[caption id="attachment_2171" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Sit. Good girl!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/bellasit.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2171" title="bellasit" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/bellasit-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

<p>As a new puppy mom, I naturally want the best for my precious bundle of joy.  Remember that Little Miss Bella had a ruff start.  She was found as a street urchin in Yuma, Arizona.  (If you are unaware, Yuma is the armpit of the Southwest.  i.e., Hell on Earth.) </p>

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<p>I decided that this time around I am on Team Victoria.  Team Cesar doesn't resonate with me for a variety of reasons.   </p>

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<p>Victoria Stillwell's methods mirror my former classroom management style as a Montessori teacher.  She's all about gentle, positive reinforcement and building confidence in dogs.  Victoria is a doggie Montessorian of sorts.  Where do I sign up? </p>

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<p><strong><a href="http://positively.com/" target="_blank">On her website of course!</a></strong>  Victoria hand-picked trainers to represent her method of training in 23 cities around the <em>world.</em>  Get this:  one of these trainers extraordinaire resides in Gilbert, Arizona which is a suburb of my fair city! </p>

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<p>What a coinkidink, huh?!</p>

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<p>I promptly called trainer <strong><span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://sharon.witherspoon.positively.com/" target="_blank">Sharon Witherspoon</a></span> </strong>and scheduled a home visit.  Sharon's group classes didn't start until December 11th, and with Bella's recent upheaval, I thought it was important to get started sooner rather than later.  Kind of like Head Start with preschoolers. </p>

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<p>Sharon came out to my house, and as a mother of rescued pups herself, felt an immediate connection with Bella.  In her sweet, Southern drawl, Sharon told me that she didn't want to upset me, but she felt that Bella was a little depressed and traumatized which is common for a rescue pup.  She quickly followed with reassurances of confidence building through the training. </p>

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<p>I think I was previously in denial.  Bella had been listless, which I attributed to her vaccines.  But the vaccines were administered a week ago, and I couldn't bring myself to think about what this angel of a dog encountered before she came under my care. </p>

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<p>Sharon reminded me that Bella was lucky to have found me.  After a detailed discussion on Bella and her habits, Sharon chuckled that there really wasn't much to work on.  Didn't I tell you that she was the perfect dog??  :-)))</p>

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<p>We segued into the positive reinforcement training.  The first lesson included working on eye contact, sit, and responding to her name. </p>

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<p>Sharon and I were tickled over how much Bella broke out of her shell during this initial training.  She is SO smart (brilliant, if you ask me) and SO eager to learn and to please. </p>

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<p>I am a bit behind on these posts due to the holiday, and since Sharon's initial visit, Bella and I have practiced our "homework" every day. </p>

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<p>WOW!  Bella is one happy, spunky brainiac of a pooch.</p>

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<p>Forget puppy preschool.  She is ready for doggie Harvard. </p>

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