Re: Whats so special? Berner or Golden?
Kenny - I'm one of those folks who had goldens before Berners, so I can give you comparisons based on my own experience. I"m sure other people could say something different, as each dog is different even within the same breed. There is no doubt that goldens provide wonderful, loving companions - that's one of the main reasons why they are so popular. Goldens in general are easier to train that Berners - that's why so many goldens excel at things like obedience competition. For example - no Bernese Mountain dog has ever earned a perfect 200 score in AKC obedience (Alison J.'s boy Jay Jay earned a perfect 200 in Canadian obedience - and only once that I know of.) It's not that unusual for a golden to earn a perfect 200 score - in the Golden Retriever club national magazine there's a long list every month of goldens earning perfect scores, as well as other top awards in obedience and agility. Goldens in general love people and can be very friendly with everyone. Some Berners are like that, but it is more common to see Berners who are loving to their own family and not super friendly with strangers or new people. One of the things I like about my Berners is that they are particularly attached to ME - several of my goldens would happily have gone home with anyone. My very general observations about the two breeds based on my own dogs, the dogs that my friends have owned, and the dogs I have seen at shows is that goldens are a good natured breed, easy to train, good family dog, and an easy dog for someone who has never owned a dog before. (several of my goldens died of cancer, so I won't even begin to go into a health comparison.) Berners have a wider range of temperments. I have met Berners who were easy going and also met far too many Berners who were super shy - so shy they couldn't be petted by strangers. Berners are more difficult to train than goldens and don't have the same drive to retrieve, swim or other "retriever-type" characteristics. I have met many Berners who would not be well suited in families and would not be a good dog for someone who has never owned a dog before. On the other hand, Berners are intensly loyal, very attached to their people, and have a very soulful personality. Berners are not for everyone. I would never try to persuade someone to get a Berner because I think getting a dog is a big commitment, and a cute Berner puppy is going to be a big, furry shedding machine before too long. I find owning a Berner to be hugely rewarding - but that's just my experience. Will I get more Berners? Absolutely. I"m hooked - addicted to the breed, just like many people on the list - but I"m also a long time dog owner who has owned other breeds and is fully committed to training, paying vet bills, and having a house with dog hair. I have nothing bad to say about goldens and can't think of any reason why you shouldn't get a golden if that's what you want. If you like the goldens you have met, then that may be the breed for you. Berners are very different dogs - they want your attention and your company, and will reward you in return with tremendous devotion. I wish you the best in your choices! Ruth Nielsen and Berner boys ZenMaster Max and the Winter-boy in Seattle, WA - in loving memory of goldens Heather, Buddy, Nick, Karhu and Cairn
puppy feeding
Hey all: I do NOT believe in feeding brands called "large breed formulas". My rationale is quantity of food and type of food. To me - it is artificial to assume that you should keep a pup a certain weight and control that. Do NOT over feed. BUT someone who only believes in feeding puppies that large breed puppy formulas - please show me the research behind that. Of course we do not want to over feed but there is more to joint problems and hip dysplasia than sticking with a large breed formula. Please do NOT flame me BUT in my opinion that is another marketing gimmick of dog food companies jumping on the latest band wagon. Mark [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Whats so special?
> Playing devils advocate, just what is so special about a Bernese Mountain> Dog? My sisters Golden provided tons of love and affection. What do Berners> have that Goldens or other breeds don't have? I have owned a Golden he was a very, very special "boo Bear." What do Berners have that my Golden or my "little muttley" didn't? "Something" that has no name but once you are touched by it, it is "something" that you'll treasure always. Look out, Kenny! "Something's gonna getcha!" Tailwags, Cathy Burlile Memories BMDs
RE: inflammatory bowel disease
Vilma: The January 2003 issue of "Your Dog," published by Tuft University School of Veterinary Medicine, has an article (pp. 8-11) entitled, "The Frustrations Of IBD." Nancy Melone
Re: Whats so special?
oops..the Pres came on the tube and I forgot to sign... Cindy Reid
Re: Whats so special?
When I brought my first Berner home my mother looked at me and said, "He'll break your heart and you'll be crying in my arms". Well, he stole all of our hearts and though he left us early, he left us knowing the love of a Berner. We recently brought our second Berner home and in reference to the recent thread on "Goldens & Berners" I'll add that my sister has a young Golden who is just a lovely dog but the funny thing is that she is in love with our Nicco! Every week, several times a week, she is at our door, "just stopping by to see Nicco". He is eight months old now and this has been going on since we brought him home at eight weeks!!! What's special about a Berner? "The Berner lean" and the way they look up at you when they do that lean! The Berner Smile :) Their beauty. So many times I have witnessed people on the street who have never seen a Berner just stop in their tracks and stare speechless with a look of total wonder on their faces. And then they go head over heels in love when the Berner does the "lean" on them and gives them that smile! The way they love children and the way they love the elderly and will just go and quietly sit with them. The way they communicate with you! My Travis would look to me with such excitement on his face when he would notice something that was special to both him and I to make sure I had also noticed! Want to know what else is special about Berners? The great people who are involved in this breed!
