Current Litters
Litter M
Our Adalicia and Beowulf puppies have arrived! 
Born 10/20/11
We have 6 girls and 2 boys.

Please scroll down to see individual pictures!

Just hear those cart bells ringing and jing ting tingaling too. Come on its lovely weather for a cart ride together with you!

As this is our "M" themed litter we are going to go with Movie Titles that contain M.  These are not set in stone, so if any of you have some fun ideas to replace what I have, please share your thoughts! 

All of these puppies are spoken for, but we still encourage you to enjoy the pictures and stories.
 
 
 

 Oct. 27th, 2011  1 week update:

 The puppies are doing great.  Like all newborns, they loose weight initially as they wait on mother's milk to come in.  By day 3 she was in full supply and puppies had gained back their birth weight and are now packing on that extra stuff for the busy growing that will be around the corner.  I am frequently asked if weight indicates how big the puppy will be.  Not At All!  Weight can fluctuate daily, weekly, and is influenced if they just nursed or not.  Once pup might have a full belly when I weigh, and the other might be hungry.  I weigh to show steady growth patterns.  We have frequently had our smallest pups be our largest dogs and visa versa.  Both mom and pups are very content and quiet right now and I am simply enjoying this time.  We have begun our work with the  Bio Sensor and we have already had some visitors.  I will update what number of visitors we have each week.  We are at 14 this week, but our main focus on socializing will be between age 3 weeks and 8 weeks.  Our goal is to have 100 visitors before you take your puppy home.  Of those visitors, we will try to balance children, men, women, and elderly. We also encourage YOU to come and visit the puppies before they go home.


 


 

 November 3rd, Week 2 update:
13 new visitors this week.  Total visitors so far: 37



 They are all doing fantastic, but they are still little:).  Not much activity other than sleeping and growing.  Again, they are all still very content and happy.  This last week has been much quieter than the first which indicates to me that they are regulating their temperatures on their own better (They will need no extra heat as of next week) and their tummies are full.   Last night Molly  & Vada were the first to open eyes and this morning about 4 of them have their eyes opening. 


 


 





11/9/11 Week 3 update:
Total visitors: 42
This has been a trying week!  The pups are great, but mom started in with an infected uterus (pyometra) and mastitis.  This caused a pretty high fever and multiple trips to the vet.  I believe we are on the safe side now, but it was pretty serious there for a little while.  She is responding well to her antibiotics and continuing to nurse her puppies.  I did start them on bottles last week as she was not producing enough while her fever was so high.  They readily accepted, and as of last night, they had their first "gruel" in a dish.  I only supplemented enough to make sure they were gaining weight each day, but not enough to satisfy them.  I needed them to continue to stimulate mom and keep the unaffected mammary glands drained and healthy.  So, you might not see huge weight gain this last week, but all is just as it should be and this will NOT effect the size of the adult dogs.  They will still be what ever their genes have already predisposed them to be.  Antibiotics are not ideal for people or animals, but there is a purpose for them.  We worked with our vet to choose the safest and most effective antibiotic for mom and pups.  We believe this was a situation that warranted the antibiotics.



The puppies never lack for attention.  This little guy came to snuggle puppies and he took it seriously!  If only he had a bigger lap, he would have managed to hold them all at once:).  If I would have been thinking, I would have snapped pictures of his, and his sister's, chins.  They allowed the puppies to suck on their chins and both proudly left with huge hickies on their chins!  I asked them if they were going to be embarrassed at school, but they promptly replied: "No way!  Everyone is jealous that we get to cuddle puppies!"  We are only up 5 visitors this week.  I didn't do too much due to Addie being so sick.
Next week they will be visiting a kindergarten class, and a week from tomorrow they will have a 5th grade class coming here for a field trip.  Their socialization is still in progress!

 
It was messy, but fun.  They loved every bite!  This is their new doggie condo.  Addie and pups are ready for a bigger place and they have moved to our attached garage where we have our "condo's" set up.  The whelping box is bigger, and it has a nicer area for mom to be able to get away from the puppies and have her "breaks:)" Dinner consisted of:  goat milk, egg yolk,  turkey, pumpkin, banana, white rice, Pediacare (verses water at this point).  They will move to water this coming week.

I thought I did a very nice job of cleaning them and drying them after their experience, but mom came in and pulled the white glove:  I failed, so she took over getting them pristine once again:)!

and yes...ears and eyes are open, they are walking, and I have heard a couple barks and even growls.  The puppy tussling has begun:)!

