It's Been Awhile...again

So, here I am again.  Jerry turned a year old back in April.  He has been in our home for a year & 4 months.  He has been to puppy kindergarten and basic obedience classes.  I have also been working with him on going over small jumps.  Shawn helped me make an agility chute for both dogs to use.  Of course I found the directions online: http://agilitynerd.com/blog/agility/equipment/DIYChute.html  and have pinned this on my pinterest Agility board

Both Sullivan and Jerry enjoy their new toy.  I have tried to incorporate a jump either before or after they go through the chute.  Working with two dogs at once can sometimes be difficult.  While one is going, the other that is suppose to be waiting sometimes breaks and interferes with the process.

As well as working on agility equipment, I've been trying to get Jerry use to cart pulling.  He is fine with the harness being on him, it's the cart that he has an issue with.   I have watched great videos to help train him and me.  Sullivan took to it easier that Jerry has so far.

During the summer I took both dogs for walks at the same time.  This was sometimes a process, but we made it through.  We would walk on an old railroad bed so they would have "freedom" to go as far as the leash would allow them.  All three of us enjoyed this.

This picture was taken in early spring, probably end of May or the beginning of June.  Both boys are happy to be with each other.  As you can tell, Jerry's "zig-zag" blaze has straightened out.

Social media is a great way to stay connected with others that live near or far, but it's also great to connect with others that share same similarities.  I have connected with Jerry's "siblings" on Instagram.  Jerry's sire, "Obediah" had sired other puppies and I have found a few of their owners.



After some research on  the Berner-Garde Database, I have discovered that Jerry is distantly related to Sullivan.  Jerry's great great grandmother, Bella Zocci Tinydancer, is a full sibling to Sullivan's father; Granite State Peaceful Wyatt.  They both come from PEACEFUL VALLEY'S LADY JANE & BEREKKOZI-BERNI CSARLY.

Now a 2 Berner Home!

In my last post I mentioned how we were a one dog home.  That didn't last very long.  We now have another Bernese Mountain Dog.  I found the breeder's website & of course made an inquiry.  I debated on whether to send them a message or not.  I finally said heck with it & see what happens.  I sent a message & got a response that they had one puppy left...After a family discussion & a few more emails, we went to visit the puppy July 5, 2014.  The puppy was 10 weeks old.  The breeder told me in one of the last emails, that if we liked him & he liked us, we could take him home that day, because he was old enough to leave.  Of course after an hour visit, we left with him.  Unlike when we brought Sullivan home, I didn't have a list of names for the new puppy.  The breeder was calling him Sparky, which I thought was cute & would work in our home of firefighters.  He was being called Jerry, for Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead because of his little "zig-zag" white blaze between his eyes. 
When we got home, it was transition time for Sullivan and the new puppy.  Sullivan was very happy to meet the new little guy.  After a few hours, Kyle thought his name should be Jerry (for his own reasons).  We hadn't told him that was what the breeder was calling him.  So Jerry it is!  Now to come up with a registered name.  I started a list of many variations.  I try to somehow include the parents of the dog in the registered name.  I was also researching Grateful Dead songs, lyrics & history.  After a long list of names, I finally came up with Mtn Ridge's Lightning Bolt Rock Star. 
Jerry has adjusted well to our house & routines.  Sullivan has also discovered that Jerry is staying & wasn't here for a visit. 
Jerry is now 14 weeks old & weighs 26 pounds. 

It's been awhile...

It has been almost 2.5 years since I have posted anything here.  I guess I got a little side-tracked.  Since my last post, many things have happened.  Our son started college and after one year transferred to another school.  With this transfer, he was able to play of the school's soccer team.  This past season he was one of the captains.  He will then graduate this spring. 
We had to say good-bye to our last dalmatian this past fall.  We are now a one dog family, with Sullivan, our Bernese Mountain Dog.  We have not had just one dog since we got our second dalmatian many years ago.  I'm thinking that being a one dog household is not so bad.  On the other hand, I would love another BMD.  I think Sullivan would too!  Since Sullivan is the only dog now, he has been getting a bit more attention.  He enjoys going for rides in the car.  He even gets to visit his grandparents once in awhile. 
Shortly after school got out last June, Sullivan went in for surgery.  He had a mast cell tumor removed from his belly.   Before having surgery, I researched mast cell tumor on the internet.  After talking with our vet, the tumor was sent in for diagnosis.  The tumor was an intermediate grade 2 tumor.  That puts it in the middle of the level range.  Sullivan recovered just fine from his surgery.  Keeping him still & quiet took some work.  He was just checked for a 6 month check up from his surgery & everything went well.  He now gets checked over regularly by us at home for any other bumps that might want to appear.
This fall, Sullivan & I got to experience the sport of agility.  We attended an agility class once a week.  Sullivan picked up quickly on all the obstacles.  Thank goodness the area was fenced in, because his nose does work quite well and he wanted to sometimes focus on the smells and not focus on his course.  The teeter toter was one obstacle that was not his favorite.   I think it was the sound and the movement of it.  I think the dog walk was his favorite even though it made me nervous because he would go so fast on it, I would be afraid he would fall off. 
I attempted to create my own "homemade" obstacles at home for us to practice.  I would love to purchase my own equipment, but it's just so expensive and then the other thought...I would have to move it every time Shawn mows the lawn!

