"The Man with The Berner" Part II

Photos courtesy of owner and photographer

     The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, long haired dog.  They have the "Swiss Coloring" of mostly black, with some rust, and white on the feet, face and belly.  Although they are primarily known as drafting dogs, they also excel at herding since they were originally used as multi-purpose farm dogs.  Females can be slightly smaller (about 2 feet at the shoulder) at about 65 pounds, but males are very large (up to 28" at the shoulder) at about 120 pounds!

     The Man and his wife have had several Bernese Mountain Dogs over the years.  He lovingly recalls each and every one.  He detailed their lineage, how him and his wife traveled overseas to select their first four pups (not all at once of course!).  He told me of the wide variety of activities they compete in for fun.  Berners are so versatile they can perform in informal events like rally style obedience, or formal obedience as well as agility, herding, carting and drafting (and yes, there is a difference between carting and drafting).

     *The photos that he has allowed me to use for this blog are actually 5 different dogs!*

In Obedience competition, the dog must not only retrieve, but jump!

     The Man had just recently shown his young dog in Gettysburg, PA in May.  While there he won the Specialty's HIT- or High In Trial award.  They also won awards as the highest scoring Bernese Mountain Dog in Herding, and as a Specialty Triathlete (for qualifying in Rally, Herding and Obedience).  That was why he laughed when I told him I was impressed by the past weekend's showing.

     The Man's Berner, whom he was working with that day is CH Tranquility's Andy Robynson CD RAE HSAs HTAD-Is HTD-Is RLF-Is JHDs .  It is a mouthful, and I would never have remembered half of those letters if The Man had not written them down for me.  All of The Man's dogs have multiple titles, from the AKC (American Kennel Club), BMDCA (Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America) , and the AHBA (American Herding Breed Association).  It is akin to a human with several doctorates and certifications- so impressive!

     I began reading more about this breed, and it's history.  The Man graciously sent me a website and a few articles to get me started.

     In conclusion, I know that this is a breed I am not ready for yet.  Perhaps if I continue to learn more (and earn more money!) a few years down the road I will look into the option seriously.  For now, it is enough to say I have met and watched a furry breed ambassador who has a kind enough owner to educate me on Bernese Mountain Dogs, and canine companionship at it's finest.





*Click either of the links below to read more about Bernese Mountain Dogs! Enjoy!

Potomac Valley Bernese Mountain Dog Club website

Pages 210-223 in the Showsight Magazine July 2012 issue.

Breed Knowledge

"Lucky", a Standard Poodle.  Poodles were originally bred for water fowl retrieval.

     Many of us have enthusiastically researched a specific breed, just for fun.  Now-a-days, it is easy to find oodles of information about pretty much anything!  With so much information, it can be helpful to keep a spoonful of salt to balance out all the sugary mess streaming towards you.  I have found, when it comes to dogs, many things can end up so "sugar-coated" that the facts are sometimes obscured.  Most texts are written to appease a human, with pleasing a wide audience in mind. Some sites allow anyone to post an answer or definition.



     Language can at times be ambiguous, or unintentionally misleading, even when it is accurate!
When a particular dog breed is described as having certain tendencies, it is not a guarantee!!! People do not publish information about their breed to trick you, but to inform you. Unfortunately, I see nice people all the time reading a page or two and only hearing what they want to.



"Grace" is a German Shepherd Dog

      Take the AKC (American Kennel Club) for example.  They are a trusted and reputable source for massive amounts of information on all breeds.  It says... "the German Shepherd Dog is also a loving family companion, herder and show competitor" on their website describing the Breed Standards.  Of course this can be absolutely true, but that does not mean all German Shepherd Dogs will be those things.  Properly bred GSDs should have the genetic potential to do all these things.  Without guidance and education very few dogs reach their breed standard potential. It is also worth mentioning, that people writing about breed standards and hallmarks are highlighting the best things possible from the traits that breed has.


     To further clarify the quote from the AKC on German Shepherds: 

     "...a loving family companion..." implies the breed craves human companionship.  In a balanced dog, it is what it says.  It can also bring the potential  for separation anxiety.

     "...herder..." states what the dog was bred for originally.  Not all GSDs have as much of an instinct for moving animals, unless they are bred from generations of other dogs that are working daily herding.  Herding dogs have an abundance of energy, and can get nippy with small people (read "Children") if not supervised.  Herding dogs have the desire to control the movement of whatever they are allowed to.

     "...show competitor...." this applies only if the owner takes the time to condition, train and go to the shows with the dog.  This also does not imply the dog will always win....





"Luca" is an American Eskimo dog. Eskies were once used as Circus entertainers!

       This is only a small tidbit to highlight the ambiguous language used to describe dog breeds, and how the information can impact your daily life with your fur-companion.  All breeds have admirable traits!  The trick is also being able to see the potential pit-falls with inherent behavioral patterns.  Not all personality traits are only sunshine and butterflies, remember to read between the lines!


* "Lucky" and "Grace" photos courtesy of Thomas Brown *

A Little Clarity, Titles for Dogs and What They Are

Brutus Paul RA has been conditioned to work under vest as a Therapy Dog

    In the dog world, there is a diverse array of options when choosing training goals.  Many of us can clearly articulate the skills we want to build in our companions, but do not necessarily use AKC recognized Titles (or their acronyms) when describing them.  I am not competitive in nature, but I have chosen to be tested for some awards and titles so I have a standardized gauge to measure my progress.

     Here is a brief rundown of the most commonly used (and mis-used) titles I hear on a daily basis.

    CGC: Canine Good Citizen award. It is earned through a basic 10 step test.  This is an award offered through the AKC to reward responsible owners, and well behaved dogs.  It does NOT grant access or privileges not available to the general public.  For more information about this reward, click here.  If you are in the Charlotte NC area and would like to be tested, you may contact me.

     Therapy Dog: This is a title for a dog who has been certified by either TDI (Therapy Dogs International) or Delta Pet Partners.  Dog and handler teams with these titles have been tested,  evaluated, and deemed safe to participate in a wide variety to helpful programs.  Even Certified Therapy Dogs may have rules their handler prefers them observe.  Always be sure to ask before petting, even though it is most likely very welcome!  Click on either one of the names to learn more about the organization. 



     Service Dog:  This is an animal that is specifically conditioned to do work, or perform tasks for a person with a disability.  The disability can be physical or mental.  It is quite rude to approach and ask a person what their Service Animal is for (it is asking them to share personal medical details), they may choose to share that information, or not. The animal is almost always identified properly with a clearly marked vest.  It has access to any place the handler does by law.  Your attention could inhibit it's ability to do it's job (ie. you could be putting some one's life in danger by trying to distract it).

Grace is a service dog

     Working Dog:  A dog that has been specially trained for a specific task.  There are many different types of Working dogs: Service Dogs, Therapy dogs, Scent Detection (Narcotics, Explosives etc.), Personal Protection Dogs, and Herding Dogs (just to name a few).  If you are not sure, and particularly, if a dog is wearing a vest, best ask to pet, it may be working!

     AKC Titles :  (Click on the link to the left) The American Kennel Club has a vast array of accomplishments you can earn!  There are over 80.  I cannot list them all (I don't even know them all!) so I have provided you a link to look them over.  They cover skills from agility, obedience, herding, hunting, and more!  Check them out and you may find a new activity you and your pup will love!

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