New dog met established dogs over the last few days and she is squirming her way past their reluctance and into their pack.
After some initial posturing and growling to put her in her place, Feather gradually consented to playing with Bella - although the playing mainly consisted of Feather keeping the toy away from Bella and Bella running fruitlessly in circles. Still, it was a start.
Bella played it like an expert puppy - keeping her distance, avoiding eye contact and just generally being subservient. She didn't fare as well with the cat - the slightest sign of interest was enough the elicit arching of the back, violent hissing and the quick swap of extended claws. OUCH!
But the older dogs are gradually mellowing towards Bella and providing her with excellent role models. Our oldest just sighs and looks away most of the time, but Feather is still young enough to enjoy the opportunity to torment a younger, more easily bedazzled canine relative. "Look at me, look at me - I'm the princess of the VVR!"
And only when Bella was busy with something else would Feather give her the whole body check-over as dogs will do.
She's very interested in making friends with her new big brother and sister. She knows they are labs and not so interested in the finer points of heeling, so she keeps it light and couches her conversation in terms they can relate to - "food, water, kids, BFFs, cat-chasing".
Meanwhile she parlays her puppy cuteness into scoring a nap on the hammock while the labs are still laying in the dirt and pine needles.
"Who, me?"
By nightfall she has managed to worm her way in between two warm lab bodies and is as content as a pig in mud. Feather is awake, wondering how it ever happened, and so quickly.
Heeler: 1
Labs: 0
How's this going to work out?
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