I just took my dogs to an animal physical therapist for an evaluation
(she is a a human physical therapist who went back to get a Master's
Degree in Animal Physical Therapy, does dogs and horses.) She told both
me and our other club member who was there earlier in the day that she
is amazed that she sees so many WEAK Bernersthis results in
numerous muscle and ligament injuries when the dogs are not in good
shape.
Thank you Vilma for this post and Pat for forwarding this on!
Am sure that this stems from what I came up against when I was looking for
my first Berner Pup, the idea that these dogs do not need a lot of exercise,
and pups need kid glove treatment!. Read all the books and gathered as much
information as possible and found this everywhere I searched!
Now at this time I had my first ever BMD adoptee, Tinka, aged six/seven, my
first introduction to the breed. She came to me having spent six months in
quarantine and her previous owners felt they could not look after her and
she was now an old dog! Oh, yes! Long story behind this but Tinks came to
me and could barely make it the walk to Regents Park. I lived in London then
and was a mile up hill walk! My then 17 yr old, GSD/Lab-X, Merlin, would
wait for her patiently! He was used to seven/eight miles a day! A year
later, Tinks was doing the miles! All her limps and weaknesses had gone, she
had built up those muscles! She lived to a few weeks short of her 14th
birthday! No problems!
Cannot understand the attitude, these are not just designer, pretty dogs,
stay by your side and look cute. Yes, they are beautiful dogs Yes, they are
also beautiful temperament. But they are working dogs! Bred specially all
those years ago to pull milk carts!!! To stay healthy they need to stay fit!
When I see my eight year old Sunny chasing around those woods with younger
Sim and Barney (and another long story here with recent adoptee Barney who
when he arrived was so overweight and at four years an old man!) my heart
gladdens!
We did onleash walk later today and at a fast pace down to the village and
back! Only three miles but we set a pace! Hmm! Go for it Sunny, you're in
charge!!. We all had a ball! (Thankfully, not too much traffic on the road!)
Combing Barney tonight, he is developing real hard muscle now! Front leg he
had limped on and dragged, now he is picking it up and keeping apace! And so
much happier!
Not just Berners! Any owner of any dog should be prepared to provide
adequate exercise! Just worries me so much when you see Berner Puppy info
that warns against exercising these dogs! Does not make sense to me! Please
do not let this breed turn into Designer Dogs that pose wonderfully for
friends to admire at the local coffee shop and be written off at six/seven!
Biggest Berner Hugs,
Jean, Sunny, Sim, Barney and the Gang
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