Stop him Dad!

Elf, Reuby and Bliss watching Will.I.Am steal their dinners!

Its a puzzle

 Ritchie relaxing

with a puzzle

A Christmas letter from Mr Bo Jangles

Hi folks, Me again, well "wow" what a Christmas I had, so many presents and so much food, it was fantastic. Can't wait for next year, don't think much of the photographer today though,as you can see I'm trying to smile after devouring another dinosaur bone. Well, we hope you all enjoyed yourselves wherever you are and hope you also received lots of presents. Not long now until New Year's Eve, Hmmm I wonder if their will be a few more gifts coming my way? Anyway, we wish you all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. Enjoy. Speak to you again in 2014. Keep smiling, stay warm and safe. Love Bo-Jangles Xxx

Room for a small one?

Ritchie is a total cuddle monster and has to be close to at least one of us at all times.

A Christmas Wish

Firstly, thank you to all who have sent updates and Christmas pics of the clan members, they will be posted soon but time has been spent in a right drama looking for Tasha who objected to being stepped on by a pony and instead of running 100 yards to cottage, ran off into the darkness risking life and limb. After much searching it became too dangerous to clamber over the bonsai mountain in the dark and at 1 a.m. we had to leave her to fend for herself overnight.

First light saw several searches of the smallholding, then wider area and the Bonsai Mountain. Twice on foot, once on horseback. Given the size of the area needed to be covered we needed help and that's where friends and neighbors came in.

Elf, Tasha's step mum spent the whole morning searching with me but there was only so much we could do. The local Hunt were meeting at a local hotel so we called the master of the hunt and asked them to keep a look out. They did more than that, they announced to all at the meet that there was a missing pup on the mountain and by late lunch time as I was placing posters on strategic routes into the mountain and woodland Super Grandma who had been visiting for Christmas drove past me on the way home and alerted me to the fact that some walkers had spoken to her and had seen Tasha a few minutes earlier a mile away. Miranda was persuaded to go up the mountainside and within a few minutes I was shouting at a man on a horse high on a hill if there was any news. Yes, lots, two more members of the hunt were around the crest of the hill watching Tasha for me, they had got her in sight for some time and had phoned our house but me being organised had left the cottage without my phone.
As soon as it takes a fat bloke to "run" up a mountain I was with the riders who asked if I was looking for a massive black dog. Sort of. Anyway they led me along the trail to where she was sat on a the remains of a stone wall, clearly terrified. So much so that when I approached she took off over the fields and into the local forestry. Or at least she tried. Thankfully the bit she chose had extra good fences and she was cornered, until I got to her. Clearly not happy after her ordeal she let me know by barking like a maniac and cowering and it took several minutes of calm talking beofre she suddenly realised she was not in trouble and safe. Then the tail wagging and hugs started. Lead firmly attached we walked back across the fields and rejoined the mountain where we met up with several members of the hunt who were clearly happy to have helped, Tasha also met several dozen fox hounds who were exceptionally polite and well behaved. In all without their practical help and careful eye we would still be looking for Tasha. So a big thank you.

An equally big thank you to the Great Northern Clan members, the Richardsons who in a modern version of the 101 Dalmatians great bark passed on the details of our drama to BMDCGB, facebook, twitter, the RSPCA and others which was a great help and comfort especially on the 3rd search of the mountain that morning. So thanks to all who joined the electronic search, those tat texted or tweeted helpful advice or supportive comments, thanks to Leanne Marsden for alerting the Welsh Berner Club. We were left in no doubt that if we didn't find her, when she was found we would know! So thanks to you all its a happy tale.

This is she after her Christmas dinner, snoozing and content.

Not mental

Reuben.
Mad as a box of frogs.

Sad Tidings

 Rock HQ received some sad news the other day, Lucy, the Dolyhir Clan Great Great Grandma has had to be put to sleep just days short of her 11th birthday. Lucy was the first Berner I ever met, a lovely girl who gave us Rocky, who met Reba and so the Dolyhir Clan was born. She was fit and healthy almost to the end, she went a bit off her food and after a few days the vet found liver and pancreas problems and the sad decision was mad to put her to sleep.

