Bella and Kai

Well it has taken five months, but Bella has now fully accepted Kai and doesn't growl at him anymore, bare her teeth or try and keep out of his way. Major step forward, and means we won't have to worry when they all get left on their own occasionally. It also means that we have a lovely, harmonious household. Indeed Bella still grumbles at Kayla, yet lets Kai do things she wouldn't let Kayla get away with in a million years!

We can't claim any of the accolades for their bonding, it was largely down to a lot of hard work done by Kai himself, together with Bella deciding that he is no threat and actually is as lovely a dog as we think he is! It has been fascinating watching Kai slowly wear her down. He stopped barking at her ages ago or standing his ground when she bared her teeth and growled at him. He started to be more submissive, sniffing around her muzzle, then making himself as low as possible when she growled. Basically he started to show her more and more respect. He has never rolled over though submitting completely, he's too sure of himself to do that.

He also tried another tack. Bella has specific toys that she likes to play with, a boot and a little squeaky dog. Kai started to try and grab them when I was playing with her. At first she was really hostile but over time she became more comfortable. So then he started to pick up the boot when it was on the floor and try to get her to chase him. As time has gone on she has become more receptive. We have actually got to the point now that if Belle is on my lap, he will sneakily grab the boot and run off with it. She then will go after him and try and get it back. Not very successfully at times either! This sort of thing would have been unthinkable a few months ago.

It's a brilliant outcome, because both of them are happier in themselves, where Kai wasn't sure why she wouldn't love him, and her feeling all threatened and negative. Fingers crossed they remain the best of friends forever.