Gelli goes to College
Well doggy friends, I was very busy last week! I went to college with my Dad and helped him teach three lectures and two seminars. He says I'm his teaching assistant. In the lectures I take attendance by going up and down the aisles checking out each person. If the girls are wearing sandals I lick their toes and make them giggle. And I check their bags for contraband - no food allowed in the classroom unless I get some of it. After I check everyone out I settle down by the lectern for a snooze while my Dad walks around talking. Sometimes people come in late and I make sure that they don't sneak in unnoticed. I also am an adjunct in the environmental health and safety department - I'm teaching my students not to put stuff on the floor in the classroom. Coffee cup lids are great fun. I pick them up and toss them in the air, catch them and then bring them back to the person who dropped them. And I teach the No Cell Phones rule. If a cell phone wakes me up I find the culprit and sit in front of them until they turn the phone off. My students are pretty smart - they usually learn their lesson the first time. And its amazing how much learning happens when you make an example of someone. Going to college is not all work. When we walk outdoors between classes I find chewing gum. Dad always says, Leave it! but some of that gum smells just too good to resist. And walking across campus is so much fun because the girls always say how cute I am and stop to say hello. I think the automatic doors are fascinating. I stand in front of the doors and they just open. I don't have to sit and wait or anything! I ride elevators, too but on those I have to be polite - I wait until everyone else goes through the doors before me. From Gelli's family: We are totally thrilled! All our work this summer has paid off in a well-behaved, well socialized pup. And for a 5 month old tyke Gelli did very, very well. He could use some work on leash walking and leave it but on the whole he was fantastic. This means that we do not have to leave him home in the crate, and he and Jim get to spend time together. (I suppose that this consitutes a brag - check goes out tonite.) = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Indoor Games and Missouri heat
Hi All, Its been miserably hot here in Missouri for the last few days. 105 in the shade today! With these kinds of temps its downright dangerous to go outside for any energetic play. During daylight its very quick trips outside for business and right back in. A frosty paws treat follows. But our guy is 5 months old and he NEEDS some release. We're playing indoor fetch, find it, leave it, hide and seek, chase the ice cube, and the standard obedience games. We walk in the early morning and late evening to exercise those muscles. If anyone has suggestions about indoor games to engage the mind and spend some of the pent up energy we would really appreciate it. = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Gelli Antics
Well folks, This is Gelli reporting from the world of puppy. I have discovered several neat new things. First, let me tell you about toilet paper. It comes on rolls and the best thing is that when you fight with a roll of toilet paper it fights right back! And if you run into the living room trailing a stream of toilet paper mom and dad chase you! You can wrap it around chairs, festoon the dining room and kitchen in nice white paper streamers and tear it to shreds, and eat it. (This is especially good if they are entertaining.) And, it is biodegradable and does no damage to your digestive system. Unlike panty hose which is my next subject. Mom has this habit every morning of putting on hose. This is a good game and she obviously needs my help because she balances on one leg while attempting to insert the other leg in hose. I find that the best approach is to grab the feet of the free hose leg and RUN! I am guessing that we could add several new panty hose challenges to the agility events. And finally, there is UNDERWEAR! Ladies bras and undies seem to elicit the greatest response. The more lacy and delicate the item the better. AND if I grab Mom's underwear and show off my prize when they have company I get the very best reaction. Doesn't really matter if it is black lace or cobbled together with safety pins. She chases me all the same. Its especially good if the people do not have doggies of their own. They are amazed at my brilliance and absolutely astonished at the tricks I get up to. They think I'm a genius! Note from Gelli's parents: Who teaches these puppies these tricks?! Is there some kind of invisible manual or is it genetic. Is this the instinctive behavior of genus BERNER? We were so proud that we were not harboring a counter surfer who stole pot roasts, cheese, underwear, shoes, etc.! Were we living in a fool's paradise! Gelli seems to have read the Berner-l about mischevious misbehavior and taken every lesson to heart. He's nearly six months old and is clearly plotting insurrection every second of every day! We love him and the challenge is in not laughing when he gets up to his silly antics. Daisy, you have a lot of questions to answer! We believe that you have been channeling Berner Puppy Hints to the next generation! = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Pass Pet Burnie
I've been reading the recent discussion of pet shop Berners with great interest. The 3 month old BMD girl reported a week ago is still in the window of a Pass Pets in the St. Louis area. Her asking price is now $1900. - Down from $3300. At least they now know that they have BERNESE Mountain Dog - not a BURNIE. They have taped a color copy of information about the breed in the window. (Thank the angel who helped out with that bit of information.) My heart just breaks for the poor pup but I can't condone rescuing her at any price that will put a penny of profit into the hands of the store. I fear that we are going to see a huge upsurge in these sightings over the next year or so. = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Pet Store Info Packets
