BERNER Inc. Bernese Education and Rescue Blog

Nashoba's Smilin' Sam I Am...

2011-11-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

Heaven shakes with the sound of Woo-Wooing as the celebrity poster child for Bernese Mountain Dog rescue passed from this world into the next after a two-year battle with cancer... His most amazing, committed, dedicated and loving Berner mom, Michelle Keck posted this:

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Rescue wonder dog Sammy crossed peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge last night. His almost 2 year battle with Cancer finally got the best of him — the size of the tumor was either too much for his fragile frame to carry anymore or it actually started to encroach on his spinal cord, but when he lost control of his back end yesterday I knew it was time.

Sammy was the result of a MIssouri puppy mill followed by a Debbie's Petland purchase to a young and naive couple. When they couldn't keep up with his medical bills, Sammy found himself in a Worcester area shelter on New Years Eve 2005 — he was Nashoba Valley's First Rescue of 2006.

There was something special about Sammy. From his first days in rescue, his story captured the hearts of many. Very early on he was deemed a teacher and became our poster child for the fight against bad breeders, puppy mills and pet stores. He took his job quite seriously but always with a smile on his face.

A few things Sammy taught me:

 What you look like doesn't matter but heart and soul does
 The power of positive energy and the healing power that it can have
 Every day is a gift, every morning a blessing
 Always follow your gut, it's your heart's way of grabbing the leash
 Compassion for every living thing, every minute of every day
 Love really has no boundaries
 There is always room for one more friend in your life
 When counter surfing — be silent and fast

Nashoba's Smilin' Sam I Am, CGC, TDI, BFF
January 16, 2004 ~ November 1, 2011

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Sammy inspired quite a few comments, and Shelia Durfee's remembrances follow:

Things just got a whole lot more fun at the Rainbow Bridge... Michelle said, "There was something special about Sammy." There certainly was. His structure and orthopedics were not the desired standard for a Berner yet, in the ways that matter most, Sammy was the quintessential specimen of the breed: his many successes as a counter surfing strategist, his artful feigning of innocence, his infectious sense of humor, his thorough appreciation of any attention given him, his joyful approach to life, his wonderful 'can-do' attitude, his indomitable spirit.

The first time Sammy met my Aussie, Libby was about 4 months old and no more than 14 pounds of fluff. Sammy was enjoying a raw marrow bone that had to have been 10 inches long and Libby waltzed up to him, gave him a wink and a little nuzzle, lifted the bone out of his paws, pranced away with it and laid down nearby to gnaw on it her (nervy little) self! Sammy just let her do it — no grumbles, no well-deserved correction from the adult dog. It was a complete puppy pass given by a sweet and gentle soul. That was Sammy.

Those who might be reluctant to adopt rescue dogs for fear that they might be a disappointment when compared to lovely, well-bred puppies full of promise for titles and accolades need only to read Michelle's heartfelt eulogy of Sammy to realize that perfectly wonderful dogs don't always come wrapped up in perfect packages. It is possible to adopt a dog that no one wanted, to fall completely in love with that dog with all his challenges and to have that dog change your life. Michelle gave Sammy the chance he needed to blossom into the dog he was meant to be. In return, Sammy gave everyone lucky enough to have known him the chance to blossom into the humans that we were meant to be. I will never forget Sammy.

Sheila Durfee, Jazzie and Libby

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Michelle wrote quite a bit about Sammy over the years... And everyone who knows even a bit about this story knows that as often as people say there's "something special about Sammy," you could say that about Michelle, too...

Something Special About Sammy

Sammy is a 2-year old neutered male with the sweetest temperament in the world. He was purchased in a pet store and is the product of a Missouri puppy mill. He was dropped at a Massachusetts shelter on December 29, 2005 with a medical fi le an inch thick and was taken into Nashoba Valley rescue on New Years Day.

After a quick review of his medical fi le we realized that his previous owners had spent well over $6,000 mostly to treat his allergies (food & inhalant). Sammy could have been a poster child for Prednisone and Antibiotics. When he came into rescue he was overweight, had a double ear infection, a torn ear fl ap from shaking his head so much, raw chewed up feet and a nasty nasal discharge. His coat was a mess, his skin was dry, fl akey and smelled of yeast and he had a definite ‘rat’ tail. He immediately made a visit to a holistic vet to help determine his food sensitivities and was then converted to a raw diet. Slowly but surely the Berner bounce began to return. The ear infections cleared up; the yeast was gone; he became much less itchy, his coat began to shine and his teeth became sparkling white.

But unfortunately, with all the time and money his previous owners spent, Sammy’s orthopedic issues, which are severe and very obvious, were never addressed. After x-rays and a consult with an ortho specialist, we found that Sammy has six involved joints.

His immediate problem was his right elbow. He had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments in that elbow on February 15 and started Hydrotherapy sessions two weeks later. It was also determined that Sammy was hit by a car around 6 months of age. His right front leg had been broken and the ligaments and tendons in his left leg where torn but apparently never treated, that paw operates at a funny angle but does not seem to cause him any pain. However, his left knee will always give him problems...he has bilateral medial patellar luxation, the left side is a Grade 2 and, at this point, we have decided against knee surgery.

But Sammy is on the mend, he has started training classes and will try for his CGC at the NV Spring Fun Day and hopefully his TDI certification in the near future. Sammy’s story is a sad one and unfortunately, with puppy mills and brokers flooding the internet and suppling pet stores, I think our rescue groups will see more and more “Sammys” in the future.

Although I do not advocate dumping your sick dog off at a shelter, I really can’t disparage Sammy’s previous owners. Every time I look at his medical file, I see only heartache. Vet visits, follow-up visits, emergency room visits...they tried everything they knew how to do and finally their patience and their wallet gave up. I only wish they had done the proper research in the beginning and looked for a

reputable breeder...instead they took the easy way out and walked into a pet store and shelled out $2000 for a puppy they knew nothing about. I also wish they had found the BMDCNV, even if was after they bought Sammy. We could have helped them over some of the hurdles.

Education is key and by getting Sammy’s story out to the public I hope it will help future puppy owners to make the right decision when looking for their new family member.

Sammy is slowly becoming a teacher and to that end he made his TV debut in early February when he starred in a local cable segment on pet store puppies and the health problems that come with them. Sammy was marvelous and there were many comments on what a beautiful boy he was, until they saw him walk. But Sammy smiled his way through the interview and gave anyone a kiss who would

allow it. I was very proud to tell everyone he was MY dog.

Ann Milligan, Public Education Chair and Web Master of the BMDCSEW, is designing a web page about Sammy’s story to help steer PPOs in the right direction when searching for their first Berner. Anne’s idea for the page is to introduce Sammy as a working Berner. Sammy’s job is to be a Teacher, and Ann feels his contribution to our breed’s welfare could be very important. The web page is still

under construction but I’m looking forward to seeing Sammy’s smiling face helping others to make the right decision.

When Anne first saw Sammy’s face in a Berner-L photo, she somehow knew why he’s here with me now and all the good that can come of it. Sammy is safe, loved, well cared for and even has a Berner brother & sister...he’s smiling once again.

You see, there is something very special about Sammy.

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Sammy is also featured on the Rescue Gallery HERE.

Earlier this year, in January, Sammy achieved hard-won "veteran" status and Michelle wrote:

Nashoba's Smilin' Sam I Am --- aka Sammy --- is celebrating his 7th
Birthday today --- YES he made it to Veteran's!!!

This boy's spirit and energy is unbelievable and he continues to amaze me every day. We are now one year into his tumor diagnosis and even though he has an "off" day every once in a while, they are few and far between and he rebounds very quickly. An "off" day consists of being a bit mopey and looking for a little extra love with one of Mom's special fried eggs on his breakfast. So far, that seems to do the trick and within a day or two, he is back to chasing squirds (squirrel & bird mix) and keeping our counters completely clear of food. His supplement list seems to grow monthly -- breakfast & dinner resemble a science experiment at this point --- But under the careful management of Dr Doolittle and lots of love, support and positive energy from his pack, we hope to have this goofy guy around for a lot longer.

We're celebrating today with a good romp on the snowy trails around the house, a feast of fresh Pocono Mountain venison for dinner and Liver Cupcakes with Mashed Potato frosting for dessert!

Every day is a blessing and every morning is a gift --- so be sure to make all those hugs last just a little bit longer.

