Latest update:

Hi Lisa, Just to let you know how Bella is doing. She's turning out to be a great dog - when she slows down a little we get glimpses of how she's going to be as an adult dog, and she's so clever and sensible. Of course, that doesn't apply when she's having a loo-la, or when she spots a cat or a squirrel.

The chewing isn't too bad, although she did chew the modem off its cable, and baffled the BT man when he replaced the whole line from the pole to the socket only to have the phone he'd started off testing not work at the end. While he'd been working, she'd been chewing its power cable off.

She's socialising really well - everyone in the park knows her, and she has a best friend, Madge, a chocolate lab, with whom she gets happily exhausted and very muddy.

Bella has finally recovered from her tummy troubles - she had contracted Giardia, probably from the stagnant pond in the park. It took four lots of anti-biotics and wormers over 2 months to finally get a clear poo test. It's a vicious little bug. Thank you for your advice over that. As a result, we pretty much dug our heels in at the vet's and insisted on broad-spectrum anti-biotics while the tests went off and while they decided what to do next. She improved immediately, even if it didn't knock the Giardia out straight away, so that was a good judgement call.

She has taken well to being in her crate overnight, and is doing well on the training - you're right, they are easy to train. She also took to camping like a duck to water, and (name ommitted) climbed into freezing lake Coniston with her and taught her to swim.

First update:

"She had a good journey home, even though the traffic made it very long. We got home about 8.30 having made two stops. Bella spent most of the journey asleep in her basket, but also explored a bit, at one stage lying like a scarf over my shoulder so she could look out of the window. As soon as she is a bit bigger, she will have a proper harness.

As with many pups, there was a small crowd waiting for us when we got in, and Bella coped very well with that. I banished them all after about half an hour, so she didn't get too stressed.

She met the two cats, and, although I wouldn't say they are best friends, the worst Bella has received so far is a hard stare and a cuff across the nose. Even then, Shelly the cat didn't put her claws out. I think they realise she is only a baby.

Bella showed no signs of wanting to settle down last night - she'd had her dinner, and she was on a puppy mish to play with every bit of newspaper, every carpet-edge, and every cat toy she could lay her paws on. Boundless energy. Unfortunately, the energy level stayed high all night...

She didn't have diahorrea - or hasn't had yet. She's getting used to going on the paper, and, although we've had some accidents, she's definitely got the idea!

So, things are working out fine, and we will keep you posted on her progress. Thank you for being so welcoming and for all the advice"