(mid- January 2011 visits)
Well, she still hasn't quite succeeded, but she's pretty tolerant and keeps trying! Dogs are amazingly tolerant, trying over and over to get their friends to play in a way that makes everyone happy and comfortable. They try so hard to say, "Hey, I don't like that. Stop it or I'll stop letting you play with me." I believe there's a lesson in that for us humans and dog owners. Bella doesn't try to be Bieken's pack leader or show him that she's the dominant one - therefore he must obey her. She works with what he wants (play time) to try and get what she wants (a fun play buddy, not one that jumps all over her).
You can't see it in the video, but before the barking, she shows her teeth and gives him a warning growl. But Bieken is having such a blast, he doesn't see it. He doesn't really know yet to pay more attention to how she is doing and how she feels about this situation, since he's so young and is just paying attention to his own fun. Eventually, if he has enough practice and has play buddies who are patient like Bella (and that includes the humans around him), he'll be able to learn doggie etiquette.
Bella loves climbing the steps up to Bieken's place! She is so happy to see him and they leap into the snowbank for some good ol' fashioned play and fun. I can't wait to see how their friendship grows as he grows up and learns to respect her needs. :)
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