One week later

After seven days with our new mini BabyBelle, I think we have the measure of our new nugget of pressed cheese. In fact, I've even managed to capture her essence in a photo as you can see to the left. Most of the time she's an adorable bundle of fluff but from time to time, especially for the first two hours or so of each day, she's nothing short of a mad and mean destructive bundle of razor-sharp teeth. I think that's what's known in the trade as a training "opportunity" and we've already started saving for when we replace the downstairs carpets.

Settling in doesn't seem to have been too much of a problem to her and we've already got a pretty good routine instilled. Bedtime is shortly before 11pm and only a few minutes of howling precedes solid sleep. Each morning she's been waking up a little later, from 05:45 on the first morning to 07:00 today. And she's certainly been making the most of her rest as she's already a degree bigger than when she arrived. Her ears change everyday and it won't be long before they're both standing to attention all the time.

Travelling in the car has proved to be a little bit of a challenge with short trips to a National Trust park being enough to cause some sickness. Each time she has appeared to be a little more relaxed and she obviously enjoys all the new smells that the woods have to offer. Maybe the trees, stones, snails, shoes and other detritus she's eating is not helping.

Yesterday Belle endured her first trans-Pennine (sleepy and sickness free) journey to meet her adopted grandparents and two new canine friends. The first of these, George, is a large Pointer cross who used to be Cocoa's best mate. He was quite confused by his new acquaintance and Belle was overawed by his size and bark. She did find her own voice for the first time, a sign of things to come.

The second was a young chap called Alfie, a 20 week old Border Collie, and he was much more fun. After a few minutes of polite and respectful sniffing, Belle launched into full speed and volume GSD play mode, giving her opponent, nearly twice her own age, a good and proper kicking. I'm sure they both had a great time and expect they'll be friends for life. However, I also expect Alfie will get a shock when the two of them next meet as Belle will have gained a good size advantage by then.