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It all began in January of 2006 with this email from Anya, BMDCNV Rescue Chair, in which Sammy is introduced as a rescue looking for a very special and likely unique home...

On January 2nd we took in our first rescue of 2006. Sammie is a 2 year old neutered male who was purchased at Debby's Petland at 4 months of age. At two years of age he was dumped by his owner at the Worcester Animal Rescue League, together with an inch-thick medical file representing many thousands of dollars of expense.

Basically, the vet who performed a general exam on Sammie for us last week says that he is "a train wreck". He has both food and inhalent allergies (most of the bills address this issue) as well as some very obvious and severe orthopedic problems. She said that he has probably never had a day free of pain.

After some discussion by those in attendance at the board meeting today (many of whom have had substantial experience with bad allergies in their Berners), it was agreed that, because of Sammie's phenomenally sweet temperament, we would search far and wide to see if there is some kind soul willing to adopt him (knowing that they would be taking on significant medical expenses).

Since I currently have no applicants on file who are willing to take in a dog with health issues, we are looking for anyone out there who has the time, love and financial capacity to even consider helping this boy. If you think you might be that special person, please contact either me or Alise Burbridge, who has very generously agreed to foster this heartbreaking boy. If a genuine (saintly) candidate for Sammie steps forward, the club will get an orthopedic work-up done in order to confirm the extent of the work needed in order to permit Sammie to live somewhat more comfortably.

Meanwhile, a few of the folks at today's meeting ("Sammie's Team") have volunteered to help Alise in addressing Sammie's allergy problem and will be preparing a plan of action.

Please consider carefully and let me or Alise know if you might be that special person with the love and the resources to help Sammie.

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Michelle became Sammy's angel. Alise, Sammy's foster mom, wrote:

Oh, Michelle...your beautiful boy! I can't tell you how thankful I am that I got to see him in Essex at the draft test, one more amazing Sammy smile, hug and butt rub! You are his angel and now he is forever yours.

Sammy at the 2011 Draft Tests in Essex, MA where
he soaked up all the attention due any celebrity

And so Sammy joins the ranks of those "Treasured beyond measure," both in LIFE and in memory. Imagine him now with clear skin, white paws and sound limbs — but his smile was already perfect!

Chester and Roxie on Summer Vacation

2011-10-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

BERNER, Inc. graduates Chester and Roxie are seen here in the company of their "mom", Christine. They're all watching the action at the Dock Dog competition in Killington, VT. Chester was jealous of the retrievers. He hasn't learned to swim yet and was keeping a careful eye on technique, thinking he might just absorb the skills by osmosis. Roxie was worried that they were all going to drown without her help!

Update on Max

2011-08-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

When Max left Vermont Veterinary Eye Care after his surgery this week, he could see the world around him for the first time. Vet tech Amy told us that he was unafraid and was barking enthusiastically at all the exciting new things before his eyes! He's totally psyched and ready to take in everything around him.

Max's eyes are swollen. His foster "mom", Beth, has a lot of nursing care in her future. Max will need an assortment of eye drops numerous times throughout each day in addition to his meds. He has to stay quiet and wear his e-collar 24/7. I know Beth will handle this with aplomb. She and her family have done an amazing job with Max already.

Beth (who will soon change from foster mom to adoptive mom) writes: "For the first time, I have seen that amazing Bernese tail up and wagging. I have noted that over the past several months, Max's tail does not curl up and wag like a Bernese. When I brought him out today...one of my sons rode into the driveway on his bicycle. Before today, Max would have barked or pulled on his leash (stressed by the sound of the bicycle). Today his tail went up and he showed us his true Bernese "spirit". Despite his surgery and multiple meds, he is happy....relaxed in his new world.

Thank you to everyone that pulled together to help out Max. He is a BIG love and I am sure has a career in the Therapy Dogs of Vermont!"

Big Day for Max, the blind pup!

2011-07-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

Well, thanks to the generosity of the Berner community, Max's big day is scheduled for August 6. He's going in for cataract surgery which, I'm told, will give him a 90% chance of significant sight when completed. His foster family is SO excited!

I have attached a lovely photo of Max and his foster family, including foster sister, Lily, at graduation from their beginner obedience class back in June. Thanks to this wonderful family, he was already heading down the right path, even without his sight!

Sincere thanks to every one of you who donated to his cause! I continue to be blown away by the generosity of Berner folks! Thanks also go to the BMDCA, which contributed $1,500 from it's rescue fund. And finally, sincere thanks to Dr. Hoy and Vermont Veterinary Eye Care in Williston, VT, who were kind enough to offer BERNER, Inc. a substantial discount on this expensive surgery. Max's cause has truly become a community project! I hope to have regular updates on his condition following surgery and will post them as I receive them.

Help Max See!

2011-06-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Max came in to a small all-breed rescue in New England at just under 5 months of age. He was almost totally blind due to congenital cataracts in both eyes. He was placed in foster care with a wonderful family who had recently lost their second rescue Berner. A visit to a canine ophthalmologist proved that Max would be a good candidate for cataract surgery that would give him a 90% chance of gaining sight. Without the surgery, his cataracts will progress, worsening to a point where protein will leak from the lenses and cause inflammation, which in turn will lead to secondary glaucoma. The cost of the surgery is $4,500.

The all-breed rescue does not have the funds to pay for Max's surgery and the foster family, who adore Max and would love to adopt him, are also unable to come up with such a big chunk of cash. An aside here...you could look long and hard to find a better adoptive family for Max. This loving family with three great, dog-savvy kids, has plenty of Berner experience as well as a commitment to rescue. His foster "mom" has already been working with a trainer to help make Max more confident in his dark world and the kids are currently working on their own fundraiser for his surgery! Even their dog Lily helps out - acting as Max's own seeing eye dog! (Naturally, that's the lovely Lily in the photo with Max!)

If you can find your way free to help Max see and to save him from a life of increasing pain, please donate to his surgery fund by sending a donation through the link on this page or by mailing a check payable to BERNER, Inc. (with "Max's Surgery" in the memo line) and mail it to:

BERNER, Inc.

P.O. Box 1221

Arlington, MA 02474-0021

Einstein

2011-06-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Einstein is a handsome 2 year old boy who's looking for a special adopter who wants a working partner. He has a lot of potential as a competition dog - draft, rally, obedience, tracking....who knows? He needs someone who can provide him with structure, guidance, mental stimulation and plenty of exercise - in an adults-only home. If you're interested in this boy, please complete the online application at: www.bernerinc.org.

Spring Fun Day - Westford, MA - May 22, 2011

2011-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Come join us at the BMDCNV Spring Fun Day! Join in lots of fun activities with your dog: Intro to Draft; "Berners Got Talent"; Conformation Handling Class; "The Amazing Draft Race"; Rally Match; Conformation Match; "Doggie Detailing"... There will be a great informational session for folks looking for their first Berner. Paws & Shop will bring a retail extravaganza of Berner-ware and Berner-wear! As always, there will be a raffle table with great items to take a chance on! Admission is free. All well behaved on-lead dogs and their humans are welcome. A modest lunch of sandwich/chips/cookie will be available for sale. 9:30 to 4 on Sunday, May 24. For directions: http://www.bmdcnv.org/events.html#spring

Bailey's Back!!

2011-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Bailey's back on her own bed tonight - sleeping soundly after her scary adventure! Thanks to the many folks who phoned in to report sightings of her, the Watertown ACO was able to get a sense of the area she was in and placed a trap in the early afternoon. By evening, she made her way into the trap. A local woman was able to watch this all transpire and, after calling to report it, she went out and sat with Bailey to keep her company and comfort her.

Bailey's adoptive "mom" rushed her to the vet as soon as she was sprung from the trap. Though she had picked up numerous ticks and was totally exhausted, she had suffered no physical injuries. Tonight, she's resting quietly in her crate. We're all going to sleep well tonight!

HELP NEEDED - Lost Berner - Watertown, CT

2011-05-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to say that BARC's Bailey escaped from her new home in Watertown, CT within hours of arrival on Saturday, April 30. She was wearing a collar with ID and rabies tag and she was dragging a lead. If you live anywhere near the area, please help! We need help distributing flyers but could also benefit by having folks walk quietly in the woods with their dogs - keeping their eyes and ears open!

