Happy Tails
Bella : a dog with a spring in her step
By Stefanie J.
Bella was a serious minded dog when Ann first adopted her. Besides having recently had puppies, little was known about her background. But one thing was clear; the two-and-a-half-year old Beagle/Lab mix was unhappy and withdrawn.
Bella came to Pet Haven from another state where she was living in a high-kill shelter where she faced almost certainly euthanasia. She didn’t know how to play and people commented on her somber, but sweet, demeanor.
She also exhibited some odd behavior. Sometimes when Ann would try to walk her on a leash, Bella unexpectedly would stop and sit down, refusing to go any further. Ann describes the Bella she first met as “a serious dog with no frivolity.” That was two years ago.
Now the dog who didn’t know how to play “does zoomies around the house when she feels good.” She has even been known to fly over the couch in a particularly exhilarating feel-good moment.
Bella’s one-and-a-half year old French Bulldog sibling Sam played a role in helping her lighten up and teaching her how to play. What’s also helped is having a loving, stable home and weekends filled with obedience and agility training.
Ann has been working with Bella in obedience for two years and in agility training for one-and-a-half years. Bella loves it and has thrived because of it but she has also thrived because of her partnership with Ann. “She has gained confidence from the training” Ann says.
Bella has a Novice title in obedience training which requires fulfilling various elements such as following verbal and hand commands, performing on and off-leash, recalling, sitting and staying. Dogs and handlers must get three scores of 170 or better out of 200 from three different judges to get this title. No easy feat for a dog that is part Beagle – a breed notorious for being training challenged. “She’s an enthusiastic and willing partner” Ann says. “She knows what’s expected of her and does a really good job.” Bella currently is working towards her Open title in obedience.
Bella also participates and competes in agility training which is fun to watch but also much harder than it looks. It includes activities such as jumping and maneuvering through a course of tunnels, teeter-totters, and weave polls along with other components. Bella recently received two Novice titles in agility – in Regular agility and in Jumpers agility. She was judged on a variety of skills including speed and running/ jumping cleanly through the course. Now Bella is working towards her Open title in both categories which she will inevitably win because her heart is in agility training, says Ann.
“On Bella’s first day of agility training, 
there were four jumps in a row which she was led through. Afterwards, it was like a light went on in her head” says Ann. “She went back to the jumps on her own and jumped over all four again.” Ann also says “It is fun to place first, second or third but the important part is having fun together and having personal bests.”
The formerly depressed dog now has a spring in her step.
Bella has also received a Canine Good Citizen award. To get this, she had to pass a test, basically showing good manners. Having this award makes it easier for her to gain entry to various stores and restaurants that allow dogs.
Bella enjoys simple pleasures in life like playing with Sam, working on a little training each day with Ann and accompanying Ann on errands. She also has a fetish for paper and loves toilet paper rolls.
When Bella needs a break from playing with Sam and wants some “me-time”, Bella has a favorite chair in the loft to escape to.
“She’s my soul-mate,” says Ann. “It’s heartwarming to see what you can do together when you work on a few things. She has so much inside of her. I had no idea she could do so much.”