Bella’s connection with animals began on a small farm in Monroe, Washington, where her childhood revolved around the outdoors and hands-on animal care through programs like 4-H. Her path into professional dog training took shape during high school when her family adopted Harvey, a Border Collie/Heeler mix whose intense working drive demanded more than basic obedience. Learning to meet Harvey’s need for structure and purpose revealed that training wasn’t just a hobby, it was her calling. That passion led Bella to Alaska and Wyoming, where she immersed herself in dog mushing. Working sled dogs in extreme conditions strengthened her understanding of stamina, precision, and team dynamics…skills that continue to influence her training approach. A pivotal chapter came with Tlingit, an Alaskan Husky born on a glacier who displayed early dominance and reactivity. Training Tlingit challenged Bella to refine her structure, patience, and leadership with an independent breed. The experience reinforced her belief that even the most difficult dogs can thrive with the right guidance. While living in Leavenworth, Bella began taking local dogs on back-country hiking adventures. Seeing how many owners struggled to channel their dogs’ energy inspired her to turn her passion into a profession helping dogs become reliable adventure partners. Today, Bella brings that same drive to Off Leash K9 Training, specializing in transforming high-energy behavior into focused reliability so dogs and owners of all breeds can confidently explore life together.