It helps greatly to hear from veterans who have been in the trenches in these pet store battles. There are so many fronts: educating consumers, promoting responsible ownership, shutting down the supply, helping the victims (Berner and human), ... It sounds a pet store packet on Berners might help. Problem is that the material I've seen (BMDCA info series, posters, etc.) is just perfect for people interested in responsible ownership but way too forthright for pet stores. IMHO a chain that sells mill puppies is not going to hand out realistic information to educate sales prospects about temperament, health challenges, longevity, etc. They want that cute little puppy sold way before it starts growing adult teeth and they sure don't want to promote any mature consideration. I'm pulling together some nice neutral information about the breed with references to BMDCA and similar links for more information and a contact phone number or email address for help with the inevitable problems. Now that Gelli is sleeping through the night and is house trained I'm finally getting around to designing his web site. It sounds like a link to a downloadable pet store packet might be just the thing to help out. Suggestions are welcome. = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Gelli Reverse Brag
Well friends, Gelli's 17th week of life has not been an outstanding success from his family's point of view. After four puppy kindergarten classes he seems to have completely forgotten SIT, Stand, Stay, come. When given his commands he looks at me as if I were from the moon (and NOT made of cheese). Even with treat in hand it takes some firm encouragement to get a response. He just looks at me with a blank stare. Training sessions have to be very short because his attention span seems to have suddenly halved. Yesterday, Gelli successfully leaped onto the bed and has determined that atop the bed is the best place to be. Not good because getting off the bed also requires a leap and we do not want to subject his shoulders to that kind of stress. (Not to mention the challenges of sleeping with a BMD puppy in the bed.) We are running out of puppy gates. Today, Gelli decided to sample the other edge of the antique killim he'd successfully remodelled a few weeks ago. This afternoon he chewed off 6 inches of fringe in a scant 15 minutes. And he has chewed the squeakers out of two toys in two days. Those new teeth are very effective - He's teething - lost three teeth in the past six days. Maybe thats it. Or maybe now that he has grown in size he is once again testing the boundaries. Whatever the reasons we seem to be going through some terrible two's. Add to his purchase price, the vet bills, training classes, crate, two beds, leashes, bowls, toys, dry cleaning bills, x-pen(that did not work at all), ruined carpet, three antique rugs, ... This dog's debt is mounting up. Gelli says, MA! You are embarrassing me again! Think of all the good things I do! After all, I go into that blasted crate w/o a fuss, and I enthusiastically greet all sorts of strangers, I play with strange puppies and dogs, and any new adventure you decide I should have is okay by me. I put up with ear cleaning, toe nail clipping, tooth brushing and any other indignity you might wish to subject me to. I shower you with kisses and when I see you I wag my tail so hard I fall down. And everybody thinks I'm so cute. What's a few rugs here and there?! ARRRGH! (He's right -- he is cute.) = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com
Puppy Advice from Gelli
Hi All, I'm learning to type so that I could clue in my puppy pals on the Berner-l about my humans and their house. This house has these things called stairs. They are at doorways and they have gates. Stairs go up and down but I'm not allowed to go down and for up I only get to try two steps. Then, my humans carry me. That's okay with me because getting carried is an especially good opportunity to taste ears and beards and nibble noses and give them a chance to smell my puppy breath. (Have you noticed how humans make a big deal about cuddling?) Mom wears these dangly things from her ears and they are always good for a nice yank. She squeaks even better than my toy hippo. Now listen up. This is really important. Have you heard of this place called the KITCHEN? WOW! Its the next best thing to a dead fish! When you move to your new house figure out where the kitchen is right away. In kitchens great stuff falls right out of the air! Mom and Dad stand and make these chop, chop noises. When they do that carrots, bread, cheese, nuts, apples and all kinds of good things drop onto the floor. Last week I got a piece of really stinky Parmesan cheese. (Not as good as Swiss but it will do.) The best place to position yourself is right on Mom's foot. It took me a few days to figure this out but now I know what to do. When stuff hits the floor I catch it and run really, really fast to my special place where I can take my time tasting, smelling and poking it to see if it will escape. If it tastes good, I eat it. But be careful because not everything is yummy. Yesterday, I got some lettuce. BLECH! If you ever catch lettuce spit it out fast! One other bit of important information: its critical to understand the sound NO!. Its the most frequent noise humans make and they seem to think it is important. If they make the NO sound it might be because of something you are doing. -- Test several times to be sure. The louder the sound the more likely it is that you are doing something to make it happen. In my experiments, NO has consistently proven to mean that I am doing something that the humans notice. Well, gotta run. I have to pee and Mom and Dad make such a big deal about this that its a special event. Its so funny - if I wait until we are outside they run and jump around squealing Good Boy! I hold it just to watch them act goofy. AND I get treats for peeing outside -- are these humans weird or what? - Best regards from your pal, Gelli the Bernese Mountain Dog. __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com
