At the end of this month she will be 10 months! I feel like every time someone asks us that and the looks at Bella and we always get the same response... She's huge! She is a big dog.. when we got for at 11 weeks, she was way larger than your average puppy! This is a picture on the first day we got her..
As you can she, she's big!
We think she is pretty much full grown as of now. The vet said she would grow up until she is a year, but she seems to be pretty stable in her size over the past couple months. We think she is def the height she will be, but if she grows at all, she will prob just fill out some more.
We have been so blessed with this dog. She has literally given us no problems during her puppy stage! God must have known Mitch and I have never had a pet before and went easy on us :) Ever since her first night, she has always slept through the night, no whining or barking. We crate trained her, and you get a lot of different views on that, but I truly believe it is the best way! She is part poodle, and they are super smart, so we think that is some of it, but she is just a good dog!
We took her through 6 weeks of training and wanted to continue to the next class, but she really hasn't needed it. We have taught her more tricks because we watched how they did it in our class, and she catches on really quick. She does have a lot of the golden retriever traits... she is always super happy and wants nothing more than to make you happy. She is the most sociable dog I have ever been around. She wants to be with you 24/7. Whenever someone comes over, or passes by our door, she thinks they are there for her. She thinks everyone and every other dog is her best friend. The dog park is her favorite place!!It is so funny to watch her she thinks all the dogs are there for her. There are a few dogs that just aren't very friendly and want nothing to do with Bell but she just doesn't get it!
We have started letting her sleep out of her crate. She usually starts out on the end of our bed and then gets in the floor within about 30 minutes. She has so much fur and she get hot quick, so she likes being on the floor. I really don't want to, but I think we will have to get her cut pretty short this summer or I don't think can go outside ha! She loves cold weather! If it is about 30-50 degrees outside she is in heaven and would stay out all day!
We can't wait for this spring and we can take her hiking with us! She will love it!
She is finally starting to become a little bit of a guard dog. For the longest time, we didn't think she had a mean bone in her body. But over the past month, there are certain people she doesn't like. If someone comes to the door that she's doesn't know, ups man, etc... she barks, growls and always comes and gets me. I love it! She DOES NOT like the people who live across the street from us... it is so funny whenever they are outside she sits at the front door and growls at them! We were home yesterday and she did it all day...
She loves going for rides in the car. If you say, "Bella.. wanna go for a ride" she freaks out and runs to the door. She loves sticking her head out the window, but if she's not doing that she recently started sitting backwards :)
She goes on runs with me all the time and loves it... I do too! I love having her to run with me, it makes it more fun.
She gets compliments EVERYWHERE we go! Everyone wants to know what she is, where we got her, etc. She knows she is cute and she milks it for all its worth :) Whether we go on walks, or to the store, we always have to stop and let people pet her, kids especially love her. They all say she looks like a big stuffed animal.
She has so much fur that we have to brush her with a comb every day. Thats really the only maintenance she requires. We didn't know this at first and she got really matted being her ears and on her neck, so we had to shaver her there and she does look kinda funny :) Everyone things we are trying to giver her the poodle cut... WE AREN'T! Ha! I can't wait until she grows back out :)
So every night, we spray her with deodorizing/detangling spray and comb her out. She hates it! She is very good while we do it and the second we are done she freaks out!
The name we officially gave her was Bella Grace... well I don't know why, but both Mitch and I just call her Belle. We hardly ever use Bella, unless someone asks us her name. So I think she thinks thats her name. And the funny thing is, when Mitch registered her online.. he accidentally put Belle as her name. So if she ever gets lost... her microchip is under Belle.
She is the best dog in the world (in my opinion) and I can't imagine our life without her. She is a big responsibility and we do make lots of sacrifices for her, but its so worth it. I never knew the joys of having a dog, they are incredible! If you are looking at getting a dog, look at golden doodles... they are such good dogs!! They have the temperament of a golden, are super smart and don't shed a hair!
The youth pastor at our church... him and his family just got a puppy golden doodle and we can't wait to go see it! The pics of her are precious and Bell will just love her :)
Sorry for the long post about my sweet dog. I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend and are able to get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather!
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