Allow me to introduce you to Bella, my clever and stunning (no kidding, she’s a real looker) 21-pound mixed breed.
A few years back, one serene Saturday morning, I was lounging in bed with her as she curled up next to me, still a little puppy. The cheerful chirping of birds filled the air, and sunlight streamed gently through the curtains. Suddenly, my then-boyfriend burst into the room, theatrically raising his hand as if wielding a knife, mimicking Anthony Perkins from Psycho.
Bella sprang up, leaping over me to confront him, barking ferociously for the first time in her life. Her bark was surprisingly deep, resembling that of a Doberman. Thankfully, her growls faded once she recognized him.
That’s when the smell hit us. We turned to see three feet of liquid dog mess sprayed across the wall. “You’re cleaning that up,” I instructed him as I climbed out of bed.
I felt conflicted about the whole ordeal. On one hand, I was proud of Bella for demonstrating her protective instincts. On the other, it was clear she was so startled that she had lost control. After a few days, I brushed it off. Bella had her quirks, like being timid around unfamiliar people, but it mostly seemed like a personality trait rather than a problem. Smart as a whip, she quickly learned basic commands, fetching and playing Frisbee like a champ. I even taught her to roll over and play dead, as well as to hop into a large tote that initially scared her, which allowed me to take her along on errands.
Fast forward nearly two years to when my daughter, Lily, arrived. Bella had developed a long list of oddities by then. She was terrified of dumpsters, canopies, and flags. At the dog park, she ignored her fellow canines, obsessively focused on her Frisbee instead.
But the most concerning issue was that her insecurity had morphed into a protective dominance, resulting in barking and lunging at anyone who approached. She barked at familiar faces, including our friends and even me. While we could handle it, new visitors and children were often intimidated by her behavior, making her come off as quite the jerk. My partner, Tom, and I tried various training techniques for years, but our wayward pup refused to obey the simple command of “Quiet!”
As Bella continued her antics, Lily, now 5, entered a phase of fearing monsters and the dark. The peaceful bedtime routine we once enjoyed was replaced by chaos.
One day, Tom pointed out, “Lily keeps asking why she has to sleep alone when we all sleep together, even Bella.” It was a valid point—an obvious injustice. He then suggested, “What if we let Bella sleep with her?”
On the first night, we braced for a battle. But when we called Bella in, she promptly curled up in her dog bed, as if she understood that her new role was to protect Lily. Miraculously, both girls slept soundly through the night, restoring our evening peace for over six months.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, just after we shut Lily’s door, Bella started whining, scratching at the door, and yelping. “Mommy! Daddy!” Lily called out. “Bella’s keeping me awake.” We sighed, fully aware of the situation.
“We know, sweetie. Bella’s just having some… issues.” Translation: We were at our wit’s end. We were exhausted, juggling work and caring for Lily, feeling utterly defeated.
Just when we thought we were back in for a sleepless stretch, Tom had a lightbulb moment. That night, he told Lily, “If Bella gets out of her bed and scratches at the door, I want you to firmly tell her to go back to bed.”
“But she won’t listen to me,” Lily replied, sounding doubtful.
“She will if you’re assertive,” I added.
“Okayyy,” she conceded, though still unsure.
Minutes later, Tom and I sat in the living room, sipping our bourbon and watching Daredevil, anxiously anticipating Bella’s next move. When it happened, we leaned into the monitor, holding our breath. Then came Lily’s sweet, yet firm voice: “Bella, go to your bed. Go to your bed. Stay.”
And surprisingly, Bella complied!
We still aren’t certain what triggered Bella’s recent episode, but she brings a whirlwind of chaos and comfort to our lives. Ultimately, it seems Bella was asking us for something, too. She had done such an excellent job making Lily feel secure—who would’ve thought that she needed that same reassurance in return?
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Summary
This article recounts the amusing and chaotic experiences of a family with their quirky dog, Bella, who unexpectedly becomes a protector for their young daughter, Lily. As they navigate bedtime challenges and Bella’s antics, they discover the importance of mutual support between their dog and child.
Keyphrase: crazy dog child whisperer
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