Week 12

I'm 15.6 lbs and 12 weeks old! I'm so happy in my new home with my new family! I'm thriving and I'm in love with everyone in the house. Life is good! Today I escaped from my cage while my mommy and daddy were at work. I think daddy forgot to lock the cage tightly but who cares! I got loose and had full roam of the house for a good 4 hours. When daddy came home, I was sitting outside Sprinkles' cage next to her. I felt bad she had to be in the cage while I got to explore and chew on stuff. I didn't destroy anything THIS time but I did leave my mark upstairs in the hallway. I also like to run up and down the stairs and go visit my sister in her bedroom at night. Mostly because she lets me sleep in her bed. As soon as mommy brings me down, I go right back up there for a night time snuggle. I got to play really rough with my aunt Angel, grandma's dog. She is a nut! She was running with me and then jumping over me. I got the wind knocked out of me a few times that afternoon but it was fun to have someone play rough with. Just wait until I get bigger than her! She's in for it! I love to pull butt wipes out of the wet wipes container too. They just keep coming out! They may taste soapy but I like it. Mommy uses them to clean my ears. I have tried to eat socks, shoes, and even my mom's underwear. She wasn't happy about those! I don't destroy anything yet but I have plans! Mommy tried teaching me to "sit" and then I'd get a treat. I did it a few times and she cheered. I'm the life of the party! It was a great week at my house!

New puppy pics

I've gained 2 lbs, 2 ozs in a week! At this rate, I'll be 104 lbs by my first birthday! I better keep exercising with my sister. I hear jogging is a great way to keep your weight under control. I'm training with my sister so that when I get a little bigger, I can run with my daddy. He goes a little faster so I have to be in tip top shape in order to avoid being kicked in the head with his long legs. Right now, when we go for a jog, I just end up chasing the smaller kids. I'm getting faster every day and I look awfully cute as I run...as I do anything really. I'm just adorable! That's why I get away with pooping in the house!

"I'm a lucky dog!"

I really enjoy my new family. They have so many different people that I can beg for attention from that I never get bored. We've been to the park several times. They sure can run fast! I get wiped out quickly because my short little legs have to go twice as fast as them. I still am pooping in the house. I like to do it next to the vacuum cleaner. I never knew Sprinkle's old lady food could taste so good too! I prefer it over my own. Mommy started spraying me with a water bottle when I do it though. Ha! Joke's on her! I like water! I keep getting my head stuck under the fence. Daddy is gonna have to fix it because I'm afraid that I will not grow fast enough and I keep doing it. Mommy is taking me to the vet finally next week. They told her that I may have to have my immunizations all over again because the vet's office doesn't recognize the shots given by a feed store because they don't keep the vaccines at the right temperatures. I am sleeping good in my crate. I have had to get up a few nights to go out. I like to wake up for the day at 6am. In a few days, Mommy has to go back to work and I'll have to spend the whole day in the crate. Mommy said she is worried about it. Overall, I'm a very happy girl. I am loved, fed, and played with. What more could a puppy ask for? Mommy said that a good lab is a tired lab. By the end of the day, I am exhausted!

Here's what I researched on being a Dudley

The distinct yellows of Labrador retrievers
The coats of Labrador dogs have two distinct yellows. They differ in the genetic combination of colour or what is called as genotypes.

If a yellow Labrador retriever has a bloodline of one or two genes that are programmed for a black hue, then that dog will most likely have black pigments that can vary in intensity.

On the other hand, those yellow Labs which have a lineage of genes that are encoded for chocolate colours then most likely that dog will have a chocolate or liver pigment which is also known as Dudley.

These labs vary in colour, such as light flesh, light yellow, dark yellow, dark brown and even red.

These combinations depend on the breeding and on the parents' colour.

Take for instance, two Labs bred together. There is a tendency that the offspring is a combination of both liver-pigmented yellow and black pigmented yellow.

Yellow Labs with pinkish nose

Some Labs have pinkish nose, which is commonly referred to some people as snow nose or winter nose. Many of the yellow Labs have dark noses during the summers and would just eventually fade during the winters. This cycle is not totally understood and can been seen in other northern breeds such as Malamutes and Huskies.

