Over The Moon Birthday

In December of 2020, a little friend turned seven and her birthday wish when she blew out those seven candles involved Berner puppies…

Wishes come true!

As some know, it takes a special home for me to be willing to place a puppy with children — and “special home” is code for, “must have an amazing mom who is all in on a puppy.”

I am including this update in its entirety — with all the photos that were sent — so you can decide for yourself if Samantha meets the criteria

Samantha shares this report about Wally Montana (fka Neil):

“It's hard to capture in such a brief update what a wonderful puppy he is, and just how much joy and extra love he has brought to our family (and so many people!) these last 10 months, but I'm going to do my best to help you get to know our wonderful Wally.

Wally, when he still lived with Mary-Ann, cuddled up on the floor next to Daisy.

This is an excellent example of his personality, calm + cuddly. Just happy to be with us, anywhere.

The moment we laid eyes on Wally in the parking lot of a Spokane hotel, we knew he was everything. Everything we wished for, and everything we didn't even now we needed. Cruz and Lulu just instantly melted into him while he cuddled into their laps, as Matt and I listened carefully to everything Mary-Ann shared with us about this perfect little puppy. And just like that, the dream we had been dreaming for the last year came true, as we drove towards home with our cuddly little guy. That was literally the BEST DAY EVER, for all of us.

He LOVES his crate, he always has!

First trip to the beach!

First trip to the Lake, and first time swimming!

THE most gentle puppy (my niece + Wally are only 8 days apart).

He’s always been so cuddly.

This summer we had his brother Scout + Obi over to our house to play!

I carried Wally literally everywhere (partly because he hadn't had all of his shots, but mostly just because I wanted to), all over town and every single place I went for the next several months, making sure he met lots of humans and experienced all sorts of new things. He made strangers stop and smile, posed for lots photos on the Seattle sidewalks, cuddled with little countless kids every afternoon at school pickup, made puppy friends of all shapes + sizes, learned how to have good manners in stores, and became the absolute friendliest well-mannered puppy.

Wally + his “baby”!!

He’s very tolerant of dressing up!

Wally + Lulu

During our first few weeks together he potty trained really quickly, only ever chewed up one area rug (and I guess some of the kids sweatshirts do still have the baby shark teeth holes for proof of teething!), and has been just generally so, so easy. He loves the car, loves adventures, is a great road trip companion, and has stayed in 2 hotels. He’s so easily adaptable, truly.

He hasn't met a stranger, pup or human, everyone is a friend, and he will stop for a good belly rub from anyone who will offer him one while we are out and about. He has done fantastically at his puppy classes, and is often the teacher's "example" to show the rest of the class what to do...he's eager to please and VERY treat motivated, which makes for a quick learner!

I've thought numerous times over the last 10 months about maybe someday going down the therapy dog path with Wally, because he just seems like he would do so wonderfully, but I'll follow his lead and we will see if he leads us in that direction. :) I know he would be phenomenal, he already is.

People watching in the city.

He has dog friends + horse friends at puppy class!

Sometimes I find myself already worrying about how we could possibly carry on once he's gone, but I think when you've lost someone you loved, that's maybe just something that happens. I've promised Wally we will celebrate literally every little thing, and he will only ever know love + happiness while he's with us, because that's what he's given us, every single day since we met him.

He has been magical, and has surpassed all our dreams about who we hoped he would be!

On his birthday morning we woke up to the perfect little moon!

Wally Montana, 1 year old!

We will love you forever + ever (and ever!!) Wally boy!!
xo!
Wally’s family”

“Must have an amazing mom who is all in on a puppy.” Pretty sure Samantha nailed it.

THANK YOU, Samantha and family for this wonderful update about Wally’s amazing and well-loved life — HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALLY!

Montana Boys

Let’s celebrate our two Montana Moonshadow Boys today, starting with the puppy formerly known as Titan and now known as Pippin, Pip, and/or Pippy — take your choice!

Sandhano shares, “He was the smallest of the 2 litters!  He is now 83 pounds and so smart and happy. 

He loves snow, to go on hikes and absolutely loves to play with his companion dogs, Flo and June. 

Thank you so much!”

One of the benefits of having litters is all the wonderful people we get to know — like Sandhano and her family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIPPIN!!!! We hope to see you all soon.

Aother wonderful addition to our family is Megan and her crew in Bozeman. Like me, Megan is a UC Berkeley graduate and so we were practically related even before she had Merlin (fka Metis). She sends us this update:

“Merlin has been a wonderful addition to our home and it's very difficult to imagine our life without him. He is the friendliest dog with an awesome smile…

He equally loves people and other dogs, and has the most epic nap positions…

The curly hair on his back often elicits curious comments and questions and he is quite easy to spot in a group of Berners. He is quite reliable off-leash and has very nice on-leash manners. He often insists on carrying his leash in his mouth on his walk. We are working on helping him quell his excitement and overexuberance as that can be a bit intimidating from a 90 lb dog for some people.