Sullivan passed his CGC test

Sullivan has been working hard for 6 weeks.  He has been attending class every Saturday to prepare him to pass the test, which he did today.  Of course he had a little help from me.  Previous to this class, Sullivan attended a puppy class, a first level obedience class and a second level obedience class.

Sully is now a year old

It has been awhile since my last post.  Since then, Sullivan & his litter mates turned a year old in February.

Sullivan also has an AKC registered name: Mtn. Ridge's Rock Me Gently.  This name took a lot of time to come up with.  Just like his call name list, his registered name list was quite long.  Sully's Sire's name: Granite State Peaceful Wyatt & his Dam's name: Shout With Pleasures Lulu. Mtn. Ridge is what we used in our dalmatian's registered names, so we kept it in Sullivan's name.  The Rock Me Gently, we thought was a good combination of his parent's name.

Sullivan really enjoyed his first winter. 

He loved to stay out in the snow.  I'm not too sure he enjoyed being dried off when he came inside.











 

 This is a short video of Sullivan enjoying a winter walk around the neighborhood.  He liked to check out the snowbanks.

5 months old

 Sullivan is now 5 months old.  He enjoys his time at work with Shawn.  He even goes on the delivery route.  Now that summer is here, he only goes to work "part-time."  He stays home with me & the girls.  He likes to be in the air conditioning.  Now that Kyle is working with Shawn at the shop, he has been going on the deliveries.  Well, the delivery van is only a two passenger & their is no room for the little man.  When Kyle gets out of the van, he gets "Where is the dog?"  He's getting used to it, though.

Sullivan attended puppy kindergarten class, now he goes to obedience classes.  He enjoys class time.

Kyle & Sullivan like to hang out.  This picture was taken at the barn. We brought Sully to the barn to hang out with the horses & to see his Golden Retriever "cousin's," Jed & Max.





At his last vet visit, almost 3 weeks ago, Sullivan weighed 42.6 lbs.  He have heard that some of his siblings weigh more than Sullivan.  He is growing & changing everyday.

12 weeks old or 3 months

Sullivan is now 12 weeks old.  My time flies!  Sullivan has adjusted just fine to our home.  He goes to work everyday with Shawn.  He even goes on the delivery truck Wednesdays & Thursdays.  When Shawn is busy in the grain room, Sullivan hangs out in Gramie Marie's office.

Sullivan rides nicely in the vehicle.  He usually lays down & relaxes in the back seat.   He has been to a few of the relatives to visit.  In this picture, Sully is in the backseat of Shawn's truck.  We were getting ready to leave Gramie Alice's.


I have been taking Sullivan to Puppy Kindergarten.  He just loves it!  When class starts, the dogs get to be off leash & play with each other.  Then when it is time to be on the leash, we work on some basic obedience, like heeling, walking & laying down.  Towards the end of class, they get to go through the tunnel.  Sullivan runs right through it without any problems.

Sullivan has been up to visit his brother Zeb a couple of times.  The first time, they played really rough.  The second time was bit better.  Zeb is on the left & Sully on the right.  Sully is pretending to be viscous!  The puppies played & played that day.  They enjoyed each others company.






Sullivan has really been a good little puppy!  He does bother the girls on occasion, but he can usually be found playing with his toys in the living room or lying on the kitchen floor.  Once in awhile, he make his way down the hall & comes back with someone's shoe.  We tell him "No" & return the shoe.  He does enjoy being outside.  Often times it takes a couple of trips outside for me to ask him if he's coming in.
He sure is growing up fast!