Car safety question
While we're on the subject of SUV's, I also have a question for the group: My partner and I recently purchased a new Lexus SUV for our Berner (one couldn't expect him to ride around in the back of a sedan, now could one?). Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on how to safely transport our boy in the open space behind the second row of seats: - Use a gate/barrier behind the 2nd row of seats and let him roam back there. - Put the dog in a crate (metal or cloth) in the back of the SUV. - Use a harness-type restraint system clipped to one of the interior tie-down brackets in the rear, to give him some mobility, but not enough to be thrown against the seats ahead of him. I'm also open to other suggestions. I'd like our puppy to be able to look out the windows when we're driving, but I want to make sure he doesn't get thrown up against something hard in the event of a crash. I'm also thinking a collapsible cloth crate would be useful when traveling. We've already purchases a collapsible dog ramp to help him climb in and out of the SUV. Thanks for your help, - Alex, Steve and Jackson (5.5 months old, growing like a weed) > [Original Message] > From: LeAnn Zogg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 8/20/2003 8:00:05 AM > Subject: car question > > > Hi Berner Buddies!! > > I'm taking a break from the dog-quilt and would like to ask a question of > the Berner group regarding cars-trucks-SUV's > > Is anyone driving one of the new Pacifica's? Or a XC70 Volvo? We are > looking at them and would like some "owner" pros and cons. > > Thanks everyone and have a great Labour Day Weekend > LeAnn Zogg > North Dakota
Breeders vs. PPO's - Hopefully a Draw
Over the past several days I've read a number of postings here about why breeders ask so many questions and sometimes come off to PPO's as aggressive and rude. My own experience has been somewhere in the middle: I'm a first-time PPO. Nowadays (armed with info I learned here on the Berner-L) I understand some of the questions I'm asked by potential breeders of my future Berner puppy. A good breeder has an incredible amount of time, money and emotional investment in his dogs and their puppies - and I respect that. It's a two-way street, and with knowledge comes power. I now have a few questions of my own that *I* ask breeders, too. I'm not so desperate to be a Berner parent that I want a dog from a backyard breeder. I'm not so desperate that I'll take any pup a show breeder wants me to take, sight unseen. I want to meet the dam and sire and assess their temperament, as well as the puppies when they arrive. And when I'm not running my mouth off with an almost endless stream of questions, I'm listening to the questions and comments from the breeder, too. Is she more concerned about her dogs than my bank balance? More concerned that I understand the joys AND the potential sorrows with this breed, and am prepared for a lifetime commitment to a Berner puppy? If I don't hear probing questions being asked of me, then I have to wonder about how committed she will be to ME and the ongoing well-being of the puppy after the sale. Personally, I expect to have a long term relationship with my eventual Berner breeder (blush: not THAT kind of relationship!)... and if I didn't like the breeder, or their home, and all their dogs before the sale - we're not likely to have a great relationship when I need guidance raising my Berner boy later on in his life. If I meet a breeder that asks impertinent questions, or acts defensive, or aggressive.. (I haven't yet but you never know) my attitude would be "well, there are lots of other fish in the sea." And ultimately, the good breeder is going to send her puppies to the best homes available, especially if there's a waiting list. Meanwhile, as a PPO I've met a breeder I like at the recent PVMBDC specialty event, where she was showing her dogs. And she seems to think I *might* be OK too. I hope to go out and visit with her and her Berner posse at her home in a couple weekends. Two of her girls have puppies coming next month and maybe we'll find we're a good match for each other's needs. If not, I'll just keep looking. Besides, I'll always have the Berner-L to keep me company! LOL - Alex Ford Alexandria, VA "I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
RE: Big Brag
As a relative newbie to Berner-dom, can someone tell me what all these abbreviations stand for? It's all alphabet soup to me. :p Also, which ones (if any) of these titles can a dog still compete for, after he's been neutered? I used to know most of the abbreviations used in AOL chat rooms, but I've been out of the loop for a long while... TTKIR (trying to keep it real), - Alex Ford "I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde > [Original Message] > From: Bonnie Conrad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Berner list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 3/3/2003 8:27:43 AM > Subject: Big Brag > > Hi everyone, > This is to let everyone on the list know that my berner just finished = > his UKC Championship this past week-end. He is now U-CH, U-CD Pegasus = > Azure Long-Time-Commin CD, CGC. And Certified Therapy Dog. Let me know = > who to send my brag funds to. Now, it's on to open work. He is also = > training for his draft title and tracking. Hope everyone has a great = > day. Hug your furry ones. Bonnie Conrad