Merlin loves his food and has been very responsive in his training. Our family jokes that we would never hear Merlin say "Oh, no thank you" when it comes to food. Unlike his mom, Merlin is drawn to and loves water. He loves splashing in creeks (even when it's nearly freezing!) and the kiddie pool with his human siblings. Merlin also loves to intensely smell things. While out on a walk or hike, he may take up to 2-3 minutes carefully smelling something in one spot. It makes me wonder about all the amazing information that dogs can absorb using their sense of smell.

Merlin loves to go on adventures with his family and he has often encouraged his sometimes reluctant 5 year old brother and sister to get outside. Now that it is winter in Montana, he is overjoyed with the snow and cold weather. In fresh snow he can often be found jumping around, shoving his nose into it and digging into it with his whole body. He often comes back to the house looking like a "Snow Bear." 

His enthusiasm and sheer love of it makes us laugh and brings us so much joy.

Our whole family is so grateful for the experience of raising this amazing puppy and we look forward to as many years as possible with this lovable giant.”

Thank you, Megan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERLIN!!

And Happy Saturday to all.

Moonshadows -- It's Your Birthday!

The Moonshadows were created for this moment…

But first, a little context is in order.

Daisy is the mom of the Moonshadows (and Wildflowers) — her dad is Holden (CH Kaibab’s Holden On To The Moon AXP OAP BN RN ANDD DD JHD-s TKA). This is a photo of Holden with Harper B — they are littermates.

Holden is the Big Guy! Grandpa of the Moonshadows and Wildflowers

Holden started his life here in Montana as one of the H Moon Litter, and spent the rest of his well-loved life with Toby in Pennsylvania.

The parents of that H Moon Litter were so special — Terri Zimmerman’s Zed (Zoey’s littermate) and our Sydney. Two wonderful and beloved dogs. This is Zed and Sydney with Harper B for Baby…

Zed and Sydney are the great-grandparents of the Wildflowers and Moonshadows

The Moon part of the H Moon Litter was in honor of their grandmother, the most perfect Mrs. Maize (CH Kaibab’s Anasazi Corn Moon UD AX AXJ TD VCD2 OAP OJP NF NFP RE DD BDD CGC, 2000 - 2012).

Maize and H Moon puppy, Lainey

Holden had to leave Toby, breaking her already broken heart into even more pieces, and while nobody will ever replace him, Daisy — his daughter — could send a small Moonshadow back to reflect all that Holden is, was, and always will be.

Here is the rest of the story from Toby — and the start of our Moonshadow Birthday Updates…

“The day Mary-Ann shared with me that she planned on one more breeding of Daisy, was filled with so many mixed emotions. My broken heart was lifted by the thought of having a piece of my Holden, my heart dog, back, but I also worried how Clark would feel about a puppy coming into our lives.

FYI: Clark is Daisy’s littermate!

He really seemed to like being an only child. When Holden left us, it was a loss that followed on the heels of 2 other gutting losses and a very difficult year. Every day was a big struggle for me to just keep moving forward. Clark, always in the shadow of his daddy Holden, just knew what he had to do...I do think to some degree he saved my life. He helped fill that hole in my heart and reminded me everyday that he was here for me.

With each passing day of Daisy's pregnancy, I grew more excited with anticipation of our new family member, wavering back and forth between a girl and a boy. After 2 big-time mama's boys, I felt ready for a girl. The day M-A shared the litter theme with me I couldn't stop crying — Moonshadows — what better way to honor Holden. Wow.

When M-A and Daisy conveniently planned the Moonshadow's entrance into this world for a day off for me, I was lucky enough to be present via Zoom-so exciting! As each newly delivered puppy was brought in to M-A and puppy delivery helper extraordinaire, Suzanne, I was ticking off the male /female count. The ticks were growing in the male column, while there were none in the female column! I remember having the thought that what if they are ALL boys? Ok, we'll take a boy even though I was starting to gather things in pink. Then there they were....2 girls, but 8 boys!!! Ok, good! I obsessed over daily updates, Zoom calls and texts while wondering just how in the heck M-A was doing it...10 + 10!

They were all perfect babies, but my heart rested on Ariel...soon to become Margie Moonshadow —Kaibab's Margie Moonshadow Holden My Heart. A whirlwind, one day trip with Jack Crifasi, Ellen Miller and Jasen Duncan to Bozeman airport for a parking lot puppy pick-up was a crazy day, but so exciting. Margie came home, Uncle brother Clark was instantly in love, and I realized he needed her as much as I did.

It's been a super fun year...Margie instantly learned all about Coffee With Clark which came to include Mornings with Margie.

She came to work with me for her first 6 months and quickly became everyone's sweetheart. She's the friendliest, most lovable and cuddly puppy I've ever had.

It was pretty obvious early on that she had the Kaibab smarts and her first title, AKC Novice Trick Dog, came at 5.5 months. She has since added the AKC CGC title and a World Cynosport Rally Intro title.

I'm so looking forward to what's ahead, but no matter what that is, Clark and I have a big piece of our hearts back and we can't thank Mary-Ann and Daisy enough for giving that to us.”

Margie Moonshadow is also a reflection of my love and appreciation for Toby. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Margie Moonshadow! You are another Super Hero. Good Work, Sweet Baby.

And because we needed to make Margie, there are nine other Moonshadows celebrating their birthday today as well — and all week on blog. YAY and Happy Birthday to all of them.