 At the time I started photographing Bella, in May 2010, she wasn’t making constructions; she was just so sweet and pretty and did such cute things playing with her toys that it was fun to take pictures of her. Many dogs dislike having a camera pointed at them, or flash bulbs going off, but Bella didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it wasn’t long before she would pause for the extra moment needed so I could “get the shot.” Reflecting on Sally’s comment, the thought occurred to me that my little Kodak camera was probably giving Bella feedback about things that pleased me, encouraging her experimentation with her cloth toys to evolve into the making of constructions. The transformation took place gradually and, for a long time, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing I did wonder if the increasingly lovely things Bella was doing with her cloth toys might be purposeful behavior. Bella would curl up and use the tiger braid to frame herself, so that it followed the curve of her back, or she would lie down with back arched and upwardly curved tail, her fleece ball at the tip. My heart would melt on these occasions, and I would run and snatch the camera. One day, I walked into the living room to read on the couch, and there at my feet was Bella’s tiger braid, arranged in a perfect right angle aligned with the corner of the rug. This was the “aha” moment for me. Bella had carefully made a right angle with the braid and placed it by my reading station on the couch, so that I would find it when I went to sit down. It was obvious that she had done this with intention, and this realization filled me with happiness. Little did I know that I would have occasion to feel this kind of happiness again and again as Bella’s making of constructions took hold.
1 Comment
Sally
6/14/2011 03:54:21 am
Maybe the camera,maybe Bella knows your scent and it changes when you are happy, maybe she watches your eyes and face for happiness???? Dogs are so amazing and the science behind their amazingness is starting to catch up to what good dog owners have known all along. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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CommentsBella's website is magnificent. Her constructions are becoming more and more intricate and amazing. Her attention to detail stuns me. As an educator, I think about a lesson for first graders. I would show Bella's sculpts to my kiddos and have them create some using multiple toys. The lesson would focus on looking carefully like Bella does, which way do the black deer's feet face and what is the rule for the other toys? Then moving to writing on paper, which way do your d's face,how about p's? Kids would love it.
I find the leash sculptures with their loops to be jaw dropping and just wish that I could watch Bella create one. Of course I love the scent training too.
-SP Thank you for sharing Oscars story. I loved it!! Can't wait for the next chapter. - Linda Lance enjoys his walks with his new friend, Bella. Lance does not do anything as creative as Bella's sculptural constructs. However, Lance is GREAT at De-constructions! We can find evidence of his deconstructs all over the house as he carries everyone's slippers around and sometimes chews off the fuzzy cuffs of the slippers, or takes out the insides of his stuffed toys and scatters the remains around! - Hugs and Licks to Bella, - Evie and Lance Thanks so much for sharing Bella's website with me! I'm familiar with Donnie, the Doberman & think it is so cool that Bella's talents are being showcased online! - Jessica A You sure must have your hands full, dealing with two such resourceful and intelligent dogs. But what a wonderful gift they bring. - Steve D Wow! ACD's are such intelligent dogs and Bella has demonstrated this in such an exceptional way. What a sweet and beautiful girl. And Kepu too! Good luck to you and your wonderful dogs and what a great website you have! - Maris F Bella is a lucky girl to have found someone who "gets" her! Is there a talent to chewing up stuffed toys? If so, my dogs are very talented! Great site! Keep it up. - Cathy Y I am amazed at your photos and your insight. You could be intuitive to Bella's and other dog's secondary communication. Thank you for sharing! Charlotte, NC - Susan B You were number 4 when I googled canine construction...Bella is famous! - Susan B What an interesting subject, and what a great dog! Before I read your blog, I had no idea that dogs created or expressed in this way. I am sharing the information with my friends who have dogs. -Kristin Sweet- I've never known a celebrity dog with her own website. How adorable she is. - Heather Kriensky DVM Website is so sweet. Pretty good pictures and illustrative of the Artist's work. I like it and wanted more. You present it without presumption. Let the viewer see what they see. Feels like a nice invitation to dialogue if others have a similar experience. Good work. - Melanie In Dog Sense author John Bradshaw writes about how dogs love their humans and want to please them. Clearly Bella loves her human and has figured out that her constructions please you. What a lovely relationship. - Sally I was fascinated by Bella’s constructs. Before I opened the site I thought, “this is crazy.” But the photographs document something extraordinary and fascinating. - Jamie Maybe the camera,maybe Bella knows your scent and it changes when you are happy, maybe she watches your eyes and face for happiness???? Dogs are so amazing and the science behind their amazingness is starting to catch up to what good dog owners have known all along. - Sally Categories
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