Constitutional Fragility

[Lisa D Allen]

What I expect from a breeder, or, at least, hope to receive, is sympathy and support, or, at least support, if dog is found to have breed related illness.
Folks, just let it go in one ear and out the other, even if "blamed" by "world's most famous breeder" for problem suffered by your dog.
Did you let him bungee jump when he was ten weeks old or climb highest mountain when he was fourteen weeks old; I doubt it so just, as I do, at any moment in time, do what is best for the dog to ascertain a long life of good quality.
I wonder if anyone can spend twenty or so years in this breed and not be "blamed" and "shunned" when a dog is ill; I would be pleased to hear such.
Rancher Roy of Montana is a purely make-believe character, based upon no one at all but the situations which he faces are all too real. By the way, his latest problem is, when his mother, who visited for holiday dinner, heard the instructions given him for raising pup and saw the bag of dog food on the counter, ordered from Mississippi, she looked at Rancher as though neurons were pouring from his brain, through his nose, onto the floor and burst out laughing, proclaiming that, though they loved their dogs in her day (she is in her late 70s), they were allowed to be dogs and dogs were tough back then, "Mom" says.
When Rancher's buddies come to play cards, they see bag of designer kibble sitting on counter and, once again, Rancher is subject to hearty "ribbing." So, when Rancher calls Mississippi to order next bag and learns that ingredients have been changed, he views this as a "sign" to take pup to the Feed and Grain store, hang out a bit with his pals, and buy the kibble all the other farmers feed their dogs.
(Remember, breeder will no longer offer advice regarding such because Rancher allowed his Berner pup to play with his mutt and adult Border Bollie).
Folks, this breed is so popular that the average Joe, so to speak, is going to come to own them and will not be likely to coddle them. So, I would think, not only do Berners have to be bred tough enough for them so that these dogs do not find themselves in shelters, or worse but, the breed, I would think, will, after many generations, not even be viable if its constitutional fragilities (raising them as though caring for fine china, breed's poor immune systems, etc.) are either catered to or ignored.
Lisa Allen





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