Many of you will have met Lucy at the first ever Annual Dolyhir Bernese Mountain Dog Treasure Hunt 2012 along with her owner Amanda and Rocky's brother Chester. Here's a nice pic of the clan gathering, three generations as Buddy is her grandson from Rocky and Molly.
Its always sad when a Berner crosses the rainbow bridge but Lucy had a full and happy life, a long one too, and she will be with Montana again.

On Maneuvers

The three members of the Great Northern Clan on maneuvers doing hill drills as part of their fitness programme. 

Reuby goes back for more!

The great North Clan

The Budmeister (right) Reuby (middle) and Bonnie (non Berner Honorary Clan member) of the Great North Clan. Reuby is Reba's and Reuben's daughter while Buddy is Rocky and Molly's son. Bonnie is a very lucky and happy St Bernard rescue.

Here he comes to save the day!

 Here's Glen and Buddy waiting for me at a railway station. Once again Glen and his family saved the day for me so a big thank you. Full tale to follow.

Meantime here's a handsome lad in close up.

A letter from Mr Bo Jangles

Hi folks
Another week passes by and no matter what my owners said I've made it onto the sofa, this is the life I have to say. Well not long now before Xmas, I can't wait? I wonder what presents i'll get this year. I hope you all have a good week although bad weather is forecast, never mind. Keep smiling, I hope you all have a nice week.
Look after yourselves.
 Love
Bo Jangles XX

Let me entertain you!

Poor BooBoo. Hes a bit tired after a prolonged romance with Bonny who we took back to the far west of Wales today. Poor lads completely done having to entertain her for nearly two weeks! All being well the fruits of his labours will arrive in February 2014. Til then he's probably going to sleep.

Who's sorry now?

To find out what these two little darlings have been up to tune in to www.talesfromtherock.co.uk but its not for the squeamish.

Changing rooms

Spotty and Reuben exploring the newly created rooms at HQ

My little helper

Day 2 of the big build at Rock HQ and Spotty, even spottier than ever (paint), is guarding the door frame for me.

Which way?

They went that way!

Ritchie and Tasha watching the clan on early morning tearabout.

Wham bham!

Reubens feeling very pleased with himself as he has just claimed Bonny so all being well there will be some more clan members in the far west of Wales by mid feb 2014.

I surrender!

Rocky is whats known as gun shy in the dog world, that is to say instead of running towards gunfire he will run away. Some would say that that is sensible. Anyway today he was at the local pub entertaining the kiddies when one bright spark popped a balloon and for a 54kg dog he showed remarkable agility by clearing the bar and hiding behind the landlord.

Chunky Monkies

 Tasha and Ritchie take 5, they are growing, and Ritchie is mahooosive weighing in at 26kg with Tasha a mere 22kg. Think its likely that Ritchie is going to be as big as BooBoo.
 BooBoo is sitting in the conservatory looking longingly at Bonny, she is sitting the other end looking daggers at him. No love in the air at the moment.

Gerroff, yes I have washed behind my ears!

Tasha getting a washing lesson from Uncle Bear.

Standard pose

Heres Baloo in a standard pose for a happy young Berner. He's doing well, isn't the brain of Britain, gave himself tummy ache from eating black berries, but is a joy to his family.

Reasons to be cheerful

 Heres why Reuben is so happy.

Bonny, daughter of Lucy and Rocky, has come to stay. If he's as busy as he was with Bliss and Elf we should have some news early next year!

Its all a blur!

BooBoo doing a doormat again, his tail at mach speed is all a blur. Find out why he is so happy tomorrow!

A letter from Mr Bo Jangles

Hi Folks Another week passes by, I'm well and as you can see I've just returned from my morning walk and I'm bushed so I think a quick map before elevenses? Xmas is just around the corner so I expect you're all busy no matter where you are in the world getting ready for this event. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy your weekend, speak to you next week Love Bo Jangles xx

Unbelievable!

 Today I went to collect our portraits of Rocky and Reba painted by the utterly brilliant artist

 Clare Villar who has captured the two founder members of the Dolyhir Clan in exquisite detail.

 The photos do not do justice to the detail and quality of the work, all they need is the breath of life, they could not be more true to likeness of our fantastic dogs. I was moved to shed a tear but as I am a bloke I managed to hide it, almost. We cannot thank Clare enough for creating such lovely work and we are planning on having the four from the class of 2009 painted next.

Here it is on the wall at HQ.
Anyone wanting their Berner immortalized in watercolor get in touch with us and we will gladly pass your details to Clare.