Borealbreeze Bernese Mountain Dogs

21/08/2022

Bernergarde is a very important tool for potential puppy owners when looking at breeders and their dogs. If you can’t find the breeder in BG, run the other way!!

The www.bernergarde.org (BGF) database is a great tool for puppy buyers who want to learn about BMD breeders and get a feel for their breeding practices. For Bernese, there are several health screening tests and certifications that responsible breeders are sure to complete, consider in their breeding decisions, and hopefully disclose via the BGF database. In addition, responsible breeders also complete and share the results of additional tests (listed below).
The current BMDCA-recommended health screening tests
and certifications for both the dam and sire include: AKC DNA
Profile, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, eye examination,
cardiac evaluation, Degenerative Myelopathy SOD1A and
SOD1B tests. At least one optional test must be completed.
Those include: Von Willebrand’s Type 1, thyroid, and Histiocytic
Sarcoma Risk Test. For more information, go to:
http://cdn.akc.org/Marketplace/Health_Statement/BerneseMountain-Dog.pdf and http://bmdca.org/health/tests.php. Results
of these tests and certifications can be maintained in the BGF
database. Breeders and owners are also encouraged to enter
health information throughout the dog’s life, including the date
and cause of death. Within the database, on the dog’s home
record page, a gold star over the “Certs/Tests” table means that
all of the recommended testing for that dog has been completed
and recorded. This is signified by a BRT (gold star) certification
(Berner Recommended Tests). From the BMDCA info series -http://www.bmdca.org/breed_education/pdf/21_bernese_health_learning_about_bmds_bernergarde.pdf

Please share!

19/03/2022

Last weekend we celebrated a very special birthday! Our resident Great Grandpa Carlos turned 11 years old. We’ve had several special birthdays here at Borealbreeze the last couple of months but we couldn’t let this milestone pass by without a public Woot Woot!!! to our handsome old boy! He celebrated doing things he loves best, rolling in fresh snow, going for a car ride, socializing with lots of humans and some of his great-grandkids and of course, eating cake! We love you Carlos!

12/03/2022

Beautiful Chapter from our N Litter (Spectra x Chase) comforting students on campus at UBC Okanagan. Chapter and her owner Shannon have worked very hard to become a certified therapy team in the highly regarded BARK program through UBC. We are very proud of them and Chapter has become one of the most requested dogs amongst the students. Keep bringing the smiles, ladies!!

It's Friday!! Or as we like to call it - DROP-IN DAY! We'll be in EME 1123 from 4:30-6pm today and look forward to celebrating the start of the weekend with you!

🐶: Chapter
📸: Freya G

09/01/2022

We are proud breeders of health-tested purebred BMDs bred to the standard. Our dogs are not always in a show groom because showing is only one small part of our life with them. We are very fortunate to have a veterinarian like this one who is always supportive, pro responsible breeding, and works with us to help us breed and raise the healthiest berners we are able to. Thank you Dr. Candace Stuart and All Paws Veterinary Clinic

Thank you responsible breeders.

There sadly isn't much of a voice for responsible breeders. They often get grouped into the category of backyard breeders or puppy mills, but they are so much more than that. Thank you responsible breeders. Thank you for not being part of the problem, but actually being part of the solution. I can guarantee you that if every breeder followed the guidelines of responsible breeders, "overpopulation" would not be a concern.

It pains me to have clients who come in and are so stressed and concerned about their dogs having one hair out of place. They worry we will judge them because they show and breed dogs and in the past they have been harrassed by the public. I usually just laugh and ensure them that a little dirt means they are loved and having a good time outside. Trust me, I have an English Setter and keeping him show quality groomed everyday would be torture to me and him. They are expected to always be perfect in the eye of the public, because if not a snood comment is likely to be made about their purebred dog. I, and even the clinic I work at, have been harrassed twice this week for supporting responsible breeders. I can't imagine the harrassment some breeders face, I know a few that try to keep the fact that they breed hidden from the public because they are scared of what the public will think.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good mixed breed dog. I work with tons of them everyday and care for each and every one of them the same. Each day I come home and worry about every mixed breed dog I treated that day the same as every purebred dog. I support shelters everyday at work and there are many situations where a rescue dog may be the best fit for you family.

However, there is nothing quite like a dog from a responsible breeder. That dog comes to you from a loving breeder who invested so much time, emotion, funds and research into each puppy that it would shock you. They spend their lives conserving a breed and making it better. That breeder can tell you everything about their personalities, what their traits and quirks will be, and what they were purposefully bred to do. They care about the placement of each puppy, often placing them into the homes themselves based on purpose and personality of each puppy, rather than letting the new owners pick out which one looked cutest online. These puppies go into homes fully vaccinated, with all required health clearances needed. They go into homes already house trained and crate trained to ensure easy transition for the new homes. These responsible breeders keep track of the puppies until they grow old and pass. They want to know about each and every health concern that they have throughout life so that they may alter their breeding program to avoid health concerns in the future. These breeders even make you sign a contract saying that if you can't keep the dog, no matter the age, you will return it to them so that the dog does not end up in a shelter. The list goes on and on.

