And To Think I Signed Up For This – Again.

October 24, 2014 ~ JodiLea ~ 3 Comments

It’s not like I didn’t know better, because I have raised a Bernese Mountain Dog from a puppy before. The good, the bad, the irritating, annoying gambit of living with a dog, especially the baby ones.

And yet – hubby and I put a deposit down, on a little female, who lives a 5-hour drive away, that we haven’t even met yet. The breeder keeps forgetting to email us a photo, so we don’t know what she looks like either. Even more ridiculous than that, I don’t know how much it costs to adopt her. Because I am afraid to ask.

No, I am not attempting humor. This is the truth. Before you think I have completely lost it, in my defense, I have spoken at length with Barbara and she knows her stuff, and she knows a very reputable breeder in Grass Valley. In fact, she began her lineage with dogs from Bobbie, who we met, along with her gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dogs.

You pay $1,500 to $3,000, because Bernese puppies are in high demand. You understand there will be the cost of feeding, and housing them. You know that Vet bills for vaccinations, spaying, check-ups, etc. are a regular expense. Don’t forget, you must enroll them into Obedience School. I haven’t crunched the exact numbers, but I believe that having a dog is more expensive than having a child.

So, why do it? Stay tuned and you will learn something about Bernese and dogs in general. Then you should be able to answer the question yourself.

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photo credit: northdevonfarmer via photopin cc

Meet & Greet at Swiss Star Farms

July 30, 2014 ~ JodiLea ~ 2 Comments

Smiley — 1-year old female (crappy photographer)

Hope y’all had as happy of a weekend as I did! (You probably didn’t though, because mine involved granddaughters and puppies, and unless you had those 2 things going for you, then you didn’t.) Sorry.

I had a MAJOR ‘dog-fix’ visiting Bobbie at Swiss Star Farms in Grass Valley, CA. I had three of her dogs fighting over me, each wanting to be first in line to be cuddled and get their ears rubbed. Each was more gorgeous than the next. I have to admit that I want my dog to be beautiful, way beyond the puppy stage. Does that make me a “dog-snob”? I only had the camera on my phone, so these photos in no way do the happy trio any justice.

MommaAndChild-OutHeat — Young female & Mom Catching some shade and water.

The three dogs I met on Friday had a combined weight of 500 pounds, and yet, somehow, they believed they were lap-dogs. I’m not a dog-whisperer, but I have a lap, and those three ‘puppies’ were determined to use it. That’s a lot of love. A furry, lovable, herd of teddy bears who forget their mannerly ways when visitors arrive to see them. I was enthralled. It had been a long time since I was near any large dogs, so of course I immediately forgot their names in all the excitement. Once each one got some attention, they settled down next to our chairs to enjoy our doting over them, while we chatted with Bobbie about them, and their linage.

Bobbie sent us off with an 8-page questionnaire to fill out and return to her. I have filled out shorter forms applying for a security clearance. Breeders are very serious about who they entrust to adopt their puppies. I find this comforting, rather than annoying. (Security Clearance forms will always be annoying, however.)

Bernese Mountain Dogs (referred to as ‘BMDs’ from now on, cause I’m too tired to type ‘Bernese Mountain Dog’ constantly), are beautiful, smart and sweet dogs. They are a large and strong breed, a hearty ‘working dog’ class, originally from Bern, Switzerland. They are trained to herd livestock, pull carts, and wagons. They are also instinctively protective of their family members.

Once you adopt one, no other breed will do.

“500 pounds?” my dog-less friends ask. “That means dogs weighing 166 pounds each!”

I just smile in response. They have no idea.

🙂

What Makes Me Smile

January 4, 2011January 3, 2011 ~ JodiLea

This is the easiest topic so far this year!

I have a lot to smile about and many things crack me up. But I only have to think about my “girls” and I am grinning like an idiot ♥

#1 My daughter and granddaughters. I could really use a BIG dose of them right now.

We had so much fun at our tea party! We usually are giggling whenever we are together.

Miss Chloe’s first pigtails. I worried they may be too tight, but Tanya assured me that her eyes were so big because she is fascinated with cameras.

#2 Dogs. I just LOVE them. Especially Bernese Mountain Dogs because they are big furry people. They love people (they think they are people) and they smile a lot. Molly is gone now, but her memories are very much with us.

This topic could not have come on a better day. After dealing with some upsetting issues this afternoon, I needed some smiles. Looking through photos to find ones for my post really did make me smile!