Re: Whats so special?
Kenny-in-waiting: Although this trait is found in many breeds and mixed breeds of dogs, I've observed it in ALL Bernese Mountain Dogs with whom I've spent even a little snippet of time. The characteristic I value most in all BMD's is their desire to communicate on a very high level with those who will engage in such with them. In my experience, given an opportunity, self gratification for a Berner turns to satisfaction in pleasing his person. Some enjoy being slaves to their dogs and choose to live differently with them than do those who choose the experience I mention above. Thank goodness we're not all alike, for it's the comparisons of all types of dogs that cause me to value so much the sensitive nature and desire to communicate in the dogs with whom I've shared my life. Ruth Reynolds Pioneer Bernese www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/rar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Whats so special? > Playing devils advocate, just what is so special about a Bernese Mountain > Dog?
Re: Whats so special?
On Thu, 6 Mar 2003 16:51:28 -0500 "Kenneth L Babcock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >What do > Berners > have that Goldens or other breeds don't have? A shortened life-span that means that each day we share with them is limited and precious and not to be taken for granted Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
Eye Condition
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More Crufts information
Hi Guys, More Crufts info is available throughout the next few days on the BBC TV website. They have photo galleries of shots taken each day, and all sorts of snippets of news and information. http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/crufts Jude Simonds
Whats so special?
Greetings berner people, Now that I am very much looking forward to the berner experience, I have a question? Playing devils advocate, just what is so special about a Bernese Mountain Dog? My sisters Golden provided tons of love and affection. What do Berners have that Goldens or other breeds don't have? I'll be expecting some interesting feedback! Thanks In Advance Kenny-Waiting-For-His-Berner-B
Rally
Okay, I give up: what's a Rally? Susan and Djinn and Riley Salt Spring Island, BC
Pet Care Pet Insurance
Does anyone on the list have Pet Care Pet Insurance? If so could you please email me privately with details pertaining to how fast your claim was handled, what did they cover (i.e.cancer, heart, digestive, injury), did they reimburse 70%, 80% or 100%, were they personable to deal with and so on. Thank you for any input. Kelly Weir and Hope http://home.twmi.rr.com/skylinebmd/index.html/hopeindex.htm
breakfast in bed
Louis and I had breakfast in bed this morning! My 12 year old daughter brought me coffee and toast and marmalade, and Louis had his bowl of Eukanuba! Too cute! :) Rhona and Louis in The Netherlands __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/
Re: Whelping Box plans
I got plans from the internet and my husband and I spent a weekend making a huge whelping box, painted in two colors :) We went big because of concerns about puppies being suffocated in smaller whelping areas. It is five feet by six feet with the pig rails and etc. The box breaks down and stores easily until next time. The box does have a painted wood floor that is covered with a sheet of vinyl flooring cut to size. This is easy to clean, cheap, and gets tossed when the litter leaves. The floor is covered with newspaper and then a fleece pad, bought at a local craft store. I have four fleeces and changed them three times each day (or as needed). They were quite cheap at the craft store -- about one third the cost of dog supply catalogs. Twice a day I would move the puppies, strip the box, clean the vinyl and lay new paper and fleece. On the way back to the whelping box, each puppy was weighed (and kissed and etc.). The big whelping box is nice because two adults plus mom and numerous puppies can fit comfortably :) Mary-Ann Bowman Utah Emma, Abra, Maize and Halo
Re: Whelping Box plans
Becca, I use a whelping "frame" rather than a box with a floor. Mine has no floor and rests on the vinyl floor in my puppy room. During whelping the bitch lays on the floor midst piles of shredded newspaper. As fluids and gook from birthing saturate the paper, it is removed and more added to the area. After whelping I remove the pups, put the dam outside for a few minutes while I stand the frame on end and clean the entire area. I spread a twin-size blanket on the floor and lower the frame onto it. The frame holds the blanket in place. In following weeks I add rag rugs laid flat on the blanket and remove them twice daily so I don't have to disturb the dam and pups to remove the entire blanket more than once a day. I rotate 2-3 blankets in the washer throughout the day. My frames are made from scrap lumber. One is 48 x 84 inches the other is 42" x 78". The sides are 10-14 inches tall. A pig rail is present (2 x 6) and is placed off center (top to bottom). Putting the pig rail 5.5 inches from one edge and 8.5 inches from the other edge of the box with 14 inch sides gives me the option to turn the frame down one direction for neonates and the other direction for the pups when they are larger. I cannot imagine using a box with a floor.probably because I never have. The larger of the two boxes has been in use with our litters since 1988. I had the smaller one built when I had two litters at one time several years ago. Ruth Reynolds Pioneer Bernese www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/rar [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cruciate injuries?