I had to include this above picture.  This is how Addie lies down with her pups. She gently collects them into a pile and then lies down encircling them.  It is such a tender process that I marvel at it each time I watch.  She is currently at 109 lbs and she knows she has to be gentle with these little 3-4 pounders!
11/17/11     4 Week update:
Visitors this week, 25.  Total so far: 62
They are getting to be the fun puppies everyone has been waiting for.  Their voices have been discovered and they use them:)!  We get howling, barking, growling and everything between:).  They mostly use their voices to show their displeasure when mom leaves them, but they also use them to play with each other and greet people.  The tails are wagging like crazy now and they are getting pretty steady on their feet.  No runs have been attempted yet, but I have witnessed a couple pounces.  They are trying to decide if fingers are meant to be pacifiers or chew toys at this point.  Some have moved past the desire to suck fingers, but some have not.
Addie is doing fantastic.  She is healed up and still nursing well.  It is normal for her to start putting some space between her and the pups at this point.  She has become MUCH more lenient about letting people visit her pups.  This last Monday I took her plus the pups to my niece's kindergarten class and Addie just laid down and enjoyed all the attention she got as well.  We had more compliments on Addie's attitude than the pups! 
We worked hard to expose the puppies to as many stresses as possible this week.  This last week was a small window before their "fear" reflex arrived, yet they were aware of their surroundings.  I have used the shop vac in the whelping box, run an air compressor, dropped dishes, had different styles of radio playing, set them on different surfaces, and of course new people.  They also received new bedding this week...pine shavings.  I can no longer keep up with the amount of washing needed to use blankets.  Toys have also been introduced this week.  Only today have they shown mild interest in them, but that will increase daily.

visitors, and on the way to school!



 






The nursing pictures are done so you can measure their growth to "scale"

11/25/11 week 5:
53 new visitors this week, total visitors: 113
Many of you came for visits this last week:)!  Yeah!

Socialization is our main focus right now.  They have been on two car rides this last week, experienced the snow, the grass, our flower bed, the gravel drive way, our kitchen, and my sister's house.
We started off their 5th week with a field trip at our home.  We had a 4/5th grade classroom come to visit the "farm."  We had to borrow a neighbors cow, but the kids got to milk, collect our chicken eggs, grind fresh wheat, make homemade butter, whipped cream, buttermilk pancakes, and fresh apple topping...and of course got to play with puppies.  I was not the one taking the pictures as I was busier helping in the kitchen, but we got a few pictures that will be fun to share. 





 



  
It's getting too cold outside guys...time to go in:(.  Today marks the first day they object to going indoors!
12/1/11 6 week update!
 I am passed counting the visitors...we have passed 150!  But, we are not done socializing them.  We continue to have visitors in our home and take them out of the home.  They can tuck 5 car rides under their "collars."
Personalities are blooming like crazy.  One more week and they will be who they say they are.  They certainly show their tendencies though.  Alonzo and Monte are hard...one day I think Alonzo is the Alpha male, then the next I think it is Monte.  Monte was at the head of the pack for today's venture though (well...following mom:).  We went on a small walk in the mountains behind us and he and (YES!) Molly led the group to the new explorations.  Monte is a little more reserved than Molly, but Molly had checked out the whole perimeter before the other pups even thought of leaving mom.  None of the other pups seemed afraid of the new venture, and they didn't take long to move out on their own.
Their little teeth are fully in and usable!  They can already eat their dry kibble alone, although I have a tendency to still put that warm gravy on after they have been outside in the cold.  Ohhh...and that is new too.  They LOVE it outside and have spent full days in the back dog run (can't let them loose in the back yard due to horses and other dangers) or front yard.
Okay...enough and to what you are really waiting for!

why puddle pads are useless!






One of our field trips...Children's story at Church.  The lesson for the kids: God has a home waiting for you with a brand new name picked just for you!  He is anxiously waiting for you!  Paralleled to all of you that already have names picked just for your special arrival.  Addie brought her family right down the center isle as proudly as could be!


The above is me trying to get a picture of Gracie's collar so I would be able to take individual pictures of her.  I was attacked!
Oh, how I wish this was not a fuzzy pictures.  They were so cute!


Out of the snow and back home too a sunny yard, bones, and lunch!



Yep...I get to eat what ever is left over!!!!! Lunch consisted of Wellness Large Breed Puppy food, a little cottage cheese, squash, apples, and warm water to help warm us up!

But...I still end up sharing it:)
Next...play time on full, warm tummies..



Nap!!!!!!!!

