Its a Berner thing!

 When I was visiting the great North Clan I was shown this lovely book

 Not sure if you can read the text on the shakey pics

 but its a fab book full of lovely illustrations

 this pic looks like our house!

Heres Rocky and Reba on the landing getting some peace and quiet.

Track this down on Amazon!

Soggy doggies

Wet weather maneuvers above Rock HQ. Booboo and the girls.

The Berner Bounce

Spotty the action Berner mid sideways bounce. He did this until he crashed into the skip.

Happy new cheesecakes!

Running the gauntlet with Tasha and Ritchie.

Happy new year!

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.