This is my first post here and I just wanted to say thanks to all who put such a great effort into the list. Our 4 month old, Cooper, showed signs of an injury Tuesday night, and mostly laid around on Wednesday. He was not moving too swiftly all day and reacted to our prodding on his left front leg just below the knee. I took him to our vet Wednesday evening and he said it appears to be a strain or sprain. He, Cooper, does put weight on it but he favors it and doesn't like to take a step down to get outside. I think he injured it while bouncing around in the snow. His left front leg went through the crust and the rest of him didn't.He didn't yelp at all. At the time I didn't think much of it but now I remember wondering why he kind of froze for a moment. I even went over and helped him up. On the way home from the vet I remembered reading something about cruciate injuries which I think is in the knee areaHow does one tell the difference between a cruciate injury and a muscle strain?. Cooper didn't seem to mind having his left knee being manipulated. BTW: Cooper is our first puppy. We were given a one year old Berner who had to be euthanized 10 months later due to a hemangioperycytoma(sp?). The couple that gave us the first Berner brought the new puppy over this past Christmas day. :-) Scott Layman & Cooper
Re: Speaking of Rally
Marjie, Heidi and I are taking a Rally class now and would love to join a practice session at the Specialty. Carol Ganz Washoe Valley, NV
Hugo' address
Dear Hugo, Please have your mom send me your address, I have some donations from you special friends on the L to send to you. Thanks Vision (mascot) for BEHAF PS you can send you address to our Treasurer, Dino at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: Whelping Box plans
What about using melamine for the box so that all surfaces are easier to clean? Cheaper than plywood, just as strong and has a non-porous surface? Jen (who has no need of a whelping box, but is just curious) I made one a couple of years ago. I went to Home Depot where the nice man in the plywood section cut it for me and bought a piece of plywood 8' x 4' and had him cut four pieces 2' x 4'.
RE: Whelping Box plans
Hi Becca, The secret to a Berner whelping box is not to make it too big:-) I made one a couple of years ago. I went to Home Depot where the nice man in the plywood section cut it for me and bought a piece of plywood 8' x 4' and had him cut four pieces 2' x 4'. With a jigsaw a friend cut a small door in one piece 8" deep and 12" wide hinged and bolted it. With 2" x 2" wood cut into four 2' pieces these were screwed into the outside edges of two of the plywood pieces. Holes drilled through the attached 2" x 2" and the ends of the two remaining plywood pieces without struts and then bolt together to make four walls. Cut a piece of plywood to fit snugly inside the base of the four walls and raise it up on a frame of 2" x 2" to insulate the base. I use five ply top-grade for my first whelping box and three ply birch for my second. You can use a cheaper grade for the floor because you will cover it with a piece of ridged rubber matting over which you will have papers and hopefully a piece of Vetbed or fake sheepskin type bedding. If tucking up is a problem for your choice of bedding you can cut the floor to fit a little loose and then the sides will slot down over keeping the bedding taut. Some people like to use a pigrail but I don't, my choice:-) This box dismantles for easy storage:-) Rose T.
RE: Breeder Referral
Hi Brigitte, Oftentimes a breeder might have a six month old or older Berner for sale but you need to ask yourself "why?" Assuming they kept the puppy in the first place because of show/breeding potential why are they now selling it into a pet home. Maybe something simple like the bite is undershot or not all the molars came in, this would make a fine pet but if there is a problem with dysplasia this would need to be fully discussed and determined whether the dog may be affected sooner rather than later. Maybe the puppy just isn't meeting its potential for the breeder but oftentimes six months is a difficult age to fully assess a puppy unless the breeder has several generations of dogs to draw experience on. Maybe the breeder kept two littermates with the intention of only keeping one, there could be a host of reasons why this puppy is available just ask why and if joint health (hear "I don't like his movement") ask to have your vet see the xrays before you take the puppy. If you are just hoping to avoid the house training issue in taking on a six month old be prepared that the youngster may not have had sufficient socialisation or been to puppy kindergarten and may well regress particularly so if not house raised to begin with. Rose T. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: March 5, 2003 3:13 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Breeder Referral My husband and I are looking to adopt a Berner, 6 months old or over. Can you guys refer me to a reputable breeder? Thanks in advance. Brigitte
RE: Switching to adult food/raising pups
Hi, I would like to point out to all those people now thoroughly confused by what is a suitable feeding strategy for them is to read the labels of the brand of food you are feeding. Some Large Breed Puppy formulas (protein and fat percentages) are lower than some All-cycle feeding formulas, there is a huge difference between Puppy Formula aka Growth Formula and the specific Large Breed Puppy Formulas. I personally do not feed up on growth spurts but keep rations controlled, afterall I do not want to fuel faster growth. One must consider bulk versus quality in a diet perhaps more so in a breed with a tendency to bloat/torsion. Feeding great volumes of food to the young stomach will stretch the stomach ligaments and potentially weaken them. When weighing up food for my performance dogs (fully mature), those with a busy schedule, I will introduce a Performance (higher grade) food and mix with a Maintenance but this is only for the adult dog who is perhaps pregnant or showing full-time and meeting stud duties. Quantity wise my dogs are fed four cups a day with young active males fed five cups a day, if they need more I up the grade and not the volume. Rose T.
