Ours is not a relationship entered into lightly. I spent weeks online researching. Truth be told, I may have researched this adoption more than I researched becoming a first-time mom. This is how my love affair with the Newfoundland began.

If you're not familiar with the breed, they're massive dogs that look like the St. Bernard, but bigger. Most are black, some are black and white, and a few are solid brown. They're called gentle giants. Water rescue dogs by nature, very loyal, and even tempered.

I started my research at the official Newfoundland AKC website. One sub headline read simply: Drool. Here's a little fun fact. A Newfie can sling drool up to 20 feet with one whip of the head. Hey, what's a little drool among friends? I'm already a firm believer that no outfit is complete without dog hair or dog drool on it anyway. I read on.

Strength. A full grown male Newfoundland can pull up to 2,000 pounds. That could certainly make a walk around the block much more interesting. I picture myself flopping behind a leash during a routine drag to the city.

Then, the montage of photos labeled: Newfies Gone Bad. Picture after picture of Newfs in a pile of rubble that appears to have been, at one point in time, a piece of furniture. Is that an end table, or kitchen chair? Chewed beyond recognition. I'm not even sure if the owner knows. Small trees uprooted and left in splinters. One photo shows a Newfie with a bowling ball he uses as a chew toy. That was it. I had seen enough. I was in.

This is Bella at 10 weeks. In this photo she weighs 29 lbs. Two weeks later, a voluptuous 40. At this rate you might think she'll be about 300 lbs. when full grown, but the vet assures me she'll top out around 120. She's what you'd call a big-boned gal with a great personality. The president of the Newfoundland Club of PA sent me a quick e-mail that reads: "Get ready for drool, mud, and hair 24/7, 365 days a week. Oh, and enjoy your little Newfie." You'll notice that Bella is black and white, which is a Landseer Newf. They have a black head and black spots on the rump. My daughter has already started reassuring her that the spots on her butt do not make her look fat.

Over the past few months, a lot of you have asked me to post a picture of Rocco. He's the other beast living in our home. This is Roc enjoying a tennis ball he successfully maneuvered away from Bella. That wrestling match ended long enough for me to snap this picture just moments before Bella clotheslined him with her tail, then body slammed him to get the ball back again. Never a dull moment, and I'm loving every second of it!

As always, I enjoy hearing from you! Email me anytime pat.vanzandt@wsee.tv