12/8/11  7 week update:
I see that some of the flipped images did not save as I intended!  I will need my guru friend to fix it:).  Sorry!

I am beyond amazed that they are already 7 weeks old!  I ALMOST don't want to let them go.  They are such a sweet bunch of babies and I have had so much fun with them.  This last week they have traveled alone/by pairs/ and as a group in the car with out their mother. We have been preparing for our big trip to Portland next week.  It can get pretty loud in the car as they know where the exit door is and they are convinced if they yell at the door it will open for them.  There is no more hesitancy when they get out of the car in a new location.  They delve right into their exploration.  We had 1 more field trip too a school yesterday.

I am VERY happy with this group of puppies.  I was breeding for more compact bodies, better coats, and slightly shorter leg.  I believe that most of these puppies demonstrate a success here:).  Each puppy has a fantastic temperament, beautiful head, and gorgeous soulful eyes too boot.
As most of you know...we took the "family" photo this week.  Thank you too Ned and Cindy who helped me pose them:)!  Here are a few of the pictures showing the process:

That is Gracie leaving the picture.  She was determined that if she was too nap..it would be by me, not under the tree.  Obviously, she finally gave in...






There were a total of 25 new people met yesterday!  I am finding, that once again, it is harder to find adult males to socialize these puppies.  Although they have been with some (maybe 35 out of the 175 +), the vast majority has been women and children.  Once these babies go home with you, I ask that you focus on socializing with men before they are 12 weeks of age. And of course..I still have a couple weeks to work on this too!

Finally...We have played for a couple hours, been brushed, weighed, micro-chipped, and photographed.  Thanks for bringing us in and now LEAVE US ALONE!
 
Now a note that most of you might like to hear!  Last week I was not too encouraged that this batch would be easy to potty train.  But this week, they can travel in the car with out making a mess, they can play in the house and let me know when they need out, and they have deemed the back part of their indoor run as their potty area.  If you keep up the training...it should be a breeze:)!  When they woke up from this much needed nap, all 8 pups followed me outside to the grass to do their job.  Not one accident:))))))

It is time for you all to send me a well scented toy.  They will begin their crate training next Wednesday.  While in a crate, I will put their toy or blanket (that smells of their new home and you) in with them.  Be aware that they will have been exposed to a crate, but there will still be an adjustment period when they go home due to their new environment.

 12/15/11:
 I have run behind with multiple things, so will update pictures as the babies go home this following week.  They are all doing great and the litter got very nice complements from Pat Hastings, our evaluator.  I am still collecting pictures, so this is not the end:).
12/23/11
We are 9 weeks old and HOME!!!  Scroll down to see us in our new homes:)

Whooo Hooo...the first new parents have arrived!
Swiss Silhouette's Mystic River
"Alonzo"
Now: KENAI
Male
Eagle Point, OR


 

 


Birth weight: 1 lb
Week 1: 1 lb 9 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 8 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs 6 oz
Week 4: 5 lbs 4 oz
Week 5: 7 lb 8 oz
Week 6: 9 lb 6 oz
Week 7: 12 lbs 8.5 oz
Week 8: 16 lbs
Kenai is their 2nd Berner from us.  Sesi, from litter D is the other BMD you will see in this block:)