Re: Berner Fur Balls
Lloyd spent 15 minutes taking big fur balls out of there! s funny!!! Hi, Laura. Turn Lloyd loose in the kitchen next and see what he pulls out from under the refrigerator! You could build a whole new Bernese out of what my cat has retrieved from under the fridge! Anne
Re: Acupuncture?
In a message dated 03/05/2003 2:17:36 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Could anyone share their experience with acupuncture, positive or negative? >> I used accupuncture with my old Rottie when her lumbo-sacral disease really became a problem for her. We began with once a week treatments and by 4 weeks moved to every other week and about 6 weeks later, just once a month. It made a major difference in her comfort and mobility! The day after a treatment she was like a new dog, and I could tell a few days before our next appointment that she was getting uncomfortable again. Since the dog does not have the knowledge to contribute to the "placebo effect" I have to believe that it was truly helping maintain her comfort. I would be very cautious with a partially torn cruciate as they very often tear through completely and then definitely require surgical repair to prevent serious permanent lameness. Good luck to both of you! Anne Copeland, Flash,TDI/CGC (Berner, 8 1/2 yrs.) & Gypsy TDI/CGC(Rescue Cavalier,2 yrs.) BMDCSEW Tracking Test Chair/Sec. NE ILL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ty's memorial page: http://www.geocities.com/workingyorkie/ty.html Gypsy's page:http://hometown.aol.com/annes4/Gypsy.html
Re: Burning Lawn (urine burns on lawn -- yellow grass, etc.)
Don't know why, but in over 35 years of owning dogs of several breeds, sizes, ages, sexes, I have never had a problem with yellow, burned spots in our grass. All the dogs have been fed on some sort of dry kibble (except the first dachshund who was pampered with Gainesburgers!) but not the same kind of kibble. Our water has changed from originally being well water to now treated Lake Michigan water; so none of those factors can be held responsible for my good fortune. Must be due to something in the soil (very alkaline, heavy clay originally; now been conditioned to a little more organic but still alkaline) or the type of grass - some sort of bluegrass primarily. We do get extra thick green growth where "poop piles" have been. Anne Copeland, Flash,TDI/CGC (Berner, 8 1/2 yrs.) & Gypsy TDI/CGC(Rescue Cavalier,2 yrs.) BMDCSEW Tracking Test Chair/Sec. NE ILL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ty's memorial page: http://www.geocities.com/workingyorkie/ty.html Gypsy's page:http://hometown.aol.com/annes4/Gypsy.html
HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Heart & Eye Clinic
The Cuyahoga Valley Golden Retriever Club is having a heart & eye clinic on April 4 & 5 in Hudson, Ohio. If you are interested, please email me and I will send you the forms. Sue Sanvido
scary story
Hi all, Yesterday we went over to our friends house for a playdate. My friend Maura has a berner and a retired Guiding Eyes brood dog (black lab). Pecan, the lab, has a habit of grabbing the other dogs by the collars in play. She drops it right away when you tell her, but she does it over and over. Yesterday, she grabbed Sallie by the collar, and as I was saying "Drop it" Sallie must have twisted and Pecan's teeth got caught. I was running over to them, worried about Pecan's teeth as she was realy crying. But when I got there, I realized that Sallie was barely breathing. The scariest part was that Pecan's jaw was caught right around the buckle, so there wasn't enough room for me to get Sallie's collar off. Well, between the two of us, Maura and I got Pecan untwisted and all was well. No loose teeth, no blood, no trauma to Sallie. But I'll tell you this- Pecan learned her lesson!!! So, when I'm done here, I'm ordering a few breakaway collars! Kendra, Jackson, and Sallie
Titles
I noticed that one title was left off the list- AGB: Ace Garbage Bandit :) Kendra, "Jackson" Maine's Greatest Gift CPX (Couch Potato Excellent), and Sallie Bev's Sallie LPX (Lap Dog Excellent) AGB
Seminar by Beverly Capstick
Beverly Capstick is giving a Structure and Movement seminar in my area. Has anyone been to one of her presentations? -Sherri Venditti