Bailey is an incredibly sweet girl but VERY timid. She will not come if you call her. The most important thing you can do if you sight her is to be calm and quiet and to call one of the numbers listed below immediately. Do not call her. Do not approach her. Do not look directly at her. If your dog should be able to entice her close to you, you may have a chance to step on her lead.

Phone contact:

Brian: 617-721-8428

Chester's psyched for the royal wedding!

2011-04-30T06:13:00.001-07:00

Bailey's Waiting for that Special Person!

2011-03-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

Bailey's finally finished her treatment for Lyme and was spayed and microchipped on Monday. She says she's now all ready for a home of her own. Here's what's on her wish list:

An adults only home with someone who has LOADS of time to spend with her as well as training skills to help her develop confidence.
A stable male dog (preferably Berner!!) who will be mentor and companion.
A fenced yard - so she doesn't have to worry about scary things.

Bailey's rescue has been a joint effort with BARC (Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition - www.barc.com) and BERNER, Inc. If you're interested in adopting Bailey, please go to the BARC web site for information about their adoption process and for an application. BARC has already invested a good bit in Bailey - paying to get her out of the clutches of the woman who chained her to the radiator and planned turn her into a canine puppy factory. She's been spayed, micro-chipped, vetted and treated for Lyme disease. Now she needs a human of her own - the one who will turn her life around and help her learn not to be afraid.

BARC's Bailey - A Joint Venture

2011-02-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

BERNER, Inc. and BARC (Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition) have joined forces to help out a two year old intact female who was chained in the home of someone who was only interested in making money off of dogs. There were a number of other large breed females kept in the home.

Bailey needed vaccinations, blood work and parasite tests. She tested positive for Lyme and is currently being treated. She managed to avoid spay surgery last week by developing a temperature so we'll try again

Not surprisingly, Bailey has been quite anxious in her foster home. She's very wary of men but, since her foster "dad" works from home, she's warming up to him faster than might otherwise be the case. In the outside world, she's showing a little more confidence each day. She doesn't really know how to play with other dogs, though her new Berner companion is trying his hardest to show her the ropes!

She’ll surely develop more confidence when her new owner gets her started in a basic obedience course. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to follow her progress on the BERNER, Inc. blog and/or facebook page. If you are interested in being considered to adopt Bailey, or any BARC dog, you can find their application form on the web site: http://www.barcinc.net/

Olivia needs a very special person

2010-12-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

This little girl is 6 weeks old and, no, she's not in rescue! She's still with her mom, her litter mates and her caring breeder. BERNER, Inc. is simply helping to spread the word so that little Olivia, who was born deaf, can find that special person who will help her lead a normal Berner life.

She's a happy little thing and is smart as a whip! For the person who wants a great working partner, Olivia will certainly teach you a lot! Do you have enough imagination to find ways to communicate with a clever dog who can't hear? She can see, she can smell and she can THINK! Like every Berner, she wants mental challenges - she wants to work. If you can think outside the box, she'll be a blast to work with and won't let anything stop her!

If you're just feeling sorry for this puppy, this is not the pup for you. Olivia wants someone to help her reach the peaks in life. She knows she's headed there and wants a partner who will work as hard as she will - who has the same energy and drive to learn, to work and to experience the best of life!

If you think you're special enough to share your life with Olivia - to teach her and learn from her, shoot me an email at: rescue@bmdcnv.org.

Update on 7-year old sisters Lucy & Missy

2010-12-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

This wonderful update comes from Pete VanderLaan in NH who adopted two mature girls earlier this year. (I want a video of "dog-tipping"!!)

"These girls are just wonderful! They are such a great addition to our lives. They love the farm and snuffling the pond and the creek. They have a morning ritual of conning me out of mouthfuls of fish food which I throw for the trout in the pond.

The eye surgery was really successful. They both have mostly clear eyes all the time. Missy has occasional watering in her left eye but all in all it has been a blessing for both of them. Lucy's are both fine. While each dog has some conformation issues, they are doing awfully well, particularly at their ages. They took a mile long walk through the woods this morning with us when we went out to see if the wind had brought down any big trees, which it had but not terribly. Firewood falls here faster than I can burn it.

They love car rides. It must have been a major part of their former lives. If we are dumb enough to leave a truck door open in the driveway, it is quickly occupied by two Berners in the back and they will not get out with out a shoehorn. They don't care for the glassworks that much, preferring to stay in the yard while I work although they do come in sometimes. I think it's too noisy. They are great with the chickens and totally accept them and they simply give the horses a slow wide berth. One of the horses has gotten in to "dog tipping." Wingman, a quarter horse Freisian cross born in to my arms and now 1200lbs will sneak up silently on a sleeping Berner in the field and quietly flip them over which wakes them up efficiently. He doesn't hurt them, he just rolls them.

They have their rituals. Biscuits in morning after being let out, then marrow bones and then breakfast. Then it's nap time and then bark at anything time which is an unfortunate thing they learned from our Crazed English farm collie- the equivalent of a Border Collie on Steroids. The barking is hard but it is what it is. These dogs never had an ounce of discipline and when they don't want to do something, they just faint. It's like Dog jello on the ground. Utterly unmovable. Time to call the horse and then they move.

This program has been wonderful. While it is sad how they wound up being available, we have been thrilled to have them here as part of our lives. They are part of the pulse of the farm. I wish they were younger so they could be here longer."

How cute is this face?

2010-11-02T18:21:00.001-07:00

Contemplative girl. What could she be thinking? Wondering if life could be any sweeter? She's got a new family - complete with adoring children. "Mom" just brought home a new companion for her - a rescue golden called Lilly who's become Panda's best buddy. Mom says: "Panda is really finding her personality. She loves to get attention and is just now really learning how to play with toys and other dogs. It just makes you wonder what has gone on in her world for all these years. I really don't think she had much of a social existence but she's learning how to live in a pack...and doing it really well!"

Happy Panda!

2010-11-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Panda (formerly known as Hazel) is enjoying life with her new family...even though her mobility has been restricted as a result of two(!) ACL surgeries. She's finally getting ready to start her long-awaited training classes - she has no idea how much fun she's going to have! She says "Enough of this bed rest stuff! This girl has things to do and places to go!"

Warning! Cuteness Alert!!

2010-10-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Now, remember, THIS is a puppy who was late to learn bite inhibition so she bit EVERYTHING... And she had attachment issues, so she didn't like to be touched... Berner puppies are cute for a reason — so they survive to adulthood! Even well-bred, well-raised Berner puppies are often just so darn cute you want to hug them to pieces and ALL they want to do is BITE you... into bite-sized pieces! And THIS puppy had an extra dose of that due to a rough start... So this is part warning — a rescue puppy IS cute, but is NOT easy — and an encouragement — a rescue puppy CAN be put back on the road to good dog-dom.

Lucy!

What?! I'm just thinking how that toy basket would taste... I haven't started actually chewing it YET!

With my buddy Teddy — TUG with a stick! The best game...

Whatcha doin'? Can I play, too?

We Love Lucy!

2010-10-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

So, we were just considering getting a puppy…then Anya called us just before 4^th of July weekend and said there was a puppy that needed an immediate foster home. OK! At 3 months old, Lucy had already been through the mill, so to speak. She was bred by puppy brokers in Kansas, shipped to a “holding facility”, and then put up for sale in a pet store. She was purchased by a young couple who had no experience raising a puppy. Lucy had giardia, coccidia, worms and yeast in her ears. Lucy was intensely jumpy, mouthy and a serious biter. Although the couple tried to love her, Lucy was not connecting emotionally. With regret and relief they enlisted Berner, Inc. to find her a new home.

Lucy was a typical puppy mill “product.” Separated from her mother and litter too soon, she had not learned the bite inhibition her canine family would teach her. The weeks she spent in quarantine and in a cage at pet the store deprived her of the human contact and socialization all puppies need to develop normally as companions. Lucy’s first month with us was tough. House-training was a challenge—she had frequent diarrhea. The biggest challenge was teaching Lucy bite inhibition. Her need to lead with her mouth was much more intense than in a normal puppy. Lucy knew no boundaries. She grabbed at hands, feet, and faces. She tore at clothing and flew at anything that moved. She chewed everything she could get her mouth on, even stainless steel appliances!