HELLOOOOOOOOOO SHELLY!! We are all home safe and sound... WHAT a trip!!  I'm telling you... Our little man is a real trooper!!  He did fantastic in the car.  Very little complaining considering 6 hours of traveling last night...and another 5 hours today.  He would sleep...play...and "holler" if he needed a "wee-wee stop"!  I gotta tell you though...we are ALL pretty whooped tonight!! The only "thing" was how Sesi interacted with him in the car.  If he got too close she would growl and get as far away as possible.  It sure didn't stop Kenai from trying to engage her...bite at her toes...or chew on her tail! BUT... When we arrived at my Sister's house in Portland Sesi got very protective.  My Sister has two BIG Golden-doodles.  They are pretty "frisky".  Sesi would plant herself between them and Kenai and if they got too close to him she would GROWL at them.  It was pretty funny.  It was like... "HEY! I may not like him so much yet but he's MY BROTHER!" HAHAHHAHAHAHAA!!  Sesi continued her "aloof" behavior with Kenai until we got home and I took them for some play time outside.  When Sesi figured out Kenai could play "tug"...well...GAME ON!!  They played and played and romped and romped until Kenai was totally worn out!  IT WAS GREAT!!  Of course... I had my camera in hand.  I caught a few pictures...and I'm sure there will be PLENTY more over the next few days... DUH!!  HAHAHHAHAHAAAA... Kenai did awesome his first night.  He got me up briefly only twice in the night.  The first time I took him outside...he did his "business"...and then right back in his playpen to sleep.  The second time...out for his business...back in the pen...and he started howling... I mean "head-back-nose-up-howling"!!  It was HILARIOUS!  He woke up the entire household!  He is a LOUD little man!!  SO I opened the flap on his pen...put my fleece jacket inside...and he curled up on it and went right back to sleep!  We all slept soundly!!   I took him to meet Dustin at the store tonight...along with my staff!  OH HOW HE IS LOVED BY ALL!!  He is now in my office with me...curled up sleeping by my feet.  He's had a busy couple of days.  He seems very content and happy!  OH HOW SMART HE IS!!  He comes to his name ALREADY...loves his toys...is eating well...pooping good...and "sits" on command for his treat. We did a very unscientific "weigh in" this morning.  I put my 11 year old niece on the scale and weighed her...then put Kenai in her arms.  It was a 19.2 pound difference.  He'll get weighed at the Vet's on Thursday and I'll let you know.   Shelly... I can not thank you enough for this amazing "gift".  I so admire all that you do...and all that you are!  You are truly an angel looking over this magnificent breed.  I will do all that I can to make you proud of this boy!  He is something special...as are YOU! MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND... GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS!!

1/5/11
Here's the pictures.  I sent the entire folder...easier than sending you one by one.  Just delete what you don't want. OHHHHHHHH... So happy to hear that the wedding went well...and that you had a fun and safe journey!  I'll bet all was beautiful!  What a crazy season for you...fun and gratitude filled...but definitely crazy and hectic, eh?? Crazy and fun for us too.  15 here at the house for 5 days over Christmas. TRUST ME...going to our store at times was a nice respite... HAHAHHAHAHAHA!! BUT my family is awesome...did most of the cooking and cleaning (except Christmas day which was on me!)...and picking up and cleaning the house before they left.  SO...MUCH...FUN...to have family here!  Kenai was of course the hit of the season.  I had to keep people from holding him as he would get fed up with it after awhile.  OHHHHH...he has a little "temper". It's so funny to watch when he is "done"...he sure lets you know. Kenai is doing fantastic!!  No other word for it.  He's smart and responsive.  I can't believe how quickly he learns.  He adapted so quickly to life here...I never felt any anxiety from him over his "move".  He just seemed to ease right in!  Kenai and Sesi are doing GREAT!  Sesi-Sissy sets pretty clear "boundaries"... And Kenai responds very quickly.  He is very submissive to her...rolling on his back for her whenever she "scolds" him (which is pretty darn funny!).  Their play is so much fun to watch.  She is gentle when she needs to be with him...and has some pretty strong protective instincts with the Little Man.  Kenai knows his way around the property...how to ask to get in and out.  I just can't stop watching him...or them together.  We have a fun "romp fest" every night after dinner out in our pasture.  They run and roll and play with toys.  Kenai lets Sesi roll him all over the pasture...or drag him around by a tug-toy like a baby seal!  He's a wet little mud ball by the time they are done...but they both LOVE IT!!   He checked out great at the Vet.  He was supposed to go the Thursday after our return...but the Vet was sick so we didn't get him in until the following Monday (day after Christmas).  He weighed in at 19.6 pounds...got his shots and worming.  No affects from either.  I'll stop on Thursday (11 weeks) and weigh him in and let you know.  I SWEAR I can watch him grow!! He LOVES his food.  I've got him on the Large Breed Wellness Puppy...plus a little Natural Balance chicken and sweet potato canned warmed and mixed in...sometimes some apple and carrots chopped up too.  He literally "dances" around the kitchen while I'm fixing their meals.  He gets sooooo excited...sometimes barking...which is cute now but obviously can't be encouraged.  He's learning to sit, calm himself, before I put the food bowl down. He's doing better with his "biting"...and my hands are healing...HAHHAHAHAHAHAA!!  When he grabs we give a high pitched "OW"...and push him away and offer a toy.  If he returns we do it again.  Third time???...a nice shake by the scruff with a growling "wrong" in his face. He's realizing that he has to be gentle...YAY!!  We are all in love with the little guy...Sesi as much as the rest of us.  They are going to make an awesome-twosome!   These pictures are from our favorite winter romp spot up at Lake of the Woods.  There were a couple of inches of fresh snow...enough for Kenai to pad around in.  The lake was frozen...and Kenai was really curious about the rocks under the clear ice...well until he started "ice skating".  FUNNY!! Sesi, of course, totally LOVES the snow and the freedom and kept Kenai moving from one new experience to another.  I felt it was a good place to get him out on hike without worry.  It was so quiet...except for the energetic vocal play of my two Fur-Kids.  They BOTH like to "talk"...OY VEY!
Swiss Silhouette's Steel Magnolia
"Maggie"
now: Shelby
Female
Renton, WA
 



