Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year from all of us to all of you!

Pastures new

Spotty exploring a new part of the Bonsai Mountain as part of a recce for next years planned Berner treasure hunt.

Its official

Our favourite vet called today to give some of our animals an MOT. Whilst he was here we got him to look over Bliss and the professional view is that she is faking it, we are not expecting puppies.

Gangway!!!

Spotty getting excited about the horseplay at Rock HQ!

AKA Pinhead

Rocky AKA Pinhead is regaining his good looks after his no 1 crew cut.

Lucky dip

I found a folder entitled Reba 23-7-07 which was when the Matriarch of the Dolyhir Clan arrived, this is a lucky dip pic from the folder, bless her in all her puppy smallness.

Phantom Menace

We are starting to think that despite producing milk on all cylinders Bliss is actually having a phantom pregnancy.

Was the night before Christmas.....

...and one big bear of a Berner was making sure he was off the naughty dog list. Reuben reminding me what good lap dogs Bernese make.

Contact corner 5

Biffer! He is a regular visitor to Rock HQ on his hols, here's his Christmas pic, handsome dude!

Contact corner 4

We have heard how another member of the class of 2009 is doing, Nala (aka Tiny) who lives over there in Norfolk way is such a happy healthy girl that she is hipped 3/3 and elbowed 0/0 and so is thinking of having some grandkids for the Rockmeister and Reba. Fingers crossed we will have the patter of grandpups paws here first!

Maybe....

...Maybe not.

Snow fun

Snow!!!!

It makes him so happy!

Spotty making the most of the last bits of snow.

Catch up corner 3

Heres an update on the warrior who went north, Trojan, he was a massive pup, hence the name and Andy and Lisa have given him a lovely home that he has erm.... well.... done a spot of DIY to! Bless him.

Hi
Hope you are all well, just thought we would send some up to date pictures of Trojan and his destruction lol. Trojan has taken a liking to lino!!! He decided it would be fun to rip a huge hole in the the kitchen floor, we had new flooring put down just over a fornight ago then Trojan decided it might be fun to do it again!!!! Other than that he is doing really well very loving and has fitted in with the family brilliantly . We went to Rome for a long weekend last week and he went to stay with Andy's parents who own a pub, he had a great time entertaining the regulars, who were sorry to see him leave.
Hope you have a lovely christmas and all the best for the new year

Lisa and Andy

Catch up corner 2

Heres another update

A very Merry Christmas to all at Rock HQ.As promised attached is a picture of Truffle (honorary clan member) and Maia (Rocky and Sally's daughter). I think she looks just like her dad :-)We can't believe its almost a year since she chose us in Lyndon & Beryl's kitchen and came to live with us. She and her big sister Truffle get on like a house on fire and have loads of fun together.
This is them in front of their Christmas tree which they helped to put up. I can't believe its still standing and in one piece!!!
Hope Rocky is getting better after his ordeal. Maia has been very worried about her dad and sends him lots of licks and woofs.
All the very best for Christmas & the New Year Susan, Nigel, Truffle & Maia

Well yes she does have her Dads good looks and he is getting much better. You do have a lovely tree, we do too, but with three male dogs and a tree indoors its a constant vigil!!!!

Catch up corner 1

We have had a lot of emails in the last couple of days from DBMD clan members letting us know how their pups are doing. Heres one from the class of 2009, Rocky and Reba's first litter, Brooke who lives with Martin and Jenny. They have composed a few lines below describing Brooke, who seems just like several of her brother and sisters in habits. She is certainly a thrill seeker going up Snowdon and hopefully will attend our first annual Bernese Treasure Hunt next year!

Brooke often rolls in fox poo, delights in eating dung and loves getting muddy. She has recently enjoyed stealing and devouring Christmas cards and letters BUT how can you not forgive the most cuddly monster lap dog you could own.

She earned true Mountain Dog status when she climbed The Pyg Track on Snowdon with us in October. We hope to do Ben Nevis next year and hopefully we will get her to Bern for some alpine adventures at some point in the future - or perhaps Bonsai mountain!

Looks promising

The is she isn't she debate continues but it looks more promising that Bliss is as she carried a load of towels and throws to the landing and made a nest.

