Meet Bernadette! We aren’t sure if she is an actual dog, or a teddy bear, but we are sure that she is the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. She has a face that forever wears a look of delightful surprise. Bernadette is not just a dog; she is an instant mood-booster and. you simply cannot be around her without smiling. She’s often seen in her lovely pale pink outfit, which only adds to her charm.
If you’re seeking a furry friend who will constantly surprise you with love and joy, then Bernadette is the one to adopt.
Here’s some notes from her foster:
Bernadette is the sweetest dog with personality in every inch of her round body and eyes. She’s low-key and cuddly. And she is absolutely gorgeous. Her hair is so soft, and lucky us cause she loves to be rubbed!
Given she’s fairly overweight, Bernadette is looking forward to going home with someone who can support her weight loss journey #bernieonajourney. Right now, her movement is limited. She walks (waddles?) fairly slowly and can’t do any steps. (She jumps down one low step to go outside but cannot get up or down any sort of discrepancy in the ground – short legs plus weight equals nope!) If steps or even a step are a factor, her forever person will need to be able to lift 20 (solid) lbs regularly. At first, lifting her seemed to be uncomfortable for her, but in a few days, she has settled in, and as long as I support her belly, she doesn’t mind. Whomever is her forever home will need to dedicate themselves to getting this girl healthy – daily short, slow walks and balanced nutrition.
Bernadette is unphased by other dogs (and most likely cats – especially since she can’t move very fast), so she’d be a good fit for any other existing pet composition. Bernadette also has no issues with people. When friends enter the home she might do a greeting or might not. Kids, males, females, she doesn’t mind at all! She likes to be pet and seems to not mind being handled. She’s so easy!
With frequent trips outside, she appears to be potty trained. She has had accidents overnight, but as soon as I introduced a pee pad, she was totally pee pad trained. Even with going out fairly frequently, she will use the pee pad during the day at times. Again, this might be routine and time will tell.
Bernadette is an good eater right now. Due to her weight, I think she wasn’t fed the most nutritious food but she doesn’t eat like she is starving (good sign!). I am giving her the portion for a 15 lb dog and she is a better eater in the evening meal than the morning. In the morning, she eats about half and then returns about 30 mins later for the other half.
She does like to be vocal that she thinks it’s time for her to eat when I eat. She does little grumbles and yips. I think once upon a time, this got her what she wanted. It’s a little tough love these days around here when it comes to food.
I give her 1-2 treats midday – tiny pieces of carrots or a chicken treat. The carrots are hit or miss, depending on her hunger level.
She does well on leash since she can’t go very fast. Right now, we are working on going a block which she happily does. We are trying to build up distance. She starts to breathe very heavily, and to avoid any medical issues, I limit the distance. I truly believe this girl will get there! We do a combo of stroller walks and actual walks so I can go farther and give her little stints to explore.
Bernadette snores and is a heavy breather! I think with weight loss this will subside. Although it’s nice to hear her sleeping so cozy. She naps a lot of the day while I work and arises mid-afternoon to prance around (I think this eventually will be her golden hour when she gets playful.) She seems to like toys and telling them who is the boss.
Bernadette hasn’t loved being left alone, manifesting some separation anxiety with low, consistent barking. I’ve left her up to 2-3 hours. Sometimes, she is quiet, and sometimes she barks. I’ve asked my neighbors, and they said they hardly hear her at all since her bark is fairly low. I also think this is a transition thing as it gets better each day.
Overall, Bernie is a dream gal. I am so excited for her next phase and can’t wait to see what this girl accomplishes in her new life!
