Bob and Betty - Double Success Story

Eight Years of UKBTR Bob and A Month of UKBTR Betty

It’s hard to believe that Betty has only been with us for just over a month - it already feels like she’s been part of the family forever. This last few weeks have been a lovely blend of learning, laughing, training, and watching two very different little dogs begin to weave themselves into a shared routine.

Bob: Our Old Faithful
Bob’s adoption anniversary is today! - 3rd December, 2017 - and we still feel so grateful to UKBTR for bringing him into our lives. He’s given us eight years of joy, duvet-ripping escapades and all. From his slightly anxious beginnings to the calm, thoughtful little chap he is now, Bob has worked incredibly hard navigating life with other dogs (especially the larger ones in the family!).
He’s always preferred dogs his size or smaller, especially bitches, so we were hopeful that a
gentle, steady introduction to Betty might be a good match. And so far… we couldn’t ask for better.

Betty: The Bright New Arrival
Betty landed with her typical Boston Terrier enthusiasm - curious, cuddly, slightly chaotic, and always ready to investigate anything that squeaks or moves. She’s been settling beautifully.
She’s clever, super trainable, and wonderfully affectionate. One of her funniest quirks so far?
Dogs on the television. Every time she hears one, she pops upright and rushes over to the
screen like she’s ready to join the cast.

Life Together
Bob and Betty have found a gentle, workable rhythm. They potter around the house side by side, and every now and then Bob shows the tiniest spark of interest in playing with her. We’re not expecting big chase games just yet - it’s very early days - but that little flicker of curiosity makes us smile.
We do sometimes have to remind Betty to give Bob his space. She’s confident and has no
problem nudging him out of the way, but she responds really well when we guide her to wait or let him go first. She learns so quickly and genuinely wants to get things right.

Building Confidence
We’ve already started working on her recall, and she’s done a few tiny trips off lead in a quiet part of the park. Last week, with no distractions around, she trotted along beautifully and kept checking back with me. We’ll keep things very slow and calm until we’re confident she’s reliable around dogs - on lead she’s brilliant, and generally only reacts if the other dog reacts first.
The big project for the coming weeks: tackling the car. She was very travel-sick on the way home when we picked her up, so we’re going to ease into short, positive sessions and hopefully build her confidence (and stomach!) back up.

Looking Ahead
In the new year, we’ll be finding a small group training class or possibly working with a local behaviourist to help her grow in confidence. She’s so clever and such a gentle nature - she’s going to thrive with the right guidance.
Mostly, we’re just loving life with these two. Bob seems content (in his very Bob-like, understated
way), Betty is blossoming, and the house suddenly feels richer, cosier, fuller.

Two UKBTR “gifts.” One very grateful household.