About our Bernese and us...
Our Bernese adventure began a few years ago. Before Bernese era we had a Caucasian Shepherd Harnaś and a Saint Bernard Barnaba, wonderful, unforgettable dogs, now playing behind the Rainbow Bridge, and staying in a tender corner of our hearts for ever. We have always loved bear-type, hairy dogs, and we have chosen a Bernese Mountain Dog rummaging a book about dog breeds, getting to know the characters of various breeds and thinking which dog would be good for us and which we would be good for. We have chosen a Bernese, because we fell in love with its character, and, we cannot deny, its beauty, too. We knew nothing about the growing popularity of this breed then, we have never had the opportunity to see its representative “live” . The criterion for finding a dog for us was that - the purebred pedigree dog and a few months old, the latter because of the stairs we have plenty at home, and wchich may be dangerous for puppy’s joints. A boy exactly like that was waiting for us in the kennel Królowie Nocy (Kings of Night). I remember our long journey to see and get him, I remember our hearts beating when we were to see him for the first time... And there he was, he showed up at last ... pretty, cheerful, sociable four months old (young ;) Bernese boy! I remember him jumping up and down as he ran joyously, sitting on each bush, which grew in his way (yes! sitting on, not under it). He greeted us so warmly and trustfully went with us to his new home.
He got used to the new environment at once and, though he caused mischief as a puppy, he did it so charmingly that it was impossible to be angry. Besides, he was taught to behave quite well in the kennel, knew basic commands, answered them with enthusiasm and eagerly learned the new ones. We were enchanted with everything he was doing – the way he was lying "the frog" way, the way he was sleeping on his back with his feet against the wall, the way he was seeking contact with us looking in our faces as if asking "what else can I do for you? A dream dog, and he has remained the same since we met him for the first time. He is wise and playful and merry at the same time . Obedient (almost...), showing every day how much he loves and needs us, though sometimes his feelings can be a bit "painful" - more than fifty kilos of love is a great and heavy thing! We did not plan for him a show dog "career" , but ... we wanted to show others how special he was – after all he is the most beautiful dog in the world in our eyes. Success came quickly - Horacy became Junior Champion of Poland, then won the "adult" Championship, became the Winner of Poland. We are bursting with pride, and Horacy, as Horacy, takes our admiration with his characteristic modesty - he appreciates a tasty snack far more than a medal, which is not particularly appetizing and even doesn’t smell like an attractive dog girl ...
Yes ... we can certainly say that we are wrapped around his tail perfectly, but let me excuse us by adding that it is a very beautiful tail - fluffy, constantly wagging with joy and topped with a white tip, which, like a pendulum of an old clock keeps counting seconds of every day we spend together - tick tock, tick tock, tick tock ...
He got used to the new environment at once and, though he caused mischief as a puppy, he did it so charmingly that it was impossible to be angry. Besides, he was taught to behave quite well in the kennel, knew basic commands, answered them with enthusiasm and eagerly learned the new ones. We were enchanted with everything he was doing – the way he was lying "the frog" way, the way he was sleeping on his back with his feet against the wall, the way he was seeking contact with us looking in our faces as if asking "what else can I do for you? A dream dog, and he has remained the same since we met him for the first time. He is wise and playful and merry at the same time . Obedient (almost...), showing every day how much he loves and needs us, though sometimes his feelings can be a bit "painful" - more than fifty kilos of love is a great and heavy thing! We did not plan for him a show dog "career" , but ... we wanted to show others how special he was – after all he is the most beautiful dog in the world in our eyes. Success came quickly - Horacy became Junior Champion of Poland, then won the "adult" Championship, became the Winner of Poland. We are bursting with pride, and Horacy, as Horacy, takes our admiration with his characteristic modesty - he appreciates a tasty snack far more than a medal, which is not particularly appetizing and even doesn’t smell like an attractive dog girl ...
Yes ... we can certainly say that we are wrapped around his tail perfectly, but let me excuse us by adding that it is a very beautiful tail - fluffy, constantly wagging with joy and topped with a white tip, which, like a pendulum of an old clock keeps counting seconds of every day we spend together - tick tock, tick tock, tick tock ...
