The Newest Edition To Our Family

Oh wow, what was I thinking......  I have had cats in the past, hamsters, and rabbits.  But when my daughter’s hamster died I didn't want a pet that leaves us so soon.  My best friend had just got a tiny puppy, and actually I was one of those people whom always said if I got a dog, it would be a proper dog, a mans dog, not a rat, but I loved her and followed suit.  My garden wasn't big enough for anything bigger, and I worked.  Bella is now 1 year old, a PomChi, and the best and worst thing I have done!

 Wow it is like having another baby.  I wanted to do this for my daughter and I to share lovely walks and training, a companion as I know there will not be any siblings. Company for me.  I also need to realise after losing one of my baby twins, I couldn't keep everything clean, my daughter needed some germs.  But it turned in to something the opposite to what was planned.

I have spent £100's on dog behaviourists, tried everything people have suggested, stones in a bottle, puppy crèche (which she is great at), ignoring it, treats to distract, spray of water.  Nothing worked.  I sadly would have recently  let her go to a family that could work with her 24/7, but I'm so pleased my daughter begged me with tears not too.


Let me give you the correct context, at home she is amazing, the most intelligent little (won't say rat as she is bigger), fox!  She rings her bell to be let out to go for a toilet, rolls over, spins on her back legs, gives me a paw, she is gorgeous. She is always there, loving and fun, full of energy.  She could jog with me 3 miles and still not be worn out.  But the moment we stepped out the door she turned in to a beast.  She was awful.  People crossed the road when they saw us.  I was embarrassed and ran out of ideas.  I got so stressed walking.  If my daughter was with us I would end up shouting at her, I was going to stop walking her, one last try......


I brought a spray for £8 something, from Moles Country Stores.  I thought I was stupid as its air, but this was it.  PET CORRECTOR in a red bottle.  Something so simple meant so much!


On our walk the barking started the moment she saw a dog in the distance as usual, teeth showing, growling, it’s awful, she is so loud! I sprayed, and she literally left the floor in fright.  I used the spray again on seeing that behaviour again, but the 3rd time something changed, she looked at me first, and that was it, the start of something new :-) 
I'm so happy.


It’s still only 5 days on, but we don't spray at all anymore, I just raise the bottle.  She looks at me every time she sees a dog and I just show it and the moment we pass silently she gets so much love and a treat.  It’s amazing.  We even touch some noses (dog noses that is, oh and bums of course!), as long as she goes to them!!  I think people see the bottle also and give us more space or hold a dog that's off lead, all of that was so stressful to manage.  People just felt like making her face her fears when it was clear she was so scared she couldn't handle it. The best method of defense was attack for her!  She was protecting me too. I was going to look for a new home for Bella when she bit a small dog that wouldn't leave her alone, off lead, but I realise now she wasn't in the wrong, she was on lead and this dog wasn't taking her warning to leave her alone.


Having a dog is a science, I wasn't experienced in it, but we love Bella and things are looking up thanks to this spray. It is amazing, can't recommend it enough!!