Bernese Mountain Dogs

Chinook, CH. Tralyn Classic Crest, was our first Berner who we obtained in February 1979. He was really my oldest daughter's dog but he soon grew so large that she, as a petite six year old, could no longer show him. I had only seen female Berners before we bought him so had no idea he was going to get so large. He ended up weighing about 115 pounds. He was a large boned boy with massive coat and great personality.

Chinook was not shown in an AKC sanctioned show until he was a year old. We took him to a benched show held in Philadelphia where he ended up winning his first major and going Best of Breed from the classes. He finished his championship quite easily. He was entered in 8 shows and won the points at seven of them. We x-rayed him and he came back with an OFA good.

As a breeder, I realized that we had a lovely typey dog and I just felt he was too nice not to breed. I tried to buy a female from several breeders. Many of the females just did not conceive. I finally bought a female from Beverly Burney who we later finished. CH. Santera Raven Maid v Bev's never really became the producer but because of my contact with Bev she sent her AM. CAN. BER. CH. Alphorn's Happy Talk to be bred to Chinook. That is the beginning of our Santera Berners because we took the pick female puppy who became our CH. Santera Chastity v Bev's.

We were lucky when we got started in Berners that we started with lines that were orthopedically sound. Both of Chinook's parents were OFA certified. Happy Talk was OFA Excellent as was her sire. Our Chassie was also OFA Excellent as was her son, CH. Santera Rio Grando v Crest. We have always strived to keep those hip lines going.

Because I was involved with Irish Setters and the test breeding for PRA, I also always checked my Berners for PRA. Our dogs have been having their eyes checked since Chinook for PRA so it has been a long ongoing process.

Most of my puppies go to pet homes where I hope they enjoy their entire life with one family. I have sold some show pups to some people just beginning their show career and have tried to help them to establish which direction they might like to go whether it be obedience, conformation, etc. Health is a very important issue with me and I do not breed dogs that I feel are not sound. I have found that Berners are a very challenging breed to breed but it can be very rewarding. They are great dogs and we certain do enjoy them.