 
 

Bindi and Maggie sharing a bone.
Maggie was the busy one today.  She didn't want to sit and pose.  But...she did want to play with Bindi.  No matter where Bindi went to get away, Maggie found her:).

Really?  Why DO you do this to us?




Birth weight: 15 oz
Week 1: 1 lb. 9 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 11 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs 6 1/2 oz
Week 4: 4 lbs 10 oz
Week 5: 7 lbs 3 oz
Week 6: 9 lbs
Week 7: 12 lbs
Week 8: 15 lbs 8 oz



Good morning,   Had hoped to send a note last night, but after 13-hours of labor, our new baby was very demanding of attention right to the point we dropped. LOL.   - First off, thanks for everything Shelly. We love your place and sincerely admire the wonderful life you and Bill have made for yourselves, your kids and animals in Cove. We look forward to sharing all that is to come with Shelby and SS. We LOVE our girl so much and could not be happier.   (it's okay if you don't have time to read all the rest... stories you've heard season after season I'm sure... but I'll highlight the critical stuff..)   - The car ride... she piddled her pillow in the crate before we hit La Grande, but otherwise no more accidents in the car. Stopped for a couple more piddles and as many false alarms. She LOVED riding in her crate (without a door). No crying - a very happy, friendly, snoozy pup the whole 6 hours. Lot's of good bonding, especially with Suz' lap.   - Once home, male socialization started almost immediately, as three 18+ year old guys we're home waiting for her arrival. However, she had zero interest because she was famished from the trip, crazed to get food in her belly, so she finished off a full cup of dinner (kibble/core only + her dewormer which she actually liked), went to her potty area for #1 and #2, then came in and finally availed herself to meet the boys.   - She is quickly bonding with her potty area. As of 2am last night, she now goes almost immediately after walking out with us. Besides a couple excitement piddles, she did pop two #1 squats in the family room while we played with her last night. This almost immediately after pottying in her yard too. Her bladder has a mind of it's own right now. She'd be sniffing just 10 minutes after piddling outside, and we'd think there was no way she was sniffing the carpet to go AGAIN, but sure enough, she's going again. Water intake has been light. Stool was mostly intact - not too loose. She's doing a lot of licking her privates once in her potty area.   - She had a rough first hour in her crate last night. Constant loud and sorrowful protest from 11 to midnight. Who can blame her with sooooo many life changes in one day. Her old pack was gone, but her new pack checked in on her at first, but ultimately did not rescue her and let her cry it out. She woke us up for a potty break at 2am - and went within 3 minutes. She was so happy to see us. Her tail was going like never before. We spent another few minutes loving on her, but then back to the crate, lights off. Howling only lasted 20-25 minutes this time. She gave us 3 solid hours of sleep. Back out at 5:30 am - great piddle - in for breakfast (kibble/carrots/core) - back out for poop and piddle almost on command - then back in for play.   - Berners like their people!! We're finding it wasn't necessarily the crate last night, but rather just the lack of "us" being next to her. As of this morning, she'll be in the kitchen with us, and if we walk out of eyesight for only a few seconds, the same loud protests begin. She'll be more reassured as we go forward.   - Again with the pottying... she is PERFECT so far today. We go out at every major waypoint (after meals, after play, after naps) and she does her biz right away. Proud parents!!   - Once last night (when arriving home) and then this morning a half hour after breakfast, she's had a light gag reflex, or maybe the hiccups.
1/3/12:
Hi again,   Okay, the story continues.... I had to go back to my previous emails to find where I left off... December 23 seems like ages ago! :) Let me see if I can recall the milestones.   - First and foremost, we love her dearly as she does us. We are definitely her people and the bonds will be unbreakable for as long as we're blessed to have each other. We can already feel her puppy-hood slipping bye too fast. WE MUST TAKE MORE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!   - You know how they say it's always darkest before the dawn... after that all-night poopstorm way back on the 22nd, then swapping Kennels on the 23rd, we found that axiom to be sooooo true... thank God! By the 25th she was sleeping 5-6 hours without any fussing at night. The next couple days it was 6-7, and within the last week, there's even been an 8-hour "no-fuss" stint, all without any crate soiling!!! So that part of the equation is behind us. We're all sleeping just fine. ;)   - We are now on day 3 without a piddle in the house! She has rung the chimes twice, but not sure she really gets it yet. She has also walked to the door and cried. We still watch her like hawks when roaming free. She has a definite "dance" before her poops, but it's almost non-existant for piddles, so very hard to catch her in the house. Actually, with one exception, every other accident in the house was caught mid-squat... so we've been able to register our disappointment at the effective moment. Hopefully she's catching on. I will knock on wood the 3-day trend continues.   - teething continues... we've found we really like a particular brand of pizzle stick. It's odorless, natural, local, and frankly it's the only thing she can't tear through in a few sittings. The last 10" lasted ten days, so the protein/cal. intake is negligible. I previously told you she didn't have much interest in that corn starch bone you sent... well that changed one day, and then it didn't last more than two more. What brand was that? I think she'd enjoy a larger version. We bought a couple "edible" gluten-free Nyla bones, but they are messy and don't last more than a day, so we are done with those.   - I imagined the 3-meal daily feeding was going to be much grander and time-consuming affair, mostly because of the added vegees, fruit, etc., but in fact, it's been absolute cake!!! We simply stock up on a weekly basis with all kinds of fresh, colorful items, some with light cooking prep, others raw, and it's been a breeze. Every day it's something slightly different... eggplant, red cabbage, banana, sweet potato, peas, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli (very limited) apple, string cheese, plain yogurt, carrot pieces and shavings, moz cheese... we follow your template almost to the tee. Usually she finishes her bowl, but sometimes not. Over the last couple days, at certain meals she's asked for more after a full cup, so we may give her a 1/4 more of kibble. Her ribs are growing faster than her fat layer, so think we're doing okay with the slight increase. She was 16.6 on the 22nd and hasn't been weighed since. We'll do that this week.   - the most frustrating about her is her penchant for eating EVERYTHING outside. Of course, she's teething like mad, so we have to watch her chewing inside, but inside she has little interest in eating things. But outside, the world is her oyster, and it doesn't stop from the moment we leave the door. Her drive seemingly has nothing to do with her hunger level... she can be full, and walking away from her food bowl inside... and still immediately start eating twigs outside. I can't see any discretion on her part. I had no idea how many varieties of mushrooms we had in our yard, and how they grow in different areas. I've started to go outside with my reading glasses so I can spot them. While I've gotten to most of them, I'm also certain she's digested at least a mouthful of each, without any sickness or even loose stool, and she's never vomited, so maybe I should be using them for salads! LOL.   - she loves the outdoors, and our walks both on-leash and off. She doesn't fight the leash, but she insists on holding the end closest to the collar in her mouth... looks more like she's taking me a for a walk.   - she's super playful, and she's starting to bark a lot when personally interacting and playing us. No random barking, or doorbell barking... only when she's talking directly to you... looking you straight in the eye. Her voice is getting deeper too.   - our second day of puppy class (Shelby's first) starts tomorrow evening. We've been working with her on all the previous class lessons and she's doing well, especially with Come, Sit, Lay, Fetch (aka Go Get It)... she now sits before we put her meal bowl down.   - Sunday was a big day for her... when we got to the BMDCGS meet-up, most of the dogs were already there, and the overwhelming majority were adults. We knew it wouldn't be completely unfamiliar to her, growing up with all your adults. Still, it was like walking into swarms of Berners, where 4-6 adults would descend upon her and from our view, she would disappear for moments at a time under them. There were lots of club members by our side so everyone was watching it all very closely. Lots of nosing and rear-end sniffing but almost all seemed good spirited. There were a few growls but nothing intense. Some females actually growled at the males, seemingly on Shelby's behalf. Within the first few moments, a younger male took a liking to her and we all spent the next 5 minutes trying to stop the humping. Shelby took it all in stride, and was not shy about diving back into the mix of dogs and exploring the entire fenced acre. However, I did see something I had only seen a couple times before... her hind leg had quite a tremor going after the initial Berner free-for-all... I've seen it before in the bathtub and once outside too. I assume that's simply fear yes? There was nothing about any other aspect of her body language that suggested she was afraid or uncomfortable with all the interaction, but that hind leg was shaking like a leaf for awhile. Obviously, she crashed hard on the drive home, and was out most of the rest of the night. That was our first club event too, and being the only young puppy, everyone wanted to love on her, and we felt very confident with their supervision for those few moments when Shelby was with them. We got to see Julie Jackson's/RavenRidge Bijou, who is the Berner and breeder that really sealed the deal for us back in 2009, when we hung out with the both of them in Leavenworth. We were so glad Julie got to meet Shelby... if you didn't have the opening come up when you did, we'd be at the top of her Spring litter list, though we don't think it could have worked out any better... we were so proud to say our pup was from Swiss Silhouette and Shelly Leary's program!!!. I wish we weren't so darn far away and in different clubs. ;)
1/15/12:
Hi Shelly,   Shelby is doing wonderful! At last vet appt. (12 weeks) she weighed in at 26.2 lbs. She is learning to "ring the chimes" when she needs to go out to potty. Puppy classes are going well, she is very smart and loves to socialize with the other pups. We love her our little girl to pieces :)   We had some snow today, finally! So here are a few pictures from our play time outside.
Swiss Silhouette's Moon Over Montana
"Monte"
 Po
Male
Beaverton, Oregon