RE: show etiquette
Hi Rhona, I attended the Westminster Kennel Club Show this week, which is also a benched event. We waited till after they were shown to go ogle the Berners in the benched area - which was easy because they were up at 9:00am on the first day! Even if they aren't up first at Crufts it's best to wait till they've been shown before you go chatting up the breeders/owners/handlers. From the reactions of other breed's owners/handlers, they are too stressed before their dogs are shown to talk to bystanders. Crufts and Westminster are premier events and many breeders have spent mucho $$$ getting their dogs ready for a major show. It may be fun for us but it's work for them. But afterwards, I was able to track down everyone but the winning Berner's breeder (who still had the Group to worry about). The rest of the people in the benched area were friendly, outgoing and informative once the pressure was off. I think the pros recognize that among people coming to dog shows are many excellent sources of potential new talent to support the future of the breed. And since I haven't heard about a lot of dog show people getting rich from it, I have to assume they're doing it largely out of love for the breed and their dogs...though bragging rights must be nice too! :-) The benched area at Westminster was organized by breed, so it was easy to find most of the Berners together in row 15, aisle A. But at least at Westminster, they had a separate catch-all area for handlers who are showing multiple dogs of multiple breeds. Unfortunately, that's often where the creme de la creme of dogdom are hiding out. The benched area was super crowded with handlers trying to prep dogs, people trying to exercise/feed/snuggle their dogs and pesky bystanders like me asking a zillion questions. In the process, I got to meet some really nice people. Take care, - Alex Ford (future Berner parent) > [Original Message] > From: Rhona Vantine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2/13/2003 4:30:12 AM > Subject: show etiquette > > I attended Crufts Dog Show last year and loved it! I > hope to go again this year. My question is, what is > the proper etiquette when you go to these shows. > Someone mentioned recently that at a big show its > probably not the best of times to bounce up to a > handler and start asking questions.I desperately > wanted to touch all those beautiful benched berners > but wasnt sure if I should. The handlers all seemed > to be grouped and chatting. > I can count on one hand the amount of dog shows Ive > been able to attend but at one in San Antonio, Texas I > touched a Golden Retriever and the handler asked me to > please not touch the dog. I felt really bad. > Rhona and Louis > In The Netherlands > > __ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day > http://shopping.yahoo.com
Westminster Dog Show
I've been a mostly silent reader of this list for about the past 9 months. It's been a tremendous resource for getting to know the breed better, and reading everyone's comments, joys and sorrows about their Berners... so much so that my partner Steve and I have decided to take the plunge, too and become Berner parents. To that end, we're going to the Westminster AKC show in NYC next week - both to enjoy seeing the creme de la creme of show Berners (along with some of the less fortunate, non-Bernese breeds!)and to hopefully meet just the right breeder for us. I've been soaking up everyone's comments here on care and feeding, housebreaking, socializing and health issues in the breed, and have also looked at the generic info available on the web about how to select a breeder. But can anyone point me to a list of questions I should have ready when talking with a *Bernese* breeder at the show? We already have a list prepared, but want to ensure we don't miss anything important. We're looking for a family member, not a show dog; and we're much more concerned about long term health issues than show ring good looks. Thanks, - Alex
When to Neuter a BMD
My partner and I are hoping to adopt a BMD next year. We've been reading up on the breed, have met some owners at local dog shows and are hoping to meet some breeders at the Westminster AKC show in NYC in 2003. We're not looking for a show dog, just a well-bred male BMD to become part of the family.Is there an age difference when a dog could or should be neutered if it will be strictly a pet, vs. a dog intended for breeding and champion's papers? I'm most concerned about what's best for the dog's long term health and life span, and only secondarily to having him mature into a handsome example of the breed.Thanks,- Alex