But Lucy is a bright girl. She quickly learned “watch me” and “uh-uh” cues, and then more cues to control her mouthing and jumping. We did lots of “soft mouth” training with toys, treats and puppy chews. Soon Lucy was doing world-class “sits” and “downs” instead of charging at us mouth-first. Helping in Lucy’s bite-inhibition training was our 18-month-old rescued Berner, Teddy (left above). Teddy showed Lucy what she had missed from her siblings—how hard to bite and when to stop. Of course, we humans made sure that Teddy didn’t get too carried away with “teaching” the puppy! Soon the two were chomping on toys and chews together instead of mouthing each other every time.

It was over a month before Lucy clicked with us emotionally. She hadn’t liked to be touched, and would grab us when we tried to handle her. Then one day, I went into a room where she was lying down--she “smiled” and wagged her tail like a lariat. I knelt down and rubbed her under the chin, and she flopped on her back and began to “purr” as I rubbed her chest. From that moment I knew for sure that Lucy would go from “foster puppy” to ”our puppy.” Before we met her, Lucy’s “critical period” of socialization had suffered some major deficits. But with intensive training--and sometimes intense fatigue and frustration!--we restored the social skills Lucy had missed as a pet-store puppy. She has become a happy, well-behaved and healthy family member. We love Lucy and we know Lucy loves us!

Happy Days for Greta!

2010-10-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

This lovely photo of Greta and her "big sister" Hannah was taken just this morning. "Come on Mom - grab a paddle & take us for a ride! We promise not to rock the canoe! We've been patient forever!"

Best wishes, Greta!

2010-08-24T03:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Greta went off to try a new "forever home." We'll wait and see before announcing that placement, but I feel good about it.

It's been almost eight weeks with little Greta. She's really blossomed into a full-fledged personality as we got to know her a little more all the time. She progressed from the skittish giraffe-necked little dog that flinched at every sound and was afraid of men to a dog who would bound into the middle of a team of male softball players and soak up loving from everyone.

We'll miss her, but she deserves a chance to be part of a pair rather than the "odd man out" that goes with "three-dog-itis" —Tosca and Jago are a pair and so she fell into the role of bossy fun police.

So, I guess this means we have "succeeded" at fostering!

Greta as a phoenix?

2010-08-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

I posed Greta in the midst of these cold coals this morning, thinking she will soon be a bit of a phoenix—reinventing herself, building a new life, rising from the ashes as it were... John starting asking her if she were happy in her new life with US, so it's definitely time for her to move on to that new home (a couple of prospects have arisen) before he falls for her completely!

Here's everyone that I woke up with this morning... So, we did NOT go for a leash walk but instead DROVE to an off-leash park where they socialized briefly with a pair of basset hounds and then had a nice run-around and walk in the woods.

That's our little "loaner lab" Scholar wondering what happened to that purple tennis ball... Ah, well. We're down one tennis ball.

Meet Gabe!

2010-08-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

This handsome fellow is just about 4 years old. He's sweet and affectionate but has had little structure in his past homes. He becomes very attached to his caretakers - to the point where it borders separation anxiety. He has lived with dogs and cats and now in his foster home he supervises some chickens as well! He needs a home where his humans will commit to providing structure and training. He'd really like a job to do! Chances are that if he's not assigned one, he'll decide on his own job description - not an ideal situation.

Gabe is looking for a home where his humans will share plenty of time and activities with him and will see that he gets lots of exercise. He is not interested in going to a home with children or where children often visit. He will be a great companion to the special person who is willing to put in the time that he needs.

How small is she?

2010-07-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Well, not THAT small! Here's Greta sitting next to giant Tosca. Doesn't it make you laugh when people ask you how you tell them apart? It's a whole lot easier than telling a pack of beagles apart or a herd of labradors, that's for sure!

Greta... Still "GREAT," still adorable... snuggly... sweet...

2010-07-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

So, here she is! Just wanted to share a few more pictures... Last night she was snuggling in bed with me and was FAST asleep in my arms... It's always so wonderful when a dog sleeps that deeply with you — eyes closed up tight. I could sit up in the middle of the night, look over at Ptolli, and she'd be looking back at me. I'm not sure that dog ever slept. When Greta first arrived, she was a little jittery and I would expect her next transition to be like that again—until she settled in. She's certainly proven she CAN settle in!

This one I call "100% Berner, 1% Border Collie — don't ask ME how that math works!" We have her pedigree, so we KNOW she's a full-blooded Bernese Mountain Dog, but she's got a bit of "farm collie" look to her... One day I took her with me to a garden we share so I could pull some weeds. I put her on the run there and first she did what I would say was a typical Berner thing. She protested by going to the end of the leash and then leaning backwards against the leash so her head was straight up. She went with that approach for a little while and then decided to be collie about it instead—went to the other end of the run and laid down in the shade in some nice cushiony ground cover. And there she stayed while I pulled weeds for an hour. Good girl!

This one just says, "Turn the A/C back on already!"

And this one was just so you could see her soft, sweet expression and that she's not afraid of the camera.

When I walk the dogs—most mornings, if the heat hasn't yet reached extreme levels—I leash them all and we walk to the baseball field at the end of our street where I turn them all loose. The three dogs zip around and get their business done. She's learning to check in for cheese. She's relaxing with Tosca and Jago and enjoys racing around and barking a bit with them, as well as with the pair of labs (one black, one chocolate) who often join us there. Then back on leash for a walk downtown. In addition to exercise, I'm hunting small dogs for her to react to. Today we "passed" one small dog and "failed" a larger dog. But as has been true all along, her reactions are quite manageable and DO show some improvement... If I didn't have the other two dogs in hand as well (and Jago would LOVE to join a fracas), I might be able to practice this a bit better. But still, we walk on and I have the cheese out and she doesn't completely lose her mind... It's definitely the confinement of the leash that contributes to the problem (but of course the leash must be there!). There used to be a lady in this town with a lunatic boxer who would say "it's the leash!" and suggest that we should all just drop our leashes and everything would be fine between our dogs. No thank you, Ma'am! And definitely NOT on Main Street!

At home, she continues to be a wonderful companion, following us everywhere, seeking out everyone for snuggles. I love that I didn't have to explain to her where the right places to "toilet" were—she just recognized that my "middle yard" was the "dog yard," and she dashes right out there. I shall definitely miss her when her forever home is found, but I'm hoping she'll get the opportunity to be part of a pair—three-dog-itis is pushing her into the role of fun police here, not that she minds! And when necessary, I'm comfortable leaving all three shut in our bedroom with the A/C running. They seem to take turns on the big bed.

She's been a terrific dog here, really quite easy. We've boarded dogs that we counted the hours until they went home. NOT this one!

Spenser Revisited

2010-07-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

From Jim in Vermont:

Weʼve now had Spenser for almost 3 years and heʼs done very well adjusting to us and we him. Heʼs an exceptionally affectionate guy (I think even for a Berner-hard to tell) and fits right in with our other two dogs. We had Ebbie when we got Spenser and last fall my son, who lives at home, got a chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy who he

named Dutchess. At first Spenser didnʼt like Dutchess and she was very attached to

Ebbie who mothered her like it was her own pup. As Dutchess has grown to adulthood she & Spenser have really bonded into best buddies and she teases him incessantly but follows everything he does such as chasing rabbits and squirrels and shooing the pigeons away from our bird feeders.

Spenser & Ebbie are still lovers though. When I have them out together theyʼre

practically inseparable which results in me taking a lot of pictures of the two of them

together. They particularly love wrestling around in the snows of winter and are usually almost white after theyʼve been outside for any length of time.

Spenser is a wonderful addition to our family and we canʼt tell you how happy we are

that we got involved with the BERNER, Inc. rescue program. Spenser is laying on his

bed in my office as I write this. Of course dinner is over and my office is air conditioned and most of the rest of the house isnʼt but I like to think heʼs here because he loves me so much. Actually, when we got him Ebbie was totally devoted to me & I to her but over time Spenserʼs done everything he can to horn in on that relationship and now Iʼd have to say, while Ebbie and I have a really special owner-dog thing heʼs become a real buddy to me. Karen complains that she hoped Spenser would be her dog since she lost Ebbie to me right from the time she was a pup but Spenser decided on me as well. I love them both as we all know anyone can love a Berner. The best dogs Iʼve ever had!!

Greta update...

2010-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

I just noticed... "Greta" is an anagram for "Great!"