To determine if it is just a snow nose or if it is really a Dudley Lab, all you have to do is to check the gum tissue and the eye rims, which should also lack the pigmentation.

Typically this kind of Labrador retriever will also have tan or light pink skin while other Labs have black pigments in these areas. Additionally, a true Dudley has the tendency to sunburn easily, so they should not be exposed too much to the sunlight.

The pigment on the nose of yellow Labs can vary. Some yellow Labs have slight black pigment around the muzzle and eyes. Some have pigmented nose that begins to fade as puppies (usually around 2 years of age) and will eventually become black again until they are 8 years old and above.

Other people's definition of a Dudley Lab

Many say that this kind of Labrador retriever has a yellow liver pigment. In a Labrador retriever book I have read, the nose of one of these dogs is defined as flesh coloured. Another source defines them as pink and according to this same source, a yellow lab with light or dark chocolate pigment is not a Dudley.

As for the American Kennel Club standards, Dudley Labs are those with thoroughly pink nose and lacks any pigment.

Lack of pigments in these yellow Lab dogs doesn't mean that they can't be a beloved pet. They can still make wonderful companions and lifelong members of the family.

Sunday Morning excitement

Today has been a big day for me already. Granny, or Sprinkles, got out the front door and I watched as she attacked our neighbors dog. My dad had to lift her off the poor little thing. She flipped the other dog onto it's back and pinned her down. She was NOT happy! Guess she thought she was getting ANOTHER pest like me coming to our house. I should count my blessings that she hasn't done that to me yet. Then, when I was in the backyard, I got my head stuck under the fence. My sister started tearing up and Braden got my daddy, who had to come pull me out. Good thing I'll grow fast so that won't happen again. I was just trying to get into the front yard to play basketball with my brothers. I've had a few more accidents in the house than my mommy would like the last few days. My sister is good about cleaning up after me. I'll learn soon, I promise. Labby's are smart. I learned yesterday I am a rare kind of lab called a Dudley. Our kind lacks pigment in our eyes and noses, making us green eyed with light brown noses. Guess I'm special. But I already knew that.

Cool little detail

My mommy calculated my birthday wrong. I wasn't born on Oct. 8th, I was born on Oct. 7th. My mommy says that is a very special day because her cousin was born on that day. She says I am a sign from God that I belonged to this family. When my mommy told my sister, Jaelyn, they decided that my big name is now Bella Kimberly Sheldon. Which translates to Beautiful Ruler. I like that!

My first trip to the park

This is my "oh crap!" face!

This is my "I'm a happy dog" face! (I just got done running a 1/2 mile around the track)

Praying Evan doesn't fall on me

Wondering what is about to happen

A great day at the park with my favorite people

My buddy, my buddy. Wherever he goes, I go!

Following Jaelyn while walking around the school's track

Some more photos...I never get sick of looking at myself!

Here's me in front of the tree for my first Christmas. Next year, I'll be WAY bigger.


Here's me with the hairy one. Her name is Sprinkles. I guess I better start calling her that. She is older than me and I have to respect her, or so they say. Today, she actually played with me. We chased each other around the living room at 7am.

Another good night

Sleeping in my crate. Do I look comfy or what?


This is the pillow my mommy bought me. It's so big, I can't even move. Mommy ended up giving it to the hairy one.


My brother Braden. He's not a comfortable holding me just yet. He says I scratch him.


Here is my big brother Avery holding me.



I love to chew! And I love my toys. I make it a game to see how many I can collect and hide in my special spot next to the couch.

