A Chilliwack dog is bringing home a runner-up ribbon from one of the most prestigious dog shows in North America.
Bella, a German shepherd, won 鈥淏est of Opposite Sex鈥� in her breed during the 144th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on the weekend. She and her handler, Courtney Penner, are in New York City for the competition which runs Feb. 8 to Feb. 11.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be happier or more proud,鈥� said Jody Duin, one of Bella鈥檚 owners. 鈥淲inning Best of Opposite Sex at Westminster among such an amazing group of German shepherds is an honour and something we are so very thrilled about.鈥�
There were 13 German shepherds in total competing in that breed category on Sunday. A male dog named Hermes V Kenlyn placed first, and Bella was right behind him. Hermes was the number one German shepherd in all of the U.S. last year, while Bella was the number one in Canada the same year.
鈥淭hey essentially met head-to-head 鈥� Canada versus the U.S.,鈥� Duin said.
READ MORE: Chilliwack dog in New York vying for top spot in 144th annual Westminster dog show
It has been a lot of work for Bella to make it to Westminster.
鈥淲estminster is the Super Bowl of dog shows,鈥� Duin said. 鈥淚n order to be able to go to Westminster, you have to be a champion.鈥�
The year 2019 was a 鈥渂anner鈥� year for Bella.
鈥淪he far exceeded our highest expectations.鈥�
The young three-year-old dog had been shown countless times throughout 2018 and 2019 and during that time she won 18 best in show titles in B.C. and Alberta.
Each time she won best in show, Bella would receive points 鈥� the larger the entry of dogs in a competition, the greater the number of points a dog can earn. Bella garnered enough points and show wins to be given the title 鈥淐anadian grand champion鈥� and 鈥淎merican champion,鈥� pointing her in the direction of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Approximately 2,800 dogs from around the world are competing at Westminster this year. Bella was the only German shepherd from B.C.
It鈥檚 not an agility competition, but rather conformation where dogs are judged by how closely they are to the breed standard with evaluations on movement, structure and more.
Bella is owned by Duin, her daughter Parker, and Cortnie Partner of the U.S. She was bred by Woodside German Shepherds in Langley.
In New York, Bella is joined by Cortnie Partner, Courtney Penner, and the breeder. The Duins were unable to join Bella but they were cheering them on from their home in Chilliwack.
Despite all her success, Duin said Bella is as much a typical family pet as she is a show dog.
鈥淔or a dog that has done so much winning and is such a cool dog in terms of the show world, she鈥檚 also a regular dog,鈥� Duin said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just like any other pet dog except she鈥檚 an athlete.鈥�
Bella has a 鈥渧illage鈥� of people who train her including her owners, breeder, handlers and fill-in or assistant handlers.
Duin鈥檚 seven-year-old daughter, Parker, showed an interest and ability to help train and condition Bella at an early age. The family has an active lifestyle and they enjoy biking and swimming with Bella to ensure she stays in prime condition.
鈥淪he鈥檚 wild and fun but also knows when to turn it on,鈥� Duin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very evident that she really does love [competing].鈥�
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