California Dog With A Beautifully Unique Face Proves Her Value Goes Far Beyond Being A Show Dog
A trip to a California Humane Society to ‘just look’ ended with a couple taking home a puppy with a very unique, lovable face. Years later, she’s proving just how smart and sweet she really is.
A Birthday Trip To ‘Just Look’
It was Leah O’Neal’s husband’s birthday, and he had grown up with dogs his whole life.
They decided to take a trip down to their local California Humane Society, telling themselves they were just going to look.
But as anyone who has ever visited a shelter knows, ‘just looking’ rarely goes according to plan.
When they walked in, they noticed a California puppy who was acting incredibly funny and eager for attention.
The Face That Won Their Hearts
The puppy, who they later named Belle, was about 12 weeks old, and the shelter had no background information on her.
She pressed her face right up against the kennel door, desperate to greet the couple.
They took one look at her unique face and knew immediately that they wouldn’t be leaving without her.
“We knew that we were taking her home,” Leah recalled.
A Wonderfully Unique Appearance
Belle’s face is truly one of a kind. Leah describes it as the kind of face a child might draw if they were trying to sketch a dog.
One of her ears always seems to stick straight up, adding to her goofy and endearing personality.
But it’s her eyes and her smile that really capture people’s attention.
Some people have even described her eyes as looking very human-like, a description Leah finds quite accurate.
A Medical Explanation
Curious about her unique appearance, the couple asked their vet for some insight.
The vet explained that Belle’s features were likely the result of being stuck in the birth canal, which caused everything to be stretched back.
Despite this rough start to life, Belle is perfectly healthy.
They even had a vision test done, and everything came back completely normal. She can see just fine.
A Surprising DNA Mix
To learn more about their unique girl, the family decided to do a Wisdom Panel DNA test.
The results were a fascinating mix. Belle turned out to be 50% Doberman Pinscher.
The other half of her DNA is a mix of cattle dog and hound.
This unique blend of breeds helps explain both her appearance and her wonderful personality.
The Neighborhood Siren
Living close to a fire station has brought out a very specific talent in Belle.
Whenever the fire engines go by with their sirens blaring, Belle feels the need to join in.
She has what Leah calls a “beautiful siren sound.”
“She answers the siren and she becomes the siren basically,” Leah laughed.
A Self-Taught Genius
Beyond her goofy personality and unique looks, Belle is also incredibly smart.
She actually taught herself how to let her family know when she needs to go outside.
Without any training, she started ringing the springy doorstop with her paw.
Even in the middle of the night, she’ll ring it to wake Leah up so she can go out.
A Weight Loss Journey
Since the couple welcomed two children into their family, now ages three and two, Belle has faced a new challenge.
The toddlers are very generous with their food, often sneaking extra snacks to their furry friend.
As a result, Belle gained a little bit of weight and is now on a weight loss journey.
She’s made great progress, with just about seven pounds left to lose to reach her goal.
The Best Girl Ever
Leah and Belle share an incredibly strong bond. They have what Leah calls “full conversations.”
Belle is an excellent listener and always likes to know exactly where Leah is, frequently checking in on her throughout the day.
While Leah’s husband might joke that Belle will never be a show dog, her family knows her true value.
“She is the best girl ever, and I love her so much, and I’m so glad that she is part of our family,” Leah shared.
