Above — Bé relaxing outdoors

Béatrice (pronounced BAY-a-tris, and almost always shortened to Bé) came to us in July 2002, our second puppy from Judy Johnston's Khalsa Permanent Reg'd. Kennel in Williams Lake, B.C. We'd gotten Danté from Khalsa's the previous summer, and before he'd even started his Canadian conformation championship, our family had been bitten by the poodle bug in a big way. Judy hand-selected Bé to join Danté and the rest of our family.

Bé was selected as a show dog and a foundation bitch for our home kennel, and she's been a joy to own since the day we got her. Though she and Danté are both incredibly giving, loving dogs, the differences between them can be quite striking. Where Danté is a very up-front and boisterous dog, Bé is generally more docile and reserved. When they're both excited, though, you might suspect the opposite, as Bé barks (loudly) to let you know she's happy. When they play together, Danté is the acrobat and Bé is the runner. In fact, from about the time Bé was six months old and started routinely beating him, Danté has rarely raced against her, not wanting to lose.

When she finished her conformation championship, Bé traded in her show coat for dreadlocks (though they have since been cut), turning more than a few heads on our frequent walks. Outside of the time she spends with our family, Bé's favorite pastime is playing with any type of ball. She'll roll them, she'll chase them, she'll retrieve them, and if left to her own devices, will chew them until there's nothing left. At the same time, she has a very quiet side, loving to cuddle and expecting a hug first thing in the morning. Bé is a very happy dog who likes to stay close to those she loves.

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