As I put this together, Greta is lying on a dog bed next to my bed letting me rub her with my foot, something Ptolli would have NEVER allowed. Tonight I started teaching her "down." It didn't help that Tosca hovered and offered the correct behavior in the same space, but we made a little headway. Her one trick is "sit" and "paw" so we have to overcome those as being the only possible behaviors to offer.

So, after two weeks, we have narrowed her "issues" down significantly She was supposedly reticent with men. When she first came, I had to escort her to a spot sitting with John and then she tolerated it while not making eye contact. Then we had a LOT of people here, in and out, for the 4th of July festivities and she discovered that all men are not like men she had known and she began going to them for loving. Supposedly she likes children a lot. She pays no attention to ours whatsoever, unless they're eating. Whatever. She tolerates hugs from them and doesn't chase them and that's "good with kids" in my book.

Really, the one thing that one has to remember with Greta is that if she sees a small dog, especially a small dog barking at her, she goes ballistic back. But even this problem is relatively manageable — don't just stand there! WALK ON! And request her attention and praise her with food when you get it. And if possible, once she's stopped barking, let the dogs meet each other. That's not going to be possible often, though. The small dog going ballistic tends to continue going ballistic until out of sight. But once there's any distance, Greta quickly comes back — "you were saying something?"

I take her to the field and turn her loose with the others and she's fine... She streaks around like a border collie — zip, zip, ZOOM! But she doesn't take off and she's fairly responsive and when everyone's "done their thing" and I've cleaned up, I can get everyone back on leash for the balance of the walk.

Someone is going to get a really great little dog. She sits on feet, especially of women. That's just how she says, "hello, love me?" She turns into them and sits on their feet. This makes most everybody fall in love with her immediately. She's very companionable. When I take her to work with me, she goes into the space under my desk for my feet, curls up and lies down. I haven't had a footwarmer since Tycho (who died in 1998). And her BEST feature is how she'll come up and punch you with her nose. The other morning, she was all happy and hoping I'd get out of bed now that clearly everyone was awake thanks to some kid-generated disturbance, so she came over and punched me (gently!) in the ear with her cold, wet nose. It's very funny.

Tosca bullied her a bit when she first came but that hasn't happened for a while and Greta has also found her spine, now that she's been with us for over two weeks, and so doesn't let Tosca push her around too much. They charge through doors together and if they bump as they go through, they don't even bother to grumble at each other about it. Tosca is clearly superior on the status totem pole, but they've settled into their spots and don't have to argue about it. At the field, when they're all loose, the three dogs all get some good running around and are happy even if they don't necessarily play WITH each other.

I took her to meet horses on Monday. That was clearly a first for her. She was a little intimidated by the giant nose bending down to check her out. She occasionally would bark to release some of the stress of the situation. I circled her around and around, slowly getting closer to one horse, and then we were able to stand by the fence and speak to the horse. Greta looked the other way, which is her way of avoiding something that worries her. All-in-all, a good new experience for her. She was happy to be out and about, whatever that might mean. And of course there were women with feet she could sit on who would tell her how wonderful she was.

We've met several people who know people who have recently lost their dog and think Greta would be perfect for those other people, but no one has called me yet — it's not too late to adopt this wonderful little dog!

What a sweetheart!

2010-07-07T04:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a bit over a week since Greta came to visit... A week full of company and everyone loved Greta! She has settled in very nicely and so the relationship energy (to be new-agey about it) between the dogs has calmed significantly... Tosca has stopped bullying her so much, although I'm vigilant around food (that's just Tosca). Last night both Tosca and Greta raced through a doorway when I called them upstairs at bedtime and even though they bumped on the way through the door, they didn't bother to grumble at each other about it. This morning all three dogs jumped on the bed to say hello. So, Greta is doing just fine with her canine housemates.

Yesterday morning I walked them all and we encountered a number of other walked dogs as we went along. Most gave us a wide berth — can't imagine why — and Greta was excellent as we went by a number of smallish dogs. None went crazy at us, which helps, but still. She's listening enough to respond when I call her name and offer a piece of cheese as we walk past a dog.

Over the 4th we had something like 13 guests in and out. All of them thought she was the sweetest thing. She even went to male guests for petting — it might've helped that they didn't make frightening overtures to her, and so she had the opportunity to seek them out.

Her eyes have softened and she gazes at people who pet her — will YOU love me? She loves a ride in the car, loves to go for a walk, simply wants to be with people. She's crate trained but hasn't liked where we put her crate here (next to the other two), so when we leave her alone, we put her in our bedroom. We did crate her when we went to see 3rd-of-July fireworks, due to her history of being frightened of fireworks and thunder (as many dogs are). She's interested in food when people eat or have food on the table, but so far hasn't counter surfed. Having a dog that likes food actually makes training easier. She recognizes a treat and understands the idea of earning it, despite her lack of tricks. I've been working on WAIT before eating and she's just about got it. She hasn't chewed anything or even dug a hole, not that she's had a lot of opportunity here. It's hot and dogs are either walked or sleeping in the house.

She's a wonderful little dog and we've been blessed to spend some time with her.

--Elizabeth

Meet Greta!

2010-07-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Greta is a little Berner, just 69 pounds, perhaps headed towards 65, but no less. She comes from a family that loved her dearly but had a string of unfortunate health problems that led to Greta not getting the attention she needs to be a relaxed, calm companion. Greta is hanging out with us for a couple of weeks while Anya finds her forever home.

I picked her up from Dawn Flaherty on Monday night and she's settling in pretty well. She likes to find a quiet corner to be alone — the above picture shows her squeezed between two pieces of furniture — in the thick of things, near everybody, but where the other dogs won't pester her. I took her to work today and she spent most of it under my desk in the space for my feet.

If she's uncertain about something or someone, she just avoids it. She's slow to warm up to men, for instance, but I escorted her to this position on the couch with John and she didn't rush off. Women, on the other hand, she'll immediately turn and sit on their feet quite forcefully! At work today she met three men, including the mailman — she wasn't aggressive or terrified, but she was cautious and curious. She would follow them and sniff them, especially if they were handling food. She would step back if they wanted to pet her, but rather than being really afraid, she just doesn't trust them.

And she doesn't know about living with other dogs, so she avoids them, too. She might peek at the other dogs, but mostly she just goes where they are not. However, I was able to walk all three together without any problems — a small miracle!

Her original family didn't have a lot of dog experience, so she needs some work. But so far (three whole days!) it seems as though there are some simple things to help her get her to a point of being more comfortable in the world. She's developed "a thing" about small dogs, but you can "walk on, WITH ME!" with a bit of cheese waiting to quickly reward when she reconnects with the person on the end of the leash rather than the small dog, and it's over.

We have met a few men, while out walking — men in hats, men leaning towards her, men in cement trucks, construction workers — she doesn't especially flinch, but she pays them ZERO attention.

So far, I haven't seen her play, although she is very happy just to run around and sniff things. She apparently can "sit" and "give paw" and little else, but she certainly knows what "go for a walk" and "go for a ride" mean and is ready, Ready, READY! for either. While she's busy dancing around and making it impossible to get a leash on her prior to leaving, she keeps her front paws tucked in, so she isn't jumping ON you, just around you! At the gate, she's a kangaroo, SO excited to go do something.

In summary, someone will get to adopt a fun little companion who may just need some reassurance that her world IS a safe and stable place after all the upheaval she's gone through.

Roxie Settles In

2010-06-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

Look at that big grin! Roxie looks mighty happy! Chester, well...maybe not so much. But really! He was just distracted by the camera! He loves Roxie and is often found snuggling with her.

Some of you folks who've been following the BERNER, Inc. dogs might remember Chester a/k/a Destructo-Dog from last year. He's the boy who re-landscaped my entire yard - even pulling a mature peach right out of the ground. I'm hoping that Roxie may be a stabilizing influence on this young man!

Funny thing about Roxie. She never made it out of foster care. This girl figured that a home where "mom" runs a doggie day care is *just* the place for a Berner girl with separation anxiety. She decided that this was *the* home for her and she worked her magic to get Chris to adopt her.

Chris is now 2 for 3 in the foster flunk-out ranks. She's fostered three Berners for BERNER, Inc. and only managed to let one go! But I'm not complaining! I could use MORE foster homes just like this!!

Hazel's Home!