 



 Birth Weight: 14 oz
Week 1: . 1 lb. 6 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 7 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs. 9 oz
Week 4: 5 lbs 4 oz
Week 5: 7 lbs 9 oz
Week 6: 9 lb 8 oz
Week 7: 12 lbs 8 oz
Week 8: 16 lbs 8 oz

The other BMD in the above picture is Koa from litter "F"  I don't know that it was HER idea for a little brother, but she will learn to love him:)

I was hoping to get Po to trot.  Obviously flying lessons would be preferred!

Merry Christmas from Po and his new best friends:)


Po is doing AWESOME by the way:) What a sweet boy! He and Elli play hide n seek together, they are getting very close. It is so cute! I attached a video of their version of "hide, seek, tackle"... it went on for probably 10 minutes, including large amounts of laughter from my daughter, but unfortunately my phone only records for 30 seconds at a time. Hope it works on your computer!

Po2.wmv
For those of you running a Mac the video does not seem to want to display properly.  You can view the video however by clicking on the above link.
Swiss Silhouette's Miss Molly Alexis
"Molly"
Lexie
Caldwell, Idaho
Female





Cool guys! I hear running water!
 




I could pose...but I REALLY want the ornaments!
Birth Weight 1 lb.
Week 1: 1 lb  4 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 2 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs 6 oz
Week 5: 6 lbs 8 oz
Week 6: 8 lbs. 8 oz
Week 7: 11 lbs.
Week 8: 14 lbs 5 oz

Molly (now Lexie) has been diagnosed with Cerebellar_hypoplasia_(non-human).  We first noticed her symptoms when she was two days old and seemed "frantic" for her food.  We now understand that this was a symptom of lack of muscle control. We continued to wonder what would develop as we watched frequent tremors and lack of coordination, yet she was so out going.   Lexie is expected to live a full life, although her co-ordination will not ever be fully normal.  Her new parents have already had a BMD with something similar and understand how to provide for a special needs girl.  We are excited that Molly will live fairly close and we get to stay involved in her life.  Lexie will also have a big BMD brother named Lazlo that will help teach her the ropes:)


Hi Shelly, Bill & Family: Swiss Silhouette's Miss Molly Alexis is acclimating well.  She was a little fussy after we left and very curious about her surroundings until we started up Ladd Canyon, when she curled-up and went to sleep next to Lazlo.  She is so smart, attentive and alert.  She already loves to follow Lazlo down the yard and she has been on a couple of adventures out on the hillside on short hikes.  She runs after Lazlo and jogs alongside him for short distances and he will stop and patiently wait for her to catch-up.   She was pretty good all night, although little of the night was spent in the crate.  And what an appetite, she is enjoying not having to share her meals... Thank you for the potty training that you provided, as she is quick to let us know when she needs to go out.  Wes' Mom (89 in a couple of months) is staying with us for the next couple of days so Lexie is getting doted on from all angles.  Renee had to scold her for chewing on the carpet and Lexie barked back in defiance so lines are already being drawn regarding Alpha Female status.  She is a sweet and endearing little girl who should complement our family here at Bird's Nest  very well.   Thank you for helping make this a very special Christmas.  We will update you with photos and stories as Lexie continues to develop and grow.

