Available

Bella

Female · Puppy · 6 months

Bella has a lovely personality, although she can be a little unsure when meeting new people. She may initially bark if she's feeling worried, but with a little patience and some tasty treats, it usually only takes a few minutes before she's decided you're her new best friend! Bella is still finding her paws when it comes to the world around her. She can be a little tentative when meeting other dogs but has done so really well. As a Brittany cross Malinois, Bella is likely to grow into an intelligent, active dog who will enjoy both physical exercise and mental enrichment. However, she also has a sensitive side, and as she approaches adolescence, it's particularly important that her new family help nurture her confidence rather than rush her into new experiences. Bella is actually quite confident when exploring outdoors, but she'll need her world to be expanded gradually and positively, allowing her to feel safe and comfortable as she discovers new things. Bella has so much potential and, with the right guidance, patience and understanding, we're sure she'll blossom into a wonderful companion. If you're ready for all the fun, challenges and rewards of raising a young, intelligent puppy, Bella could be the perfect addition to your family! Bella is a gorgeous five-month-old Brittany Spaniel cross Belgian Malinois, with the most adorable spaniel ears! She's a sweet, affectionate puppy who is looking for a patient and understanding family to help her grow into a happy, confident adult dog. She could share her home with upper secondary school aged children. Bella is looking for adopters who understand that raising a puppy, particularly one with Bella's breed mix and sensitive nature, is about much more than simply teaching basic training cues. She needs someone who will invest time in building her confidence, helping her navigate adolescence and providing appropriate outlets for her clever little brain. She could potentially share her home with a calm, gentle dog and would enjoy doggy pals when out and about. She has no history around cats, small furries, or livestock. Like any puppy, Bella still has lots to learn! Her new family will need to continue with all the usual puppy training, including housetraining, recall, loose-lead walking etc. She's also still learning to feel comfortable travelling in the car, so this will need some gentle, positive practice.

Size

Small

Age

Puppy · 6 months

Location

🇬🇧Ilfracombe

Shelter

Dogs Trust Ilfracombe

Living with Bella

✓Good with dogs
✕Good with cats
✓Good with kids

Cared for by Dogs Trust Ilfracombe · Ilfracombe

More dogs in Ilfracombe →More dogs in United Kingdom →

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Bella home

What you'll need for Bella in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

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About Bella

What life with Bella looks like

Bella is a small puppy dog waiting at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe in Ilfracombe.

Puppies need routine, gentle socialization, and roughly two short outings a day for the first year. The first six months are the formative window — house-training, leash work, and quiet exposure to traffic, other dogs, and unfamiliar people happen now or not at all. Expect early-morning wake-ups and a few months of chewing.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

Ilfracombe, United Kingdom — browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Bella, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Bella?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Dogs Trust Ilfracombe handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Bella on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Bella if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Dogs Trust Ilfracombe will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is Bella already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?: Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Bella isn't the right fit?: Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Dogs Trust Ilfracombe early rather than rehoming privately; they know Bella and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?: TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.