2010-06-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hazel's surgeon gave her a dispensation so that she could go home to her new family before the end of her 12 week recuperation ... if they *swear* to keep her quiet for the next 4 weeks. Easier said than done but they are working hard at it. Hazel now has two kids of her own - 14 year old Jared and 11 year old Cali. Jared and Hazel look pretty darned happy, no??

Her new family has a history of helping needy dogs - I know they'll take great care of this girl! She seems to be fitting right in with their other dogs an with their daily routine. She's impatient to leave this "invalid dog" persona behind her and just wants to romp with the family. Meanwhile her new "mom" is eager to get her cleaned and groomed. It's hard to have a coated dog who remains unwashed and ungroomed for 8-12 weeks post-up! I know that Hazel will feel a LOT better when she's been to the day spa at Auntie Alise's place! What a little princess!

Hazel's Laying in Wait...

2010-06-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

...She's waiting to interview an adoptive family who have also been patiently waiting for the right dog. Hazel thinks they have been waiting for HER!!!

Hazel's foster mom, Alise, says: Hazel is 9 weeks post surgery today! The good news is Hazel has her bounce back and the bad news is that Hazel has her bounce back! :-) It's a bit more challenging to keep her at just a walk these days but the doc says she is doing great. I had hoped she could have a little "doggie time" in the fenced yard just sniffing around, but the chance of her chasing a squirrel could still be a problem if she twisted her knee, so we'll stick to the leash walks for 3 more weeks.

We had a friend's girl, Roo, visiting last weekend, she is an eight year old berner who bunked with Hazel in my office some of the time she was with us. Surprisingly, Hazel was a little jealous and kept herself between me and Roo whenever she had the chance. Not in a mean way, it was rather endearing! Hazel has been such a trooper through all of this, we will miss her terribly but will be so happy for her when she finds her forever family!

Roxie Interviews Adopters

2010-06-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Roxie is taking the interview process *very* seriously! She wants to make sure her new family understands the commitment that they're going to have to make and the skills they're going to need! She thinks Catherine is a keeper!

Meet Roxie

2010-06-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Roxie is a 4 year old spayed girl who weighs about 91 lbs. She is an incredibly sweet girl who has lived with other dogs and cats. She loves people - perhaps a bit too much since she suffers from severe separation anxiety when her owner is gone. She will damage the house and may, if the problem is not addressed, cause injury to herself. Roxie needs to live with someone who is able to be with her 24/7 for as long as it takes to work through the problem. People - this will involve actual work! This is not just a matter of giving the dog plenty of love.

Teddy thrives in his new home!

2010-05-24T18:41:00.001-07:00

What a kick it was to see Teddy (adopted 2/14/2010) yesterday at the BMDCNV Working Dog Day. He is clearly one HAPPY dog! His family keeps him very busy with lots of activities - always a great thing for any dog! Here's what they wrote about him recently:

"We didn’t expect to have another Berner in our lives so soon. But then we met Teddy. Our beloved Berner, Max, had died unexpectedly from cancer. We knew we couldn’t have a life without a Berner, but we needed time to mourn Max. Besides, we knew it might be a while for a Berner to be available through Rescue. But we sent in the rescue application anyway. Imagine our surprise when Anya Wittenborg called and told us Berner Rescue had a young dog she wanted us to meet at the Winter Walk-- the next day!

As we walked into the event room, there, prancing around like a pony, was Teddy. The first thing that caught our attention was his long legs, springy with energy. Then his head bobbed up and we saw his bright eyes—one brown and one a striking blue. And then he smiled a big freckled, pink-lipped smile at us. After a spirited group walk through the snowy woods and hanging out with other Berners and their people, we knew Teddy was the dog for us.

Teddy had been surrendered to a shelter at a year old and was almost put down because a shelter worker thought his blue eye made him “spooky.” Thanks to Berner Rescue, Teddy was placed with a foster family who gave him training and attention he didn’t get before he was given up. We took Teddy to an “obility” course where he continued his basic obedience and learned the first steps of agility. Teddy is a dedicated sniffer, so he’s taking a K-9 Nosework course and a Tracking workshop .

What else to do with all that young Berner energy?! Teddy loves hiking and exploring the trails and woods near our house. We discovered his herding talent when he took off after a flock of wild turkeys and cornered them up a tree! Teddy likes to hang out with people and makes friends wherever he goes. He loves to play with other dogs. Chasing and being chased around the beach is the ultimate dog day for Teddy.

A loveable and loving goofball, Teddy has inspired many nicknames in our family like “Tedster,” “TedHead” and “The Grateful Ted.” A natural clown, Teddy will strike comical poses, “talk” with his unique sounds, and juggle a mouthful of toys—the squeakier the better. When he gets running, Teddy has a distinctive four-paws-off-the floor leap, which we call his “Oingo Boingo.” In a very short time Teddy has leapt into our home and our hearts. Thanks, Anya and Berner Rescue!"

Linda & Gib

Hazel Bounces Back!

2010-05-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hazel's foster "mom", Alise, says:

"Hazel had her sutures removed last week which means no more e-collar...can you say HAPPY DOG! Dr. Kochin was very pleased with Hazel's progress, commented that she is ahead of where he expected her to be at this point. We are to continue with leash walks - she can go as far as a 1/2 mile twice a day if she's up to it. He would rather see her walking in control than getting pent up and acting wild:-) I will continue with passive manipulation of the joint and massage. She is really settling into the routine here, such a love. At meal time she doesn't quite get that it takes time to feed multiple dogs, so she talks to me from the time she hears the first kibble hit the bowl. I don't think my gang agrees that she should be fed first, but I can't help it, she's just so darn cute! She goes in for another follow up appointment next week, I'll let you all know how it goes..."

I don't have any new photo and I simply can't post without a photo so you get to see the really cute one I took the day I first met her! More later...

Kodiak - Adopted

2010-05-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Well Kodiak didn't waste any time finding himself a new home! Last week he went to live with his new family and he thinks he's in doggy heaven! He's having a minor identity crisis though - his new canine "brother" has convinced Kodi that he's a Lab. He just can't seem to stop swimming and retrieving!

Rob and Marie are going to have their work cut out for them with this boy! How will they keep him from turning into a prune??

Marie says that he's a sociable guy who enjoys acting the clown. If there's no water available, he can be persuaded to lie on the grass and watch her while she works in the garden. "Hey, supervising is work too!" says Kodi, the working dog. Kodi still needs to develop a recall and get a little practice on lead, but we know that Marie is up to the job!

Wally is still looking for a WORKING home!

2010-04-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

Meet Wally, the 10 month old Berner boy who has already passed through four different households in eight months. After bossing all his former families around, Wally came into rescue on February 7th, has been neutered, and is currently fostered by Dayna Rousseau.

What Wally really needs is a job. He's a star in his Obedience class, heels like a pro, even skipped a grade! Wally would love to work in just about any stimulating activity that keeps him from becoming a couch potato and having too much time on his paws.

Don't be fooled by this beguiling, innocent face. Wally is a challenging Berner that needs guidance, direction and a constant, daily working companion. This boy deserves structure, education and absorbing mental as well as physical activities to bring out the best in him. He is fine with other dogs, but will not go to a home with children; it would be prefered if Wally is placed within the New England area.

If you are interested in becoming Wally's working partner, please send an email to rescue@bmdcnv.org for an application.

Happy days with Sam I Am!

2010-04-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Michelle Keck and the miracle dog, Sammy, have quite a story, as Sammy serves as the "poster dog" for the BMDCA's rescue program... These days, Sammy is battling new health challenges but has an excellent team backing him up every step of the way. These are photos of happy times during his last four wonderful years with Michelle:

Here's Sammy from the December 2009 BernerBlatt cover...

Wearing a Lobster costume for the 2008 National Specialty in Warwick, Rhode Island...

Sammy attended a Berner "Girls" party and gamely played along in a beautiful pink boa:

Sammy, already a celebrity in the early months after he joined the Nashoba Valley family, went to the 2006 National Specialty in Michigan and enjoyed a massage... At this point he'd had some corrective surgery and rejuvenating water therapy. Is there any greater contrast to the life he lived before than this?!