01-15-12  
 Shelly & Bill:   Attached are a couple of photos of Alexis. Hopefully you can see how much she has grown.  She has one speed and that is run everywhere, but she does like following Lazlo around the hillside because he finds all kinds of interesting things to sniff. She is sleeping through the night now, for the most part and very playful for most of the day. Lots of energy in this one in everything she does.   She is approximately 26 pounds and can you believe she and her litter mates will be 3 months old the end of this next week…  Also attached is an article from Good Housekeeping that one of our neighbors sent to us, that of course, has a Berner as the subject matter.   We trust all is well with you take care.


Swiss Silhouette's Miss Congeniality
"Gracie"
Female








Birth Weight: 15 oz
Week 1: 1 lb. 11 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 12 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs. 13 oz
Week 4: 5 lbs 12 oz
Week 5: 8 lbs  4 oz
Week 6: 10 lb 11 oz
Week 7: 13 lbs 11.5 oz

Thank you Shelly, We went to the Vet yesterday and no issues.   In fact, after he was done examining her thoroughly he paraded her around the clinic showing her off to everyone.  He really thought she was special and she is!!     Potty  training and crate training is going very smoothly.  In fact, we only had to stop once on the trip back until we arrived in West Linn at the gas station where she promptly did her business when we walked around waiting to get service!  What a great little traveler...your numerous trips socializing with her and the rest of the gang really made a difference.  We are going on walks around the neighborhood and everyone comes out to greet my new little family member!  Gracie goes right up to them without any hesitation...tail wagging as fast as puppy possible!  Everybody loves the name Gracie and she is truly a little sweetheart. Enjoy the Holidays with your family.  You made mine extra special!!
Swiss Silhouette's Christmas Miracle
"Mona"
Tully
Happy Valley, Oregon
Female





This was too cute not to snap.  She was just enjoying the sunshine and stopped to let me belly rub her.  When I was done she just stayed and hoped for more:)

Mom and Mona napping in the sun.  It was 20 degree's out, but they didn't seem bothered until I woke up Mona for a photo shoot!
Birth Weight: 14 oz
Week 1: 1 lb. 4 oz
Week 2: 2 lb. 4 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs 4 oz
Week 4: 4 lbs 12 oz
Week 5: 7 lbs  3 oz
Week 6: 9 lb 8 oz
Week 7: 11 lbs 10 oz





Hi Shelly,   Everything is going great.  She has been a pretty easy puppy so far, and has fit in well with the family. Our extended family and friends come by often to play with her, and everybody just really loves her. Shannan took her to Sunday school last Sunday, and she sat under her chair for the whole class. Noka is very excited to have a puppy, but he does get nipped at quite a bit. Nothing serious, just loose clothing and his blankets are within easy reach for Tully.  Currently she spends the night in our master bathroom, and has let us sleep pretty good.  Each night gets a little better. Here is a photo taken tonight.
Swiss Silhouette's My Fair Lady
"Eliza"
Kate
Baker City, OR
Female



     
When Eliza goes home, she will come with her personal set of work out weights...she refuses to ever get behind!

Mona moved into the house, and Eliza moved into mom:)

Another sleepy, non excited baby...
 

Okay!  I did it!  I finally got those beads!
 Birth Weight: 14 oz
Week 1: 1 lb. 12 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 15 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs. 14 oz
Week 4: 5 lbs 13 oz
Week 5: 8 lbs 6 oz
Week 6: 11 lbs
Week 7: 14 lbs
Week 8: 17 lbs 11 oz

We hear (via phone:) that Eliza is doing fantastic!  She sleeps next to her new mom and dad, gets to go to preschool, and has 40 acres to explore!  And, again, they don't live too far away, so we get to watch her grow up:)

We are hearing great things about Kate!  Seems as though she has just gently slipped into her new life and has successfully transferred with only one night of fussiness, and few accidents in the house.   She is already learning to stack and visit with multiple ages of people.  Again...we love hearing the updates:)!
Swiss Silhouette's My Girl
"Vada"
Rosie
Female
Portland, Oregon






Is that a wink or a peek?

Birth Weight: 14 oz.
Week1: 1 lb. 5 oz
Week 2: 2 lb 4 oz
Week 3: 3 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs 11 oz
Week 5: 6 lbs 12 oz
Week 6: 7 lb 13 oz
Week 7: 10 lb 7 oz
Week 8: 13 lbs
Thank you!  Lunch in Pendleton and she was like being with a rock star.  Not a single person passed us without commenting! We didn't make it to La Grande, she's keen of the lap vs kennel! In love!


We have been keeping up with Rosie's family via phone.  She is doing great and the kids are in love.  Potty training has been a bit of a challenge, but that is improving as well.  We love hearing the updates:)!  Thank you!