Please Welcome Wyemede's Gallant Gelbackler
Hello all, We are pleased to announce our adoption by Wyemede's Gallant Gelbackler. Gelli was 10 weeks old this past Monday and we have survived 21 days of living with this little devil who answers to the sobriquet Gelli, the Gila monster. So far, he has visited 9 states (on his drive home) and met 73 new people. One neighbor, who is into computer photography, has made a special study of Gelli and is producing incredible digital photos which I will load onto a web site as soon as I can get some spare time. Gelli is a brave little trooper who is adapting very well to his new home in Missouri. He is making good progress on house training (two days w/o an accident!) and wakes me to take him out during the night and yips by the door during the day. (Ma! don't embarrass me!) Gelli has also tamed the wild and dangerous downspout drain pipes and all the flowers and trees in the yard know that Gelli is boss. The birds and rabbits are still learning but the dust mop, broom, and vacuum cleaner are sworn enemies and have been vanquished. It should be noted that Gelli and the dishwasher have negotiated a mutual non-aggression pact. The refrigerator is still an open question. Yes, it hums and periodically make threatening noises but when barked at aggressively it sometime produces interesting treats like carrots and ice cubes. We'll have to work on training that white box to routinely disgorge interesting stuff. Gelli is also exhibiting typical BMD behaviors - he regularly bumps us with his nose (he barely has a nose for cryin' out loud!) and does the foot sits and leg wraps pretty frequently. Someone, (not me) taught him about belly rubs and he is routinely demanding those. There must be some kind of BMD correspondance course these babies attend before they are adopted coz this little guy sure knows all the moves. Weeks ago, in life BG (Before Gelli), I asked for advice on what to do to prepare for the pup. Many of you suggested that I catch up on my sleep. The message was fairly easy to grasp. New puppy = no sleep. The reality is something very different. Now, having lived 21 days with this little tornado I am driven to ask: What is sleep? I've had virtually no REM sleep in 21 days. I've taken to lying down on the floor with Gelli when he takes his nap. (Ma! That's MY bed!.) The house is a shambles with doggie toys, gates, leashes, and assorted puppy paraphenalia everywhere. Professional appearance at work? - forget it! I got a quick dry haircut just for the pup. My team members laugh at me as I stumble through the day mumbling, good boy. I've forced all of my colleagues to look at photos of my dog. On the other hand, I am pleased that I have to go to work. Its the only place I get any peace! To the person who recommended a gallon of Nature's Miracle -- are you sure this is enough? While Gelli is perfectly happy to reap the Good Boys! when he does his business outside this does not seem to deter him from doing a quick piddle indoors as need arises. Need arises after play, after sleep, after eating, after stretching, after 45 minutes, after drinking, after ..., pretty basically, after anything. To the person who recommended presentable pjs for midnite excursions. Thanks for the great advice! I would add that its inportant to practice donning these clothes and shoes in the dark in a sleep befuddled state while holding a squirming pup who needs to go NOW and it is pouring rain! Let's see, slip on shoes - whoops! Left foot into LEFT shoe! Pull on pants - no, you can't fit two human legs into one pants leg! Shirt is inside out and backwards? Who cares!? Ma! I gotta go NOW, NOW, NOW! Oh yeah, its raining and cold - where is the rain gear? Ooops! Need the towel for the pup when he comes inside AND finally, I've got to figure out where the damn door is and unlock it. All at 3:00am on a seriously sleep deprived schedule. After one night of this I learned to plan ahead: place clothes and shoes and raincoat where they can easily be found and put on in the dark. And, its not so bad to appear in the backyard in only a shirt and undies at 3:00 am. After all, who would be out at that hour except another puppy parent and they would understand. Finally, remember, failures in training are my failures -- not the pup's! After all this whining I have to count our blessings. There is nothing better than being adopted by a Berner and I would not trade this for anything! = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com
Premier Pet Insurance
We are anticipating the adoption of a Berner puppy in our household w/in the next few months and we will be getting Pet Health Insurance. Unlike the other company frequently mentioned on the list Premier Pet Insurance plans do not exclude hereditary diseases or breed specific conditions although they do have an exclusion for congenital anomaly. I'm guessing that an umbilical hernia might fall into that category. Their least expensive plan is $12.65 a month and covers basic preventive care, spaying and neutering and illness up to $8000 a year. Has anyone in the US had experience with the Premier Pet Insurance plans? = Patricia Buickerood __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/