And every celebrity deserves a National Specialty photo session with Pat Long and Joye Neff... Here's his 2006 LongShot portrait:

Hazel's First Week

2010-04-21T01:08:00.000-07:00

An update on Hazel from foster "mom" Alise Burbridge:

What a trooper Hazel is, she is the model patient. She has been taking her meds in a spoonful of canned food and tolerating them well. Her incision looks great, no drainage and she has had minimal swelling. She is restricted to leash walks with a sling supporting her rear for going potty only, for two weeks until her sutures come out. Then she can only go for short leash walks for the next 8-10 weeks, no playing or romping at all. She is staying in my home office off our kitchen which we now refer to as "Hazel's Haven". I tried to take the e-collar off while sitting with her but that only lasted seconds before she started licking, so back on it went until our appointment next week. This girl is wrapping herself around my heart very quickly, she is so appreciative of everything we are doing for her. Did I mention how SWEET she is? I hope you enjoy following her recovery over the next few weeks.

Sarge in Charge

2010-04-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to meet a neutered 10 month old Berner boy who has lived all but his first 10 weeks in a fraternity house at an Ivy League college. Gee, does anyone see this as a less than ideal situation for a puppy?

Living with 20-plus fraternity brothers did not provide Sarge with the structure and consistency that that he needed as he tried to learn how to get on in the world. So, since no one else stepped up to the plate, Sarge figured it was up to him to manage his environment - which he did - using his mouth and teeth.

When we learned about him, Sarge was headed off to "boot camp" with a "trainer" who planned to use an electronic (i.e. shock) collar to address his behavior. Fortunately, we had a chance to change the direction his life was taking. But in order for this story to have a happy ending, Sarge needs to find a patient human with solid training skills who can help him learn to be a civilized good citizen. Basically he needs to be demoted to buck private and start his training from scratch. The good news is that he's smart and food motivated. He's modest in size and is agile.

Sarge will be a project. Work is involved. No question about it. This smart, loving, "bad boy" needs a human with good training skills who will be patient but won't be a pushover - someone to make up for the human stupidity that put him in the position he's in at this early point in his life. Are you the special person who has what it takes to give Sarge the future he deserves?

Introducing Hazel

2010-04-15T02:09:00.000-07:00

This adorable girl, Hazel, came into rescue in mid-March after leaving her third home. She's a sweet, petite girl whose family said that with two children under the age of two, they just didn't have enough time for her. Hazel was lame and clearly in pain when she came to Berner Inc., suffering from a torn cruciate ligament.

Earlier this week Hazel received an over $3,000 surgery to repair the ligament as well as a torn meniscus. Happily she is now resting in the care of her loving foster mom, Alise Burbridge, where she'll spend the duration of a six week recovery period.

With such an expensive surgery, the Rescue fund has suffered as well, while there continue to be more and more dogs coming in with medical needs these days. Obviously, diminished resources inhibits how many dogs can be taken in, treated, and re-homed.

Donations to aid Hazel's care and other rescue Berners can be made through PayPal or by check mailed to:

BERNER Inc.

P.O. Box 1221
Arlington, MA 02474-0021

As always, your donations and support are greatly appreciated.

Be sure to check back for regular updates on Hazel's recovery!

Missy & Lucy... Went to Heaven on Earth!

2010-04-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

Anya took two girls into the rescue program recently... Here's the report from Pete VanderLann and Mary Beth Bliss, complete with photos of the girls in their new life:

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April 5, 2010 —

We had a Swiss-bred Berner who lived with us 'til the age of 12 when she just finally gave it up of natural causes. We had her daughter as well who passed on about 1 1/2 years later. We spent a few years without a Berner in our lives as we worked on carving out a livable situation, having inherited the farm which has been in my wife's family for many generations in New Hampshire. Mary Beth had inquired about Bernese rescue earlier in the year and then after a long passage of time, Anya wrote to her regarding two sisters who were being given up for adoption in Connecticut. Things moved very quickly with that unstable relationship and soon the underground Berner railway found us with these two girls living in foster care here in the White Mountains.

They absolutely love it here, and we love having them. They both needed surgery, spaying and eyework. Their age was such that the great advantages of spaying had already passed them by but the tight lids on their eyes were causing them a great deal of discomfort and had since birth. Two weeks ago, they had both procedures and have their stitches out tomorrow. They have recovered really quickly and it is wonderful to see their eyes fully open and absorbing this 110 acre farm. We walk every day into the forest on a skidder trail that we upgraded to accomodate horses and skiers two years ago. They stop and inspect everything that needs attention. They are constantly herded by our English Farm Collie and they occasionally let her know that they really aren't sheep. Everybody barks way too much. After a month of having them here every day, we let Anya know last week that we would like to adopt them. We both work at home so they can be with us all day, get their walks and take baby steps into the trout pond by the garden. They give the quarter horses a wide berth for the most part and make a beeline for the only remaining pile of snow still here on the north side of the barn.

You have simply no idea what a wonderful thing you are all doing. I could not imagine being in circumstances where I would have to give up a Berner but the world has become a scary place and things really change fast now. I am so glad we were able to provide a home for these great mature girls. They fit like a great pair of old shoes. It seems like they've been here forever.

April 12, 2010 —

The girls are doing well—with their stitches out now they can really see without pain for the first time in their lives. They seem deliriously happy cruising from field to field and inspecting the stream that flows through them every morning. After the walk it's off to the glassworks for a marrow bone while I warm up the equipment. Once it gets too warm for them, they leave for the cooler recesses of the old barn, down near the horses. Any time anyone comes through, they lurch up expectantly for a walk, which won't really come until lunch. Then at lunch it's off to the pond for a big drink and a frog check, which is still way too early in the spring.

They seem to have a pretty good time here. Man, it is really hard to type when you are getting double Berner bounces.

April 13, 2010 —

Yesterday our English Farm Collie, who was recorded at 33 and plays back at 78, found her Frisbee. That got one of the Berners pretty excited but she could never keep up with an aerial specialist. Periodically the collie would drop the frisbee and to her enormous annoyance, the bigger of the two Berners simply sat on it. The end. The collie doesn't drop the frisbee much anymore.

Amanda's Story

2010-03-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful story! This is what makes all the hard work of rescue worthwhile - when a human family saves a dog and the saved dog makes a family whole. Amanda was a dog someone gave up on - for whatever reason - and then she found three years of complete joy with a new family for whom she was a treasure beyond words.

Elizabeth, thanks for sharing!

Anya

“Nashoba’s Keepin’ Amanda”

2010-03-12T02:25:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time in 2001 an adorable Bernese Mountain Dog puppy was born. Is there any other kind? But this one was extra special with large white socks and a huge splash of white on the back of her neck – a swiss kiss big enough to bury your face in as you hugged the new little girl puppy.

She was a happy puppy and grew up loving other dogs and even had cats for friends. Her dad named her Brandy and she loved him best of all. But as she matured, the potential that we see in every puppy to live a long, healthy and active life seemed to be interrupted at regular intervals with different medical problems. She developed level three hip dysplasia, had horrible bouts of seizures on long holiday weekends and chewed her beautiful white feet until they were stained pink.

Her dad didn’t know where to turn and even resorted to taking her to different hospitals so they wouldn’t know how much he already owed at other clinics. Finally, early in January of 2007, he brought his beautiful, lame dog to yet another hospital. This time they told him that in addition to the hip dysplasia, she had two different tick-borne diseases. Her dad faced the facts of his life – he just couldn’t afford one more thing – and asked to have Brandy put to sleep.

But here’s where Brandy’s life took another turn. Despite all her problems, the veterinarian saw potential in this dog and suggested that a Bernese Mountain Dog rescue organization might be able to help find a new home that could get her on the road to good health. Brandy’s dad agreed to let her be adopted.

We don’t know anything more about Brandy’s dad, but we can appreciate his troubles. We can imagine that he discovered Bernese Mountain Dogs the way most of us do – meeting one on the street and thinking, “wow, that’s the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen – I have to have one!” But how does one get one? Sometimes, people don’t find the right answer to that question. Brandy’s dad quite likely did not. We don’t know exactly where she came from, although there was a guess or two, but it’s easy to picture a bunch of wiggly puppies and this flashy, white-footed, friendly little girl in the midst. How crushed and devastated was he to not be able to provide the care his girl needed as she grew up? Did he gain any comfort from knowing that at least she didn’t need to die at five years old because others were willing to step in? We can hope.

Meanwhile, on January 1, 2007, we lost our battle to save Ptolli’s life. She had bloated and survived the surgery, but the complications overcame her. We were at loose ends. I remember the intense desperation of that grief. My four-year-old son clung to one of our large stuffed Berners, carrying it around the house. On walks, my three-year-old dog paced sedately beside me with her flexi completely retracted, instead of hurling herself at the end of the leash and being fascinated by everything.

