Update on 5/7/20: Bella is coming more out her shell each day. Yesterday, she pulled a bag of brown sugar out of a bag that was on the floor by the front door. She worked long and hard to get into it, but her teeth prevented her from getting to her “prize”. After waiting a respectful period of time, beagle sister Dee stepped in and took it to the back room and tore it open. Both were happy, and perhaps on a sugar high by the time they were discovered.

Actively playing tug of war with Dee as well. So, she has a playful side, and it is showing more each day. Not one to take a toy and carry it around, but she does like to play. And, she loves attention! She would be happy to be next to you all day long, but she also is content chilling in her crate when her people are occupied elsewhere. ______________________________________ Bella is living up to her name, and is so good and sweet and loving. She looks delicate, with her slender legs, but she will take up for herself when her foster sister pushes her around too much. She is getting along well with her two female beagle siblings.

Sadly, Bella’s has no front teeth, with the incisors ground down to the gum line, and only two canine teeth left. Though her history is unknown, this is likely the result of long hours in a crate, and trying to chew her way out of said crate. The vet looked at her teeth last week and said what’s there are in good shape, and she doesn’t think that she’ll need dental surgery based on their current condition. Bella doesn’t have a problem eating anything, and everything, and she especially likes bananas (though not peanut butter). She is VERY interested in food, and we are working on tamping down some of that enthusiasm. She needs to gain a few pounds, so she is being fed double her foster siblings at mealtimes, and in a slow feed bowl, because she eats so fast.

She is learning to SIT as she waits her turn for a treat. When she is excited, then she is prancing around on her hind legs, doing twirls. It is so sweet to see. Bella spends her down time in an open crate, or on any other soft surface she can jump up onto. She would love to sleep with you, or near you at night.

Bella loves to ride in the car and enjoys looking out the window for a bit, but then she will sleep. She is walking on leash 3-4 miles a day, at about 2 mph pace. She loves to sniff, as all beagles do. She is not too thrilled by the traffic when walking near a busy street. She will do her business while on the leash, or in the backyard. Though, for the backyard, she needs to be encouraged to go out the door. She doesn’t have accidents in the house, as long as she goes out on a regular basis.

She has not been exposed to cats. She feels overwhelmed by bigger enthusiastic dogs, and shies away from them. Probably, the same can be said for small children. Older children are fine. She isn’t extremely playful, but she is showing more of a playful side as she settles in.

She will whine a bit when I leave her but then settle down. She has a sweet beagle bark, and she will use it on occasion to talk to another dog, but she doesn’t bark incessantly.

I think Bella will do best in a home where someone is home a good part of the day, and also able to take her on a couple of 1-2 miles walks per day. Here's a link to a video of Bella taking a stroll with her new foster sisters.

click to see the video
posted 04/11/20 and updated 05/07/20