Description:Belladonna is a sweet dog who is also a lucky little thing. You see, she was found as just a wee thing, abandoned on the side of the road. A very dear woman stopped her car and scooped up this darling, bringing her straight to her vet. Great vet - he examined her and noted that she had a non-contagious form of mange. The woman bought all the necessary meds and then asked if we could take in Belladonna. Well, how do you say no to someone who has gone so far above and beyond the call of duty? And how could we say no to this sweet little puppy? So now we have Belladonna.
Foster Update: Belladonna is a very happy, loving dog. Here are some highlights of her outgoing personality:
• Alpha female personality, but submits easily to a strong owner
• VERY active and needs 45-60 minutes of exercise daily
• Loves going to for walks and will heel on the leash if walked properly
• Trained to walk/run on a treadmill and loves it
• Well socialized with other dogs and loves to play (can play roughly sometimes)
• Not socialized with cats
• Very affectionate and playful, always excited to interact with people, including children
• Loves to chew and play with her rope but does not chew household items
• Great sleeper through the night; does not snore
• Displays no resource/food aggression whatsoever
• Allows you to look at and clean her ears and feet without a problem
• Allows you to trim her toenails without a problem
• Well behaved during bath time, though she doesn't really like the water
Belladonna's training includes:
• Sits before she is allowed anything, including being pet, going through doors, to eat, to have her leash put on, before getting in the car, going potty, etc.
• Very well behaved when left alone in the yard, does not dig, jump the fence, or scratch the screen door
• Will bark to alert you of noises or other dogs if she hears them outside, but quiets when told
• Knows Sit, Lay, and Shake and is learning Roll Over
• Knows "Off" and is trained not to get up on any furniture
• Knows "Go" and will leave the room or back up if asked to give you space
• Crate trained and housetrained and never has any accidents
• EXERCISE, discipline and consistency are very key with Belladonna's training
Belladonna has been battling with demodex mange for most of her life. It is important to realize that ALL dogs (and even humans!) have demodex mites in their skin, but some dogs are more sensitive to it than others. It is a non-contagious form of mange that rests inside the hair follicle, so it cannot be seen. However, if left uncared for, skin infections and irritations will result. Belladonna needs only a few inexpensive things to ensure that her skin remains healthy. She does NOT need medicine! This is what she will need from her new owner:
• Daily Ester-C supplements to enhance her natural immune system
• Daily Omega-3 (fish oil) supplement to ensure healthy and soft skin and coat
• Daily Vitamin B supplement to ensure healthy skin
(Bella is great about taking the supplements and they can be dropped right into her food!)
• High-Quality dog food with limited ingredients (she currently eats Natural Balance brand)
• 2-3 baths PER MONTH with a medicated shampoo
• Regularly washed bedding to sleep and lay on