Day 41 (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag July 15, 2025

Happy Tuesday ❤️

I want to address a question in the comments from yesterday.

OFA does not do DNA testing but it will document findings from approved labs in their public-facing database. Our breed has its own database (Berner-Garde) and so one does not have to share findings with OFA but there are advantages to doing so, and one of those is CHIC certification.

The OFA works with breed clubs (e.g., BMDCA) to establish optimal screenings for a dog used in breeding programs. For Berners, the tests include:

AKC DNA Profile
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
ACVO Eye Exam
Cardiac
DM: SOD1-A & SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B
Either vWD or Autoimmune Thyroditis Evaluation from an approved Lab

(sourced from THIS webpage)

When those screenings are done and documented, OFA issues the dog a CHIC certification.

Why care about CHIC certification? I like this explanation from the OFA website:

“For CHIC certification, all results do not need to be normal, but they must all be in the public domain so that responsible breeders can make more informed breeding decisions. For potential puppy buyers, CHIC certification is a good indicator the breeder responsibly factors good health into their selection criteria.”

Data transparency — the good, the bad, and the ugly — is one mark of a good breeder/stud dog owner. It reflects an understanding that every dog has value in the grand tapestry that is a dog breed. We are lucky in our breed to have two places we can look to assess and verify information: Berner-Garde and OFA. I like to use both.

And so Capella did not have repeated DM tests but rather she had her results verified and documented by OFA, and that is reflected in the issuance of OFA numbers for those screenings. Thanks for asking ❤️

The puppies crawl under the tunnel more than they go through it.

Star Garnet went ball shopping.

I love how puppies drape themselves on their mom. This is Sapphire.

And by request — a video from this morning 🩷💙💙💙

(Later)

A slightly less hot evening meant we could spend time outside — with a sprinkler.

Kira and Jay visited today, and they can attest to the fact that Star Garnet is a busy girl.

Jasper thought this was a nice ball for evening play.

Sapphire went for the flower.

And then it was time to recharge their puppy batteries.

🩷💙💙💙

Day 40 (updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag July 14, 2025

I like knowing stuff. If we know, we can deal with it — whatever “it” is. Random bad things will still happen but if we collect and use data well, we can exert control over those things that might be amenable to intentional efforts to create positive outcomes.

That explains why the Berner-Garde records for my dogs typically wind up looking like this:

That is Capella’s BG Certifications record, and I realized as I looked it over this morning that her fall 2024 eye certification is missing. I need to get that handled.

The Gems are already generating their own data set. The following tests have been done on each puppy:

AKC DNA Profile
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
SOD1B Degenerative Myelopathy (SOD1B)
Von Willebrand’s Disease Type I (VWD1)
Antagene’s Histiocytic Sarcoma (SH Test)

If I can do that on puppies not yet six weeks old, why are there Berners being bred without public-facing results for those basic screenings?

I don’t get it.

Doesn’t the creation of new life demand our best efforts? Shouldn’t we do our very best to maximize the health and welfare of the puppies?

How do we mitigate risks without knowledge? How can we avoid creating a bunch of histio-prone babies without utilizing the available tools? And so on…

Lucky Socks only go so far.

Bad things will still happen — no question. But at least I will know that within the limits of human (and dog) imperfection, I did what I could do.

And because all of us are works in progress — and shame and defensiveness do not promote positive outcomes — I offer the words of Maya Angelou:

“Do the best you can until you know better.

Then when you know better, do better.”

❤️

Topaz and Sapphire were playing nicely together — unaware of the danger looming in the background.

Until she arrived.

I like this photo of Jasper because we can start to see structure.

Topaz went ball shopping and picked out this nice blue one.

Sapphire preferred pink today.

Jasper does slow down — eventually!

🩷💙💙💙

(Later)

I love the Gems but I have my limits — no outside playtime tonight in 100 degrees! Instead, I added things to the inside area for an evening play session.

One side had the slide and the other had this structure.

They are all so charming and fun.

Topaz with a new toy — thanks, Jennifer ❤️

Sapphire watching his siblings on the slide.

Topaz and Sapphire settled in to sleep but not these two — Jasper and Star Garnet. They do not want to miss one minute of fun.

The Gems will be six weeks on Wednesday and so they are ready to start having “solid” food — that will happen tomorrow or Wednesday. We should have the Daddy(s) Reveal this week, and I hope to have some stacked images of each Gem this week as well. Oh — trotting training! We will be working on that as well since we need to see them trot to truly evaluate structure.

They need to rest up!

❤️

Day 39 (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag July 13, 2025

When the puppies was brand new and did not yet have names, I called them by descriptors — like “girl” and “small boy.” I called this one, “Apple Dumpling” because his head was so beautiful and blocky, even as a newborn.

Now that I think about it, I am not sure how Apple Dumpling translates to a lovely head but I knew what I meant 🤷🏼‍♀️😂 I still love Sapphire’s head, and he is developing into a typey, cobby puppy to match his beautiful head.

He is very pretty.

And so is Topaz.

Topaz and Sapphire are similar in build, although Topaz is still just a bit smaller. This is Topaz on the move.

Jasper also has so much bone but he is not cobby like the other two boys. He has more leg, but it is proportional.

It is still too early to accurately assess movement, which is what really tells the structure story, but so far I am excited about what I am seeing. This is Star Garnet.