Enzo’s Constructions
Bella particularly enjoys playing with her plush braids which are 3’ to 6’ long. She rolls around in the braids and drapes them over her body. It’s obvious that she takes pleasure in experimenting with new ways to use her toys. Thanks to my notes, I can report that four months of exploratory play preceded Bella’s first
construction.
Bella particularly enjoys playing with her plush braids which are 3’ to 6’ long. She rolls around in the braids and drapes them over her body. It’s obvious that she takes pleasure in experimenting with new ways to use her toys. Thanks to my notes, I can report that four months of exploratory play preceded Bella’s first
construction.
Bella’s Transformation
Bella likes to arrange the same set of toys differently each time. In addition, I notice that her creations contain shapes that are increasingly recognizable to humans (e.g. circles, loops, and parallel lines). I am blown away when I discover that she has used individual toys such as the black pups to make three sides of a large triangle. It appears she has mastered the concept of connecting dots to make a line. A photo of this triangle was published in Bark Magazine.
Bella likes to arrange the same set of toys differently each time. In addition, I notice that her creations contain shapes that are increasingly recognizable to humans (e.g. circles, loops, and parallel lines). I am blown away when I discover that she has used individual toys such as the black pups to make three sides of a large triangle. It appears she has mastered the concept of connecting dots to make a line. A photo of this triangle was published in Bark Magazine.
Bella also appeared in Bark as one of their Smilers of the Week. A year later, Enzo became one of Bark’s Smilers, too.
Meanwhile, I learn that a particularly enjoyable play session in the morning is often followed by a construction in the afternoon, expressing not only Bella’s happiness but the happiness between us. I note that she is really into her plush toys and start buying more braids and stuffed animals. I bring home a long green braid which is very elegant. “God did she love it,” I write in my journal. “The constructions she made with it are gorgeous, although the photos don’t do justice to the color.” One morning Bella and I were playing with green braid for a few minutes. Half an hour later, she laid the braid down the hallway going into our bedroom. “Did you see that?” hubby exclaimed. “Take a picture!”
Meanwhile, I learn that a particularly enjoyable play session in the morning is often followed by a construction in the afternoon, expressing not only Bella’s happiness but the happiness between us. I note that she is really into her plush toys and start buying more braids and stuffed animals. I bring home a long green braid which is very elegant. “God did she love it,” I write in my journal. “The constructions she made with it are gorgeous, although the photos don’t do justice to the color.” One morning Bella and I were playing with green braid for a few minutes. Half an hour later, she laid the braid down the hallway going into our bedroom. “Did you see that?” hubby exclaimed. “Take a picture!”
I decide it is time to create a website for Bella. I also want to get involved in an outside activity with her. We bombed out of agility – Bella was too overstimulated. So I sign us up for K9 Nosework, a sport which will provide Bella with a wide variety of experiences and teach us how to work as a team. I’m at a scenting trial when someone tells me about a new activity called K9 Fitness which will turn out to be perfect for Enzo.
I Just Want to be Close to You: Enzo and Bella Meet
Bella and I arrive for a video shoot in a field of wildflowers and we have a wonderful day. Paul asks me if I would look after a young male Cattledog named Enzo. Of course, I say yes. I feel very comfortable with Enzo and so does Bella. She even lets him kiss her.
Bella and I arrive for a video shoot in a field of wildflowers and we have a wonderful day. Paul asks me if I would look after a young male Cattledog named Enzo. Of course, I say yes. I feel very comfortable with Enzo and so does Bella. She even lets him kiss her.
Enzo has just been rescued from a shelter euthanasia list. The last thing I need is another dog but I want to take Enzo home with us. I feel like he belongs with our family. When one of my scenting friends meets Enzo she exclaims, “Oh my, he has Bella’s sweetness -- even if he acts like a bratty younger brother at times.”
Enzo is nine-months-old when we adopt him. He happily accepts Bella’s leadership and is thrilled to be part of our family. We call Enzo “cuddlebug” because he is very affectionate with people. He’s one of those dogs who can “follow the plot” of a movie and likes to watch movies with us in the evening.
Unfortunately, Enzo was bullied by other dogs as a pup. He’s afraid that other dogs will beat him up and is prone to having meltdowns when he encounters strange dogs on a walk. Paul says that Enzo needs plenty of physical space in order to feel safe. We’ve arranged to have Paul work with Enzo, providing him with pleasant experiences with other dogs, one on one and in small groups.
Enzo is nine-months-old when we adopt him. He happily accepts Bella’s leadership and is thrilled to be part of our family. We call Enzo “cuddlebug” because he is very affectionate with people. He’s one of those dogs who can “follow the plot” of a movie and likes to watch movies with us in the evening.
Unfortunately, Enzo was bullied by other dogs as a pup. He’s afraid that other dogs will beat him up and is prone to having meltdowns when he encounters strange dogs on a walk. Paul says that Enzo needs plenty of physical space in order to feel safe. We’ve arranged to have Paul work with Enzo, providing him with pleasant experiences with other dogs, one on one and in small groups.
This should help him feel more relaxed, but is no substitute for proper socialization during the first three months of life. Enzo can relax around Bella because he’s not afraid of her. Bella’s physical enrichment activity is Frisbee. Enzo not interested in fetch play. Paul made a “flirt pole”(a stick with an animal attached for play purposes) for me to exercise him out in the yard.
Enzo Starts Making Constructions
To our surprise, Enzo began making constructions just seven weeks after he started living with us. I find him in the family room sitting next to an arrangement he’d made using the blue and red braid, the large white rope toy, and the tie out leash for the sofa. I grabbed the camera and called my husband to come. “You’re not going to believe this! Enzo just made his first construction.” Enzo was not yet one-year-old.
To our surprise, Enzo began making constructions just seven weeks after he started living with us. I find him in the family room sitting next to an arrangement he’d made using the blue and red braid, the large white rope toy, and the tie out leash for the sofa. I grabbed the camera and called my husband to come. “You’re not going to believe this! Enzo just made his first construction.” Enzo was not yet one-year-old.
