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At Least Bella Hasn’t Eaten My Books

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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24 Comments

  1. Sara

    It took Jack a LONG time to get over his separation anxiety! the only solution was to put him in the crate every time we left and at night. He actually loves his crate! Now, he’d be fine to go uncrated but it’s just routine now and so we stick to it. Don’t worry – Bella will figure it out that you always come home no matter how long you’re gone 🙂 If you’re open to it, try crate training. Maybe it’ll help?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Bella is crate trained. She’s really good at it, too. I just hate that she’s in there all day when we are at work, and then at night when we sleep. At some point she will be out at night and sleep on her dog bed. But not until her and the cats are cool together. I’m thinking it will be months, maybe a year from now…..

      1. Sara

        Yeah I felt bad too at first but you gotta do what you gotta do for a while 🙂

      2. Courtney

        I agree with Sara. It’s easiest to stick with what the dog is used to, they get anxious when their routine is different. We recently got a bigger older dog, and he freaked out when we left him outside/in the garage. We decided to try leaving him inside instead and he was totally fine (we don’t have cats). Good luck! I feel your pain.

  2. Kale

    We had a cat (Ralph) for a few years before getting a dog (Tia). For the ten years they lived together, (until Tia died) Ralph never warmed up to the dog, she did tolerate her. She ruled the roost and eventually Tia just ignored her, she was a really mellow dog. They found a way to co-exist together without killing each other, but Ralph definitely kept Tia in line with a hiss here or there to let her know this was HER house and she was in charge. Interestingly, when outside one day a tom-cat started to fight with Ralph and Tia was on that mean old cat in a heartbeat (which was so out of her character) and kicked a little kitty ass to save Ralph from being destroyed. So deep, deep down, there was some sort of allegiance/love. So hopefully Bella and Fat Kitty get to that point at least.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for sharing your story. That is really sweet about Tia. I can totally picture it. I hope that at the very least the kitties will tolerate Bella. They may not be best friends (like yours) but I just don’t want to feel like I need to keep an eye on them at all times ready to jump in!

  3. Deb

    Sounds like anxiety. Just crate her while you’re gone until you know you can trust her, and gradually leave her unattended starting with 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

  4. Emma

    I so look forward to your book reviews and have enjoyed several that you recommended. As a matter of fact, I just got Burning Man and had to look back to verify, Yup! That’s one of Lisa’s suggestions. I am enjoying it as well. I just finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (another one of your suggestions, although I chose it after my book club read Gone Girl) – that was a very good, yet disturbing, book. I also just gobbled up the new Jack Reacher book by Lee Child – I was home sick and finished that puppy in a day! I’m so glad Bella didn’t chew up your books – that would be a heartbreaker, wouldn’t it?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I LOVE the Jack Reacher series. I’ve been reading it for years and well, wasn’t happy about Tom Cruise being cast as him in the movie but actually enjoyed the movie a lot…

      1. Emma

        I REFUSE to go see Tom Cruise try to play a 6’5″ 220+lb. guy! I had the opportunity to hear Lee speak several years back, and he said that there had been offers to make the movie from other actors, including Keanu Reeves (really?). When pressed, he named his own first choice, which happened to match my own – Hugh Jackman! Hugh would have rocked as Jack Reacher.

        That being said, I know a lot of people who enjoyed the movie, too, but I just can’t get past the mis-casting…

        1. Lisa Eirene

          I TOTALLY understand. Even though the movie was really good, it still bugs me it’s Tom Cruise. For years, reading the book I pictured Vincent D’Onofrio as Jack. I don’t know why, that’s just the guy I had in my head. Hugh Jackman would be ok, but still not perfect in my mind.

  5. Biz

    I think over time the pets will get used to each other – I’ve never had more than one pet a time though!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I think it will take a long time….. 🙂

  6. Beth

    I think my favorite books that I read this year were The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I feel like I’ve read Me Before You….It sounds super familiar.

  7. Lori

    Dogs chew when they get stressed. Bella just wasn’t used to being in the garage and wanted to be where she was comfortable, which is inside. Crating is a natural instinct for dogs, so don’t feel bad having to do that for as long as you need. Better than having her run amok.

    I just read the Orange book.

    Last night I finished In Cold Blood by Capote. Disturbing.

    I am now dusting off a classic (Picture of Dorian Gray.) while waiting for a library book on hold.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Yes, she will be crated for awhile. At least until she’s older.

      Oooh! I can’t wait to hear what you think of Dorian Gray. It’s in my top 10 books of all time. One of my favorites. LOVE IT

  8. Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run.

    Oh poor thing! I would be furious about all the destruction, but you kinda gotta let it go when they get so anxious they act out like that. Our little man Flynn is a chewer when he’s sleepy, which is funny. We got him a little rubber worm that he gnaws on and then falls asleep! I swear he’s more dog than cat!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That sounds adorable. I’ll have to look for something like that…

  9. Miz

    ((SKIPS OFF TO BUY UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN))

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Please let me know what you think of the book!

  10. Diane Fit to the Finish

    That is so sad! I had a friend whose dog tore apart her house, including all the mini-blinds in the house, when a storm came through. She’s never been the same again (the dog – not the owner!)

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