Festive feeling

No its not Rocky, but nearly as handsome its his son. We found this pic sent to us ages ago, so sorry, of Barney feeling festive.

Creature comforts

Aunt Montana enjoying a nap, she takes it seriously

HPD update

HPD aka Harvey Puppy Dog is loving life in the midlands where he carefully coats himself in the offerings from foxes.

Berner bathtime for the stinky boy

turns him back into a splendid example of the Dolyhir Clan.

As good as new...almost

The Rockmeister is making a full recovery after his dust up with Reuben. They are a bit wary round each other but Reuben has said sorry and was found cleaning Rocky's ear. It will be a while until Rocky grows his fur back, and the cut inside his ear which you can see in the bottom pic will leave a big scar.

When the sun shines...

...on the bonsai mountain its time to take the Berners out!

Night Vision

Walks at the moment tend to be in the dark, thank goodness for the night vision headset!

Bah! Humbug!

Bliss not quite on message with the Christmas spirit. And we are still not sure if she is pregnant or just fat. Another two and half weeks will tell.

Lessons in Photography 94

If you are going to take photos of your dog doing tricks, like sitting on the four foot six high hayledge balemake sure when he does this feat of agility you have him fully in shot

or that you both know which way you should face the camera

but with a bit of patience it all comes together! Spotty the agility Berner!

Dear Daddy

Poor Rocky, heres a pic of him this morning showing the damage to his ear, hes getting better, out and about as the bottom pic shows and after another trip to the vet today he is well on the way to a full recovery. He got a letter today from one of the kids which also cheered him up.
Dear daddy

It has just come to my attention, via my personal private secretary and general dogs body that you are entirely pawly and under the weather. All I can say is if u need me to knit you a woolly scarf I will do my best or you could borrow your dads wooly hat to keep your ears warm. I know from personal experience that visiting the vets is not good, but they are trying to make you better so please behave as the gentleman I know you to be.
I know it's usual for adults to suggest things but if you find your skin itches where you had your shave , holland and Barratt do a Manuka honey cream that both heals and stops the itch . Any way I had better make sure they shut the shop properly.... So get well soon, and I think you are the best looking dad ever.

All my love your troublesome daughter Theia La Diva xxxxx

Ps love to everybody else too.

Many thanks

Thanks to all those that have emailed get wells to Rocky, he is a bit perkier and almost lets you touch his ear to put the meds on it, he will soon be back to his handsome self. Heres a pic of how he should look!

Poor lad

This is our top dog Rocky Saturday morning looking as handsome as ever and keeping an eye on the concrete for me. He looks a bit different now. The poor lad got into a very rare squabble over a bone with Reuben and got his ear bit Saturday night. Sunday he refused to come out from under the kitchen table but eventually allowed us to bath him and check him over, he had a cut inside his ear, the other was bruised but otherwise he seemed ok, just subdued. Monday he was clearly in some distress so we took him to the vet. They sedated him as a precaution, he being big, and so we left him with them. On collection the poor lad has had his whole head shaved, his ears shaved and he looks a right sorry state. The cut on his ear was infected so Vet decided best approach was a head shave. Rocky looks dreadfully sad and has taken to living under the kitchen table and avoiding mirrors. When we are over the trauma we might put a pic on the blog of the poor chap. A Berner with a skinhead is a sight to behold!

Montana's Mountain

Aunt Montana on the Bonsai Mountain

Wasted

Expensive dog toys are wasted on Spotty, he prefers au natural wooden toysAnd as for his platinum monogrammed dog water bowl, that was a waste of money too.

Maybe

Bliss maybe, maybe not, we cant tell and neither can she!

Spot light on Spotty

Handsome lad

He aint heavy!

This handsome lad is Reuben's brother Morgan who dropped a few hints to his owners that he wanted a playmate. Spending hours with a concrete Bassett was a subtle clue so they decided that they would get him the real deal, so why have one Berner when you can have two?

Heres Oliver, 8 weeks old and fabulous so he can be an honary clan member and he looks very happy to have landed with his new family.

Remember Berners are like chocolates, one is never enough!