And then BMDCNV’s rescue chair, Anya, put out a call for potential foster homes to get this female Berner out of the vet’s office before the upcoming holiday weekend. She was said to be good with cats, other dogs and kids, and I thought that we could finally “do our bit” for rescue and help out. I assumed lots of people were already on Anya’s list, so I didn’t remember to mention to the rest of the family that I had volunteered to foster a dog until Anya called on Thursday to see if I could meet her on Saturday morning. Surprise! We board dogs fairly regularly, though, so it wasn’t a problem.

That Saturday morning, January 13, 2007, John and I took Gillis to meet Anya at the hospital and collect Brandy. We wanted to be sure that Gillis didn’t think we had gone to the animal hospital and brought home the wrong dog. He needed to understand that this was a different dog that needed our help. It was simple enough to explain about the diseases she had from the “bad bugs” and that she’d be on medicine and would get better.

Brandy was glad to get out of the hospital and go ANYWHERE that wasn’t there. She’d had a week of x-rays and baths and containment – let’s GO, already. She rode quietly in a crate in our van while Gillis looked back at her and reported every time she lowered and raised her head. Despite the reported bath, she still reeked of hospital, so once she was home, we gave her another bath.

Her vet for that week had shown us her x-rays and felt she should have double hip replacement surgery as soon as possible. In addition, she had Lyme’s and ehrlichiosis. They thought she might have food allergies and so suggested a fish-and-potato kibble. She had a history of seizures due to hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels). When confronted with the two steps to our deck, she didn’t know what to do and tried going off the side instead of using the steps. A few goldfish crackers and she quickly got the idea of using the steps. Considering the extreme nature of her dysplasia, we thought it would be impossible to ask her to climb the stairs to our room, but it became clear that leaving her downstairs wasn’t an option either – she would just take over Mary’s bed, including her pillow! So after a few days of pain medication and joint supplements, we decided to see if she could manage to climb the stairs once a day, which she could. For the rest of her life, she would request a personal escort up those stairs and it was a rare treat to have her make the trip to find us on her own.

Even that first afternoon, we looked at each other sideways and wondered, should we just keep her? The idea of double hip surgery was a little daunting, and we thought that if she really needed that, maybe she should go where she could be the center of attention during the long recuperation. Then we took her to see our vet. He’s always been very grounded and realistic. “She’s five years old,” he said. “If she gets around, and does what she likes, why have her spend a material portion of the rest of her life in recovery from major surgery?” By then, we’d seen her play tug of war with Jago and bounce around the yard a bit. Why not see what good nutrition, joint supplements and pain management did for her?

A few more baths and a bottle of “Angels’ Eyes” later, Brandy’s white feet and swiss kiss gleamed. She slept with Duncan during his naps. She was a superb pillow for TV watching for Gillis. She used her bed as a step to get into OUR bed at night! And even though we didn’t take her for walks for awhile, Jago knew she had a companion to report back to and was making the most of her exercise again, hurling herself at the end of the Flexi and gathering as much information as one walk could provide.

At the Winter Walk that February, Anya brought Brandy’s adoption papers and we claimed her as our own, for as long as forever would give us. Meanwhile, John wasn’t content with “Brandy” as a name, but how about Amanda? It means “lovable,” and it would fit with our astronomer name theme, as there is an Amanda Bauer – the first LIVING astronomer to lend a name to one of our dogs! It was no trouble to transition “Brandy” to “Mandy,” and then to ‘Manda which we used almost as much as the full “Amanda.” Wanting her to have a fancy name of her own, we registered her with the AKC as “Nashoba’s Keepin’ Amanda, ” because of course, we kept her!

During the early months of living with us, Amanda spent a lot of time during the day sleeping near the gate outside, as though expecting to return to her old life at any time. Gradually, she seemed to accept her new position as queen, dictator and fun police in our house. The good food, supplements and medicine did make a big difference and we would find ourselves joking, “hey, look at the lame dog – GALLOPING across the yard!”

Everything about Amanda was circles. Her tail wagged in circles, her head swirled in circles, and she couldn’t help but spin in circles when she was happy. Mary has visual balance problems and she had to ask me to stop having Amanda “spin!” prior to getting her meals because it was making her dizzy! It was fun figuring out what tricks Amanda could physically do as well as which ones she might have already known. She quickly had spin, down, head-down, wave, shake, bounce and speak. She could even do an assisted sit-up. She loved to offer her tricks and she preferred to choose which one she would do – if we asked for one, she would more than likely give us a different one. But that’s okay – SHE could pick. She couldn’t stand watching on the sidelines while another dog got treats for “working” and absolutely demanded to have her own turn.

I have been blessed to witness two moments of ultimate happiness in her life. When I think of her life potentially being cut short three years ago, it makes these two moments so incredibly special. Twice, I have seen Amanda leap to her feet and spontaneously bounce/spin around in a circle three times. Can YOU do that? If you did, can you imagine how happy you were that you just had to let it out that way? Try doing it anyway… How happy are you NOW? (So what if you’re a little mortified that someone might have seen you do that!)

Almost three years had passed when on December 9, 2009 I gathered a solid case of “Worried Mother Syndrome” and took Amanda to see my vet. He was pretty pessimistic – the jingle bell that showed up on the x-ray was an amusing bonus, but the mysterious mass in her abdomen combined with anemia and pain were not good news. Further exploration at the referral hospital indicated an enlarged lymph node (12 X 8 cm for something that should be the size of a raisin!) and blood cells that were responding to “something.” After this first round of diagnosis, they weren’t really sure what was wrong, other than that her prognosis was gloomy.

As any of us who have had this discussion about an eight-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog know, none of the choices are good ones. Other than the jingle bell, the x-ray on the screen might as well have been Tycho’s from 1998. Additional diagnostics seemed somewhat pointless to pursue. What would we do with the information?

Anya referred us to Dr. Schless who combined allopathic and homeopathic remedies to create a palliative plan. She had more optimism than I did –her prognosis of “anything beyond six weeks will be a gift” seemed outrageously kind. But I was determined to give it our all and the anti-nausea medicine was already helping her appetite. With the new plan, ‘Manda’s pain vanished, her energy was reasonable, she ate well and she soaked up the extra love and pampering. She was certainly entitled to the spoon feeding to make sure a punctured pill couldn’t ruin her whole meal, the extra car rides and the professional grooming appointments. We actually kept our one-month follow-up appointment with Dr. Schless. There were wonderful moments when she would be feeling full of herself, and get up on her toes, tail raised high, punching Tosca in the shoulder with her nose. “Look at the dying dog trying to start something,” we’d say, delighted to see her feeling so frisky. When she buried bones in the yard, it was a sign of her own optimism – “she’s saving for the future,” a friend said.

As the second month came and went, we had a trip to Arizona planned. Alison and Tom said they’d be honored to take care of Amanda for us… The idea that she was “Nashoba’s Keepin’ Amanda,” not just ours, was certainly prominent during these weeks, knowing that so many were praying and sending healthy thoughts her way. During her stay with Alison and Tom, she didn’t just survive, she really lived… She enjoyed scrambled eggs for breakfast and lots of treats. She even initiated tug-of-war games with Tumble and Fig.

She was happy to see us return for her when we got back from Arizona, but her status quickly headed downhill. That final week we consulted with four different vets either in person or on the phone. Discomfort rapidly took over and when we couldn’t touch it even with morphine, we had to let her go. It was a terrible sort of relief. It was intolerable to allow her to suffer, but the solution to that suffering had such immediate, permanent consequences. John cradled her in his lap while I told her she had been a good, good dog, that she had taken such good care of us, that she was the best puppy. And then finally we took away the pain and she was gone.

In our view, though, she is only gone from us for now. We take comfort in knowing that God took over her care and comfort when we could do no more for her, and that one day we shall see her wonderful swirly greetings again, when she will be in the perfect body God always wanted her to have… Imagine what immense expressions of joy she will be able to achieve then! But now we miss her already perfect splash-of-paint swiss kiss, huge white paws reaching out to grab us as we walk by, and beautiful soul that arrived to comfort us just when we needed it most and taught us so much about being happy.

We rescued her.

She rescued us more.

-Elizabeth Malcolmson