Anne wrote: >P.S. I think the thing that some potential owners find off-putting (and it >hasn't been >my experience)is less the actual questions than the overall sense that they >are being >discouraged or excluded from Bernerdom as a matter of principle.
I don't want to indiscriminately absolve bad bahaviour, and I also want to apologize if any of my previous posts was considered offensive to anyone. By way of explanation, let me just say that if berner breeders (and owners for that matter) sometimes come across as being overly protective of our dogs, bear in mind that our beloved breed has been the victim of horrific exploitation in recent years, from the auctions, puppy mills and pet stores to the backyard breeders, to the owners who are only looking for a "trophy" to hang on their arm. We are reacting - and in some cases overreacting - in an effort to prevent future exploitation. However, I'm glad we have all been reminded that this is no excuse for incivility. Mary and the girls, Laurel and Bailey Fayetteville, GA
