Bela's Bestie.

A couple of weeks ago, a new dog moved in upstairs. Charlie, the black labradoodle. You wouldn't know he was a puppy by his size, as he is almost as big as Bela, and soon to be likely two of her.

But you can tell by the way he moves. He flaps a paw against her face, in an effort to slap her into play. He falls down easily. He flops himself on the ground in protest when he doesn't want to walk.

Bela hadn't had any real friends prior to this. She generally prefers human companions to canine. We've seen her 'playfight' with another dog on maybe two occasions over the past year.

But we forced Charlie onto Bela, and then Charlie forced himself into her heart. We did the introductions, made some park trips together, urging her to give it a go. She didn't bite. For a good bit, Bela seemed pretty ticked that she was the object of his affections.

Then the match struck. And the games began.

Now, if she so much as hears his paws paddling down the stairs or his name being called, she runs to the door and sits, like a lady in waiting. Sometimes, when we come in from a walk, she goes to his apartment instead of ours. We've been told he does the same.

Be it love or friendship or one in the same, we are so pleased. She has a playmate! She's knocking him down, gnawing on his ears, and baring her teeth in happiness. Mike and I aren't quite used to it yet...her acting 'normal' and all... We stare, open-mouthed, constantly urging the other to "look at this!!" 

When the rain flew in last week and her park outings were kept to a bare minimum, we invited Charlie down to our place. A couple of hours in their fight ring (our one & only carpet) and she is ready to sleep through the night. She's usually covered in spit when he goes, but don't they say that when a girl is in love, she glows?