The next time you meet a RESPONSIBLE breeder, thank them, ask them about their breed, and buy them a drink (trust me they need it 😉).

25/12/2021

Merry Christmas to you from the berners of Borealbreeze 🎄🎁

19/11/2021

Our I litter recently turned 8 years old and all are doing well! Since three (Spectra, Eira and Islay) of the four sisters (yes it was an all girl litter) are local, we decided to get them all together for a reunion with their father Carlos, who is 10 years and 8 months old. We had these delusional visions on how this photo shoot would go... all these sassy old ladies would be a bit wild and excited to see each other (as they are wont to be... sassy and wild) then would settle in and pose nicely for us. They had other ideas! In summary... these ladies say age is just a number and they will do whatever they want when they are together! We love our veterans!

03/09/2021

The dogs were thrilled to have our dear friend Christie come to visit after a long year and a half without houseguests! Not often we can get them all together in one photo but they all wanted to hang out with her so we were able to get this group shot! Here’s Christie and our current pack of 9 berners from 11 months old to 10.5 years old.

26/08/2021

Here's a partial roll call of our current pack of Borealbreeze berners. The family! Old man Carlos, his daughter Spectra and her kids Dotti, Prima and Pablo. Prima & Pablo are littermates sired by Deuce (Chalina's Dempsey) and Dotti is sired by Chase (Bernergolds Chasin The Dream).
Will share pics of the rest of pack in another post!

22/08/2021

I've been very bad at posting updates to this page! Our R Litter just turned 5 months old and are becoming well behaved little berners with some great puppy 'fros!! Here are some recent pics of Ruckus, Joey, Ruthie, Reina, Francis and Annie.

04/02/2021

Beautiful photo of Soti on the beach and a gorgeous sunset in PEI. Soti is from our "O" litter (Chase x Spectra) and 20 months old. Thank you to her owner Joann for sharing this pic with us. Enjoy the beauty!!

14/12/2020

This photo of beautiful Bella (Borealbreeze's Bauble Bella) was sent to me the other day by her owners. Bella is 13 years and 11 months old!!! Our last remaining B Litter pup. Longevity like this is what we strive for but unfortunately it is quite rare for a bernese to reach this age. We are so blessed that the world still has Bella and are so grateful to her family for the care they provide to her. Senior dogs are so very special but require more patience, love, understanding and time.

20/10/2020

Yesterday we invited our extended Borealbreeze family out for a reunion and to celebrate early a couple of our litter birthdays! Cupcakes were enjoyed by all! We were thrilled to have all but one of our local pups (we missed you Ajax) come and visit! A total of 19 berners all having the best time, with only one time-out for Kevin because he was being way too amorous with his Aunts and half sister 🙄. We had grandpa Carlos 9.5 yrs old, his three daughters Islay, Eira and Spectra (7 yrs old I litter), Swing and Hanna (5.5 years old J litter), Kevin and Piper (5 yrs old K litter), Lena, Philly and Lulubelle (4.5 yrs old L litter), Minke (almost 4, M litter), Ninja and Dotti (2.5 yrs old N litter), Padauk (1.5 yrs old O litter), and Prima, Pablo, Kitty and Phoebe (8 months old P litter). I was so proud of every single one of these dogs and so blessed with the best homes who have done (and continue to do) an amazing job raising your pups to be beautiful ambassadors for the Bernese Mountain Dog breed. Thank you!

23/09/2020

Our keeper pups from our P litter are growing up nicely. Pablo and Prima are now 7 months old and full on teenagers! They are back in school (basic manners classes) for the fall and are enjoying going to daycare separately once a week to meet new friends.

16/09/2020

We feel so blessed to have had 4 generations of our special dogs together while the Q boys were here. In the photos, behind the puppies, left to right are Mother Dotti (2.5 years old), Grandmother Spectra (almost 7 years old), and Great Grandfather Carlos (9.5 years old).

16/09/2020

It's been a while since we posted some cute pics!
What a crazy Covid kinda year...
Our sweet Dotti had her first litter in July with Kevin, a small litter of just two boys. This was our 'Q' litter, Quest and Quinzee, pictured at 8 weeks old.
Both boys have made their way to their new homes in Calgary and Kelowna, with wonderful repeat Borealbreeze families. They are settling in now quite nicely and we sure miss their sweet sweet sweet personalities.

15/08/2020

We have been receiving an increased amount of inquiries over the last few months. I have several fantastic homes already waiting for puppies and we likely won't have puppies available for a couple of years, since we don't breed very often. We are very appreciative of your interest in our berners, and we still welcome inquiries if you are serious about the breed and one of our puppies! I'd like to share this blog written by a fellow reputable breeder. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the breed and our dogs specifically.

Puppy fever is real. That I get… or should I say, that I have. They say the first step is admitting you are powerless over the addiction. So here’s my challenge to those of you looking …

14/04/2020

Our P litter was born on February 9th. It was challenging raising and getting these pups to their new homes in the midst of a pandemic but with the help of friends we made it work. All puppies are now with their new families and doing great, bringing lots of joy and entertainment while folks are stuck at home. Here are their photos at 8 weeks old.