Before Horacy came to live with us we had no idea of a mysterious disease, commonly called bernevirosis or bernoholism. It is an incurable disease, manifested by an irresistible desire to look into more than one pair of hazel eyes and caress another three-colored fur. And what to say... a little Bernese princess came to our home – Baskinka, that’s how we changed her French name Basquine (Magiczna Oaza – Magic Oasis). Charming, lovely, delicate. Whom we were getting to know as she was getting to know us and whom we loved with all our hearts from the very first moment. Who was shaping its character, who changed herself and changed us each and every day. Clever, nimble, with a perfect talent of making sweet eyes :) The first bitch ever to live with us, so different from the rest of our dogs .... but you know - men are from Mars and women from Venus! We call her various names but all of them mean the same – a Bernese girl who you have to fall in love with and who loves placing her sweet back on your knees and never misses the chance to lay by your side the moment she finds you resting.
Baskinka, although it doesn’t make her too happy, kindly agreed to show her beautiful waist ;) at the dog shows and let the judges look at her Bernese Highness. She has already won Junior Championship and thinks whether to finish the adult Championship or not. Maybe she will agree to do that! EDIT. Oh yes, she did!
And so we have a Bernese double-pack, for, as it is commonly known, one Bernese is not enough for the feeling of complete happiness and, besides, songs sung by two voices sound much better :)
....The days have passed and our family grew bigger. Bajeczka (BAJKA Kajtkowe Sny) joined us, then we decided to have Bernese grandchildren ;), we registered a kennel and the puppies were born. One little sweet girl Carioca with our kennel name - Civitas Bernensis - has stayed with us... Who knows what the future will bring - bernovirosis is uncurable :D
There was a time when the first view I saw in the morning were four white socks on Bernese paws – it was Horacy sleeping on his back next to our bed. The moment I moved a warm Bernese kiss greeted me on my cheek, a bushy tail fanned me, wise smiling eyes looked at my face. Now the mornings are different... a very nice gallop makes the dream disapear in a second, all the more that a part of this activity performed by the younger part of the herd takes place on our bed. Sometimes a picturesque landscape of a pillow is enriched with a subject left in a hurry – it may be an old, or sometimes a brand new, shoe. No one is angry, however, quite the opposite - we notice with joy that the world is beautiful and we have an appetite for a new, good day. A double dose of Bernese selfless love, that's what take before breakfast as the healthiest vitamin.
And sometimes I wonder – do our dogs need us so much or is it us who would not be able to live without them at all....
Marzena and Leszek
Baskinka, although it doesn’t make her too happy, kindly agreed to show her beautiful waist ;) at the dog shows and let the judges look at her Bernese Highness. She has already won Junior Championship and thinks whether to finish the adult Championship or not. Maybe she will agree to do that! EDIT. Oh yes, she did!
And so we have a Bernese double-pack, for, as it is commonly known, one Bernese is not enough for the feeling of complete happiness and, besides, songs sung by two voices sound much better :)
....The days have passed and our family grew bigger. Bajeczka (BAJKA Kajtkowe Sny) joined us, then we decided to have Bernese grandchildren ;), we registered a kennel and the puppies were born. One little sweet girl Carioca with our kennel name - Civitas Bernensis - has stayed with us... Who knows what the future will bring - bernovirosis is uncurable :D
There was a time when the first view I saw in the morning were four white socks on Bernese paws – it was Horacy sleeping on his back next to our bed. The moment I moved a warm Bernese kiss greeted me on my cheek, a bushy tail fanned me, wise smiling eyes looked at my face. Now the mornings are different... a very nice gallop makes the dream disapear in a second, all the more that a part of this activity performed by the younger part of the herd takes place on our bed. Sometimes a picturesque landscape of a pillow is enriched with a subject left in a hurry – it may be an old, or sometimes a brand new, shoe. No one is angry, however, quite the opposite - we notice with joy that the world is beautiful and we have an appetite for a new, good day. A double dose of Bernese selfless love, that's what take before breakfast as the healthiest vitamin.
And sometimes I wonder – do our dogs need us so much or is it us who would not be able to live without them at all....
Marzena and Leszek