Thank you for your insight. I have really enjoyed the outpouring of emails I have received today. Your life from a few years ago sounds much like mine today and I appreciate your candidness and ideas. I have yet more questions for you. Do you find, being that you were home with the kids and puppies, that your bonds with Mercedes and Bentley are stronger than your husbands? Do the dogs favor you?
Thank you Aishling ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan & Susan Kowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Berner-l" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 11:59 AM Subject: Re: Berners and Young Children > Greetings Aishling, > > When we got Mercedes as a puppy I had a 4 year old and a six month old. I > had spent almost two years getting to know my breeders and their dogs and > letting them get to know me. Quite frankly they did not want to place a pup > with young children and by the time my toddler turned 4 I don't think they > had fully grasped that there was now a baby! They offered every time I > talked to them to buy Mercedes back if there were *any* problems at all. > Now these breeders are my trusted friends and they even called me when they > wanted a family home for Bentley. Bentley came here when the kids were 7 > and 4. > > That positive stuff being said, it's a lot of work to do it right and the > person who is home with the kids has to be the one who really wants the dog. > Bernese Mtn. Dogs can be wonderful with kids - - mine are, but it doesn't > just happen. They are big and clumsy as puppies. Some are gentle from the > start and some are really mouthy with their razor sharp teeth. We ended up > with a mouthy, jumpy one the first time around and it was work, but now she > is the family's cherished sweetheart. When it will be her turn to join all > of these other Berners at the Rainbow Bridge I don't think I'll be able to > survive *my son's* grief let alone my own. Love and training are required > for the dog and kid training is important too. My 7 year old had to learn > to stand up and walk when Mercedes was a 6 month old wild puppy. Just her > tail swishing would knock him down. Fortunately it never bothered him and > he was even an early walker. I had gates everywhere in the house so that > kids and puppy were never, ever together without my supervision. That way > the bites which go with puppyhood were reduced and kids never mishandled the > puppy either. Kid toys make attractive and often dangerous puppy chew toys > so had we had a playpen that all the toys would get tossed into whenever the > puppy was on the same side of the gate as the kids. My kids learned early > and well to pick up their toys! The kids had to learn to stop and turn > their backs to a puppy (or other dogs too) who jump, bite, chase, etc. as it > is natural that when kids run the dogs will want to join in. Kid activity > stimulates dogs. > > I did all of this this when we were new to town so I had no outside the home > life yet anyway and raising kids and training dogs was just what I did all > day. I wanted it that way. For another person it would have spelled too > much isolation and doom. Now it has paid off. The dogs are a natural part > of the family and none of us would have it any other way. > > The other important point that comes to my mind is exercise. Someone once > wrote that Berners don't move on their own- - you have to move them, even if > they have a fenced yard. It can be difficult to get in adequate leash walks > with a dog when young children are in the picture as they don't move at the > dog's pace. I can finally do all of the walking I want now that both kids > are in school all day, but until now I have had to dive out the door anytime > my husband was home so I could walk dogs, getting up early, staying up late, > etc. I also brought them to the parks, beaches, hikes, etc. with the kids > and family outings always included dogs. > > If this lifestyle sounds good to you then you are hopelessly hooked and no > doubt will find yourself a good family friend. Best of luck with whatever > you decide. > > Susan Kowitz, Mercedes, and Bentley > Sequim, WA > >
