Another wonderful Wildflower Birthday Update!
Bridget shares, “Kitsap and I are deeply bonded. Between naps Kitsap will come up and climb his front paws and chest across my lap. As he slides back off after a quick check in and kisses, he sits up on his back haunches with a ramrod straight back.
Kitsap comes flying in on a come command with full gusto. When he heals, I wish I could take credit as his handler for that wonderful adoring head position, but I think it was bred into him because it just happened when I asked him to walk with me, I bet it is a Kaibab trait.
The trainer we work with says through working with lots of dogs, some are super special and memorable and Kitsap is certainly in that camp. In training we do some obedience, agility, rally and scent work. In addition to our individual lessons we have just started a class with our trainer focused toward the urban canine good citizen title. Kitsap is still working on maintaining focus with me without luring when the distractions are high so we may or may not earn the title at the end of the month but I know it will come eventually. We could easily get a novice trick dog title if I would just set up the test at some point.
Once Kitsap can sustain his focus in new situations he will be an excellent competition dog. We hope to get some obedience, agility, rally, and scent titles. We also really enjoy tracking and I hope to learn some carting. We are taking it things at Kitsap’s pace, not any particular goal oriented schedule that I might set, so that we both enjoy our training and competition time together.
A true member of the Montana Wildflowers puppy choir, he keeps his vocal cords exercised. He has the largest collection of whimpers and whines if he gets excited or if he knows you are in the house but not in his presence. If he’s really tired and soundly sleeping, he also dreams, twitches and whimpers. If he gets excited or doesn’t quite know what to do with the situation, he has the loudest bark, enough to give even those who know him well pause.
In our eyes Kitsap is a gorgeous adult male. We get a lot of admiring comments as we are out and about. Folks stop there car to comment in our little town. Of the four male berners I have owned, Kitsap is by far the most athletic and the strongest. (Hint: I really need to see the squirrel first on a walk.) He has such body control, it is so much fun to watch him jump and run and play. Every week we play with his English Springer Spaniel friend Hasley…
I love photos of him sitting that show his Swiss cross and the way he will tuck a paw while laying on his raised platform for the ‘place’ command.
He has grown into those huge paws, that fill my palm and he is loved with all my heart. He’s definitely my dog, watching for me at the gate when he hears the garage door open and greeting me with gusto every time I come home.”
A dog who is appreciated and has an interesting and wonderful life — a breeder cannot ask for more than that! Thank you, Bridget, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITSAP!!!!!