Bella in the world of Gift Baskets

Hi, I am Bella, the Fancifull Dog, or as I like to be known: The CCO (Chief Canine Officer)
My owner, Rene Cosola, had to relocate to Sweden for a while, so I got to come live with Terry and Wally, the owners of Fancifull Gift Baskets. Boy, am I one lucky dog. There are so many wonderful smells around here to keep me busy.
You see, I have a ridiculous sense of smell. Terry tells me that 40 percent of a dog’s brain is dedicated to the olfactory senses, that they can literally smell the one rotton apple in two billion barrels of apples. So, whereas Wally may think he can smell cherries and fresh grass in his glass of wine, I can tell him what animals frequented the vineyard, how much rain it had, and what grows nearby.

Of course they don’t let me sample the wine, but I do get tidbits of other things from time to time, and that makes me do my happy dance. You see, if I use my “cute puppy look”, which consists of tilting my head just so, opening my dark brown eyes wide, and raising my ears a bit, it gets them every time. Zoolander’s “Blue Steel” has nothing on me. They just can’t resist throwing me a bit of organic cheese or some FraMani Salami (one of my personal favorites). If I have to, I can dance on two feet and turn around in circles! Well, a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I have learned so much the two years I’ve been here, I can’t wait to share it with you. Today, for instance, I got to taste a fabulous cheese that they carry here when a bit “accidentally” fell on the floor (read again about “cute puppy look” above). It’s from the Sierra Nevada Cheese company. It has a mild flavor, but I noticed that it finishes a bit stronger, with a nice little bite. I would melt it on my kibble, but you may want it for vegetables, a sandwich or as part of a cheese tray with a bit of salami.
You, you’re lucky. You can unwrap it and do all those things yourself. It’s not so easy for me, and don’t even ask me how I’m writing this blog. (sniff, sniff) Ooh – that smells good – gotta go! Smell ya later…