Beautiful Bella
- Breed: Australian Cattle Dog (Queensland Blue Heeler)
- Age: Lived 16½ years 2003-mid 2020
- Color: Salt and Pepper
- Name Meaning: Beautiful in French
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Birthday: December 15th, 2003
- Nicknames: Beau (Boo), Bay, Belle, Fox Dog, Bella-Mia, WolfDog, Kitty Cat, Baby Blue, My Brighteyes
Other Information
- Nicknames: Beau (Boo), Bay, Belle, Fox Dog, Bella-Mia, WolfDog, Kitty Cat, Baby Blue, My Brighteyes
- Favorite Foods: Redbarn Bully Slices, Greenies Bulk Treats, Honest Kitchen Bone Broth, Savory Prime Cod Skin Treats, Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Goat Milk, Pet 'n Shape Beef Lung Dog Treats, Puppy Scoops Ice Cream, Starbucks Puppachinos
- Favorite Activities: Frisbee, Hiking, Fetch, Swimming, Agility, Car Rides, Learning tricks
- Favorite Toys: Chuckit! Frisbee, Chuckit! Balls, Chuckit! Ball Launcher, JW Pet HOL-ee Roller, Orka Tennis Ball Treat-Dispensing Toy, Kong Classic Dog Toy, Wilson Soccer Balls, Golf balls, Ice Cubes
Titles
- NTD (Do More With Your Dog Novice Trick Dog)
- ITD (Do More With Your Dog Intermediate Trick Dog)
- ATD (Do More With Your Dog Advanced Trick Dog)
- ETD (Do More With Your Dog Expert Trick Dog)
- CGC (Canine Good Citizen)
- TD (Therapy Dog)
- TDCH (Trick Dog Champion)
Background
My first choice of the litter was a predominately white freckled pup who bounded up to me and jumped on me, but the family was initially going to keep him and had named him Snowball.
Since the pup I wanted was unavailable, instead I decided I wanted a girl. There were only two girls in the litter-one was already reserved by my aunt, the only other girl was Bella. She came home at 8 weeks old.
We took home two puppies together-Bella for me and her brother Jack for my brother. I had originally wanted to call my puppy either “Willow” or “Peppa” after the female characters from my favorite book “Fire Bringer” by David Clement-Davis (the first because she was my favorite female character, and the second because the pup’s fur looked like pepper). My mom said we should name her “Bella,” and said that it meant “beautiful” in French. So she became Bella-Mia and the Belle of the Ball, as my mom often called her.
The pups slept outside initially since my mom grew up on a ranch where the dogs didn’t really come in the house. One night we convinced her to let the pups sleep in our beds and the rest, as they say, is history. Bella’s slept on her own pillow next to my head ever since.
It turned out later that the family did not end up keeping “Snowball,” and he ended up going home with my aunt who lived up the street from us. The pups got to hang out a lot and have plenty of “play dates.”
Bella Portfolio (Tribute)
- The Most Adorable Pets of America 2011
- “Smiling Dogs” Bark Magazine 2013
- FidoFriendly Magazine TongeOut Calendar 2015
- RedBarn Summer Press Kit 2016
- Voted Fan Favorite for HauteDog: Wet Nose Culture Magazine’s 2012 August Cover Dog Contest
- Semi-Finalist in the 2013 Pets Dialog Lord of the Castle Contest
- Winner of the 2013 “Make My Pet A Star” Contest for “The Returns” book
- AZ Foothills Magazine Dog Days of Summer Cutest Large Dog 2015
- Dog Fancy
- Dogster
- Bark
- Fido Friendly Magazine Tongue Out Calendar Cover
- American Dog Magazine