I had a big day yesterday. My first full day with my new family went good. I played alot, took lots of naps, and ate alot. I'm pretty sure the hairy one isn't fond of me though. She growls at me when I want to play "chew the other's dog's tail". I cried just for a minute at bedtime when daddy put me in the crate and shut the door. I was really tired though and fell asleep fast, sleeping for 8 hrs without a peep. Daddy woke up and let me out this morning before he went to the gym. Since I wasn't really tired anymore, I got mommy up to play. I decided to be a crazy puppy monster. Now my humans are waking up and I'm playing with them. I like to eat my sister's hair and play ball with my diapered friend. The hairy one is chasing me around the house and trying to tell me she's in charge around here. Doesn't she know, I'll get bigger than her in a month! Stupid dog! But I'm sure having fun teasing that old grandma. I play hard for an hour in the morning, then rest. Eat, poop, sleep. Play hard again when my humans get home from school. Eat, poop, sleep some more. Play hard before bedtime. Mommy tries to wear me out before bed since I have to go in the crate all night. So far, I haven't destroyed anything and have only had a few accidents in the house. I'm doing great pottying outside. I even met some of the neighbor kids yesterday. Time for breakfast! Gotta run.

I have a family!

Hi, my name is Bella and I'm a 10 week old lab. (My first name was Libby but for some reason, they call me Bella now. Guess I don't look like a Libby.) I was born in Dayton, Texas and lived with a really nice family until last night. I had 9 brothers and sisters. Someone was always eating the last of the food and messing with me when I was trying to nap. But last night, my Dayton family came home from work and gave my sister and I a bath and then took us to the grocery store parking lot where I was picked to go live with another family. My new mom fell in love with me right away and I moved to some town named Atascocita. When I got to my new home, my new daddy came out to the car to meet me while my new mommy told their human kids about a special gift. I think she was talking about me. All of a sudden, the short humans ran outside to greet me. The one with the long blonde hair was screaming and was very giddy! I guess she liked me! The 5 year old started to cry because he wanted to open a gift from under the tree. The oldest boy was in shock and the baby was trying to kiss me. One of the kids, the hairy black one, kept smelling my butt. So rude! I was very shy and nervous. Everyone kept wanting to hold me like a baby and take my picture. They kept taking me outside and told me to "potty". I didn't know what that meant really but when I peed outside on the grass, they cheer like crazy people. My new mommy made my new daddy put me in a big stocking to take a Christmas picture. She said that they'd look back in a few months and laugh at how small I really was when I arrived here. I had to get a 2nd bath once I got to my new home because I brought some "friends" with me. Mommy said that if the "friends" got on the other hairy one, she'd be upset. I like the blow dryer. It's warm and it gets me dry really fast. I slept in a crate with a nice soft bed and a blanket, next to my mommy's side of the bed. I decided to be a good girl and not whine or cry all night. Mommy got up once and made me go outside to "potty" in the rain. I wasn't very happy about that. But I slept in and my new sister Jaelyn woke me up in the morning when it was time to have breakfast, poop, and get ready for school. I am trying to make friends with the hairy one but she growls at me when I sniff her butt. I'm only trying to see what she had for supper! Gosh! I try to eat her food but mommy says that is for "seniors" and I have my own puppy food. When mommy brings the kids to school or takes a shower, she puts me in the crate with some toys. This way I don't get into trouble. I am teething and like to chew on teething toys. The hairy one steals the bacon flavored bones from me. Meanie! Someday I bet I'll be bigger than her and teach her who is really the boss. My Dayton family used to call me "grandma" because I used to take care of all my brothers and sisters and be protective. I really like my new family so far. They keep me warm, kiss me, hug me, carry me, and read me stories at bedtime. I'm pretty spoiled here. I think I may stay for awhile.

PS. My name is Bella but NOT after any vampire movie. Bella means beautiful and that's just what I am. Blonde, blue eyed, beauty.


Here I am with some of my brothers and my sister. I am the 2nd from the left in the photo.


My new sister Jaelyn reading me a bedtime story. I could get used to this! The book is called "Guess how much I love you?"


Me on my new comfy bed


Me stuffed in a stocking


My new sister Jaelyn. She really likes me!


Here I am with the Santa hat that my Dayton family sent with me. I don't like to wear it. I may try to eat it.


This short human smells like pee. I kept smelling his diaper but my new mommy thought I would take a hint and start to pee too. If I have to potty train, then this one should learn too. Just a thought.