Bella

Ch. Hoka-Hey’s Cherokee Rose

And now to introduce the most exquisite girl we have ever had – the one we call “Bella.” This perfect being is from our Brew/Cherokee breeding. That makes her half sister to Ochoco, and boy does she show it! Bella has everything! She is beautiful and typey, tons of bone, radiant health, and flash and personality. And she is one powerful mover!

THIS is a Hoka-Hey puppy – exactly what we work, plan, sacrifice, pray and hope for! And the puppy is growing up! “Little” Bella went to her first show and won from the 6-9 month puppy class! Her next shows – after blowing her puppy coat - were in California on the last weekend of October, when she was 13 months old. She won both days, owner handled, going BOW/Best Opposite.

Unfortunately, our work schedules don’t very often allow us to travel to shows like we used to, so Bella went up to Washington with Tammie and John Wilcox for a bit. Tammie and John are great people for a start, but they are also top handlers; LOVING and GENTLE with their dogs, and Bella responded immediately. She started out with a bang - winning, winning, winning! Unfortunately the majors in this area require so many dogs that we were falling short by one or two, and started having to pull Bella after she quickly singled out. But, eventually the majors came and of course Bella won them. She finished her championship as she started – with a bang! She won a huge 5 pt. major, going Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners and Best Opposite under respected judge Col. Joe B. Purkhiser of San Antonio, Texas – and this was almost completely out of coat!

Bella has been a shining star in every facet of her young life. Then again, she’s a Cherokee daughter, so this is no surprise! But Bella is so much more than just an exquisite example of the breed, or a winning show dog… she is our friend and companion, and the love of our lives. She also gave birth to a beautiful litter on the 23rd of March, 2006, producing our Lamps and Ferreira.

Bella is OFA Good

There is a story behind the name “Cherokee Rose” and it has to do with the heart-wrenching ‘Trail of Tears’ …the Cherokee tribes being forced at gunpoint from their beloved Smoky Mountain NC homes. After gold was discovered in the Smoky Mountains in 1838, it was decided by the US government that the American Army would move the Cherokee to a barren reservation in Arkansas. Many thousand men, women and children of all ages were forced from their homes in late October, without any notice. They were not allowed to prepare or to pack belongings, and many were barefoot and without blankets. By the end of March, 1839, the survivors of the ‘Cherokee Removal’ were arriving in Arkansas, leaving over 4000 Cherokee Indians dead along the Trail of Tears from cold, sickness, or starvation. The Cherokee Nation was decimated. Legend has it that so many Cherokee tears were shed along the Trail that beautiful new flowers grew in the water of those tears. This unique flower, never seen previously, was named the “Cherokee Rose”.

At 1 ½ years, doing what comes naturally, and loving it!