Belle's

Belle is a dalmatian that we adopted from the pound on June 7, 1999. She was named after Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Belle goes to school at Training Ventures and loves agility. Her temperment SIGNIFICANTLY improved after changing her food (she had been very aggressive / fearful of people). Belle is now on a natural diet and is no longer aggressive (The food is Wendy Volhard's Natural Diet Foundation available at Phd Products. If you establish an account, please list "Valerie Rutledge" as your "How did you hear of PHD?" source.) After extensive research and hearing many testimonials I found that switching to a natural, raw, diet frequently corrects aggressive, skin problems, many health problems, bad odor & breath, among many other conditions. After changing the food and Belle's personality, she now does agility dog shows.
  • Belle has competed in a few agility shows, has earned several ribbons, and has both her Novice and Open Standard and Jumpers titles. WE MADE IT TO EXCELLENT! And, we have one Excellent Jumpers qualifying score (with a 1st place). She goes up to greet strangers at the shows (both dogs and people) and loves competing! While she may not be the "best" agility dog, just the fact that she loves to and CAN compete is amazing. I owe this success to a very patient and excellent teacher, Valerie Rutledge, who trains using positive reinforcement. Many teachers would have not wanted anything to do with a dog like this but Val stuck with it and changed both our lives. Below are some pictures of Belle at agility trials and as a puppy. Also listed are the shows she has competed in and her placements.



    Belle at an Agility Trial







  • October 26, 2003 - AKC Mid-Florida Golden Retreiver Club - Winter Park (Showwalter Field East) - No Qualifing Runs.
  • November 22 & 23 - AKC Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club - Tampa (Bonjon Ranch) - No Qualifing Runs
  • January 11, 2004 - AKC Dog Training Club of Tampa - Tampa (Bonjon Ranch) - Preferred NJWW 1st Place (Q)
  • February 8, 2004 - USDAA Ketch Agility - Tampa (Ketch) - PI Jumpers 3rd Place (NQ), PI Snooker 1st Place (Q).
  • February 29, 2004 - USDAA Wag-N-Train - Tampa (Bonjon Ranch) - PI Jumers 3rd Place (NQ) and PI Standard 3rd Place (NQ)
  • March 13, 2004 - NADAC (FASA)- Groveland - Novice Standard 3rd Place (NQ) and Novice Jumpers 3rd Place (NQ)
  • May 15 & 16, 2004 - NADAC Ketch - Tampa (Ketch) - Saturday Novice Std Round 1 & Round 2 - 2nd Place each (NQ). Sunday Novice Std Round 1 - 2nd Place (NQ) and Novice Std Round 2 - 1st Place (NQ).
  • June 11-13, 2004 - USDAA Canine Capers - Perry GA - 2nd Place Jumper (NQ), 3rd Place Standard (NQ), 3rd Place Standard (NQ), 4th Place Gamblers (NQ)
  • August 20-22 - AKC Bark- Brandon MS - Saturday Novice Preferred JWW 1st Place (Q)
  • October 30-31 - AKC IPOC Mulberry FL - Saturday Novice JWW 2nd Place (Q)NJP Title!!! Sunday Standard 2nd Place (Q)
  • November 6-7 - AKC DTCT Palmetto FL - Saturday Standard 1st Place (Q) Sunday Standard 1st Place (Q). NAP Title!!! Open JWW 1st Place (Q)
  • December 4-5 - SOTC Palmetto FL -
  • December 11-12 TBGSDC BonJon Ranch FL -




    Belle (at 4 months) and me!


    Belle and Fran (my husband). Aren't they cute?!


    Belle and Duke looking innocent


    Belle and Duke wrestling under the chair.<


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