About time! A solid connection to the human internet! After all the times I tried last week only to be diverted by a less than quality channel and human attention spans that lasted less than a dial-up. At least I can now tell you the real story of the Condo circuit. I was going to use ideas from Beijing but the connection was of poor quality. So here goes.

As far as Fletch, Dora, Remy and I were concerned the weather was ideal BMD weather: cold, cold, cold. The fact the humans succumbed to the dreaded lurgy as they described it was entirely their own fault. Evolution in its mysterious ways has removed most of their fur/hair and even with many layers of so called clothing; they were still cold and miserable. One might suggest that they have a long and detailed discussion with Chinese Cresteds (CC) about life in a cold space since over time they are now akin to CCs. Think about it! Given convergent evolution, over time you can expect to see less BMD and more CC as humans recognise the evolutionary impact. However that is a thought I won’t entertain - the demise of the BMD.  I digress.

Life was rather eventful. I have just had my 3^rd birthday and was excited about going away with Mum.  Remy travelled up from Melbourne and was very much the lady. Mum trotted her around the ring sufficient times for her to gain her Australian Championship title. It is a tradition that at Condoblin in the leash-free run, new Berner champions are encouraged to roll in the mud near the leaking sprinkler in the middle of the free space. This is a tradition started by yours truly two years ago when I rolled and rolled in the mud with my Dobe friends and had a ball. There are pictures of a very muddy me.  Missy last year cantered around and smothered her underbelly in mud. Not as good as my effort but sufficient to be declared a champion - Condo style.

Remy is such a girlie girl. Neat and tidy… no water or food spilt in her section of the trailer. Mum nicknamed her Lady Remyngton - emphasis on Lady. She lived up to her name, deigning to lower a foot  up to her pastern in the mud. Mum raised a cheer, for at least the Berner tradition continued even though it was a cursory anointing. She only worked for the first 4 shows then retiring to the trailer for the remainder of the trip. She did work at Bedgerabong but only so her Mum could have a ribbon from a place with a weird name. So Remy set aside her Jimmy Choo’s and by the time she was dropped of at Wagga, she was wearing Hush Puppies and had resolved to put on her ugg boots shortly.  

Fletch.  Well what can one say about travelling with Fletch? There was little improvement from travelling with Fletch in 2007. He still barks as though his throat is being cut and I doubt if he will ever develop a manly bark. What a whinger and drama queen! If he wasn’t first out for toileting or walks: he whinged and whinged. Mum’s assessment was that there was a baby puppy brain inside a Junior Puppy body i.e. two brain cells rattling around in a 50kg body. There is a lot of real estate between those ears that could be sold for development.  There maybe hope for him in 12 months time but I’ll withhold judgement until he is at least 2.

Fletch was a handful between getting out of the trailer and being put on leash. One might think that that is an easy transition with the lead being almost instantaneously attached. Fletch showed that it is really easy to mutate from attention seeker (Jekkyl) to a 50kg freak of nature (Hyde) within a leap of the exit. Often Mum had to contend with Fletch doing croc death rolls  inside his collar on the ground, or avoiding flailing paws as he tried to kiss her.  Once the lead was attached he was a different dog, and walked better on lead that I do (and that’s really easy to do).  Mum is as still undecided about Fletch this year as she was last year. He still is known as the Devil’s Spawn and I doubt if that nickname will ever be changed.

Dora the Explorer aka Dora Destructo Mutt: She decided to enrol in the ACME Interior Design Correspondence course, much to Mum’s disappointment. Requests to stop learning were ignored as Dora took shortcuts to complete the curriculum.  Starting off with  redesigning bedding, pulling out foam and poly filler from three beds,  creating a powerpoint installation whereby she removed some of the interior of the trailer and insulation with her paws before deciding that a kitchenette connecting her space and mine was the best option for her major assessment.    

Little did she realise that her attempts to shortcut were voided as Mum was the major assessor. She failed big-time.  When she was not ringside; Mum had her under close supervision, but even that failed. Dora learned to exit the wire crate by pulling down the water bucket which opened the crate front and she hopped out to be Dora the Explorer - Caravan Park Adventurer - Extraordinaire.  Needless to say Mum sighed, and bought some D shackles to reinforce the wire crate and Dora’s caravan park adventures were curtailed.  Still she did do plenty of ring work and Mum was very pleased with the result. I think Mum likes working with Dora and will do so again.

Fletch? The jury is out and not planning to be recalled soon.

After being seduced by a gorgeous girl Lini in November last year, I managed to make contact with one of our offspring: Zeb who now lives near Tamworth. What a good looking son I have; makes one puff out one’s chest further then before. He is a quiet boy, Mum says thankfully, not running around like me with energy to burn. I was very pleased when he beat me for Best of Breed at Trundle. I know that if he comes out on the circuit next year, he will be strong competition for me but a Father/Son combo; ya can’t beat it for satisfaction and of course judges’ good taste.

He was very competitive taking 7 thick Minor in Group ribbons. No pressure but Mum was really proud of Zeb and his handlers Carol and Ben for their success. He certainly made sure that BMD were represented in Show. Such a responsibility for one so young.

You may notice some maturity in my writng this year as I am now 3 and with assistance of the squirty bottle aimed regularly at Fletch; I took it up myself to be a well behaved boy on Condo and avoid being the regular recipient of a face-full of water. (Fletch never learned that the squirty bottle is not good and must be avoided at all costs.)

However, now with Suki home, I have a playmate and have reverted to being the energiser bunny on speed. Mum holds out little hope for the arrival of a proper brain anytime soon.  Still we are having September off - yay no shows and I’m happy just to become super grot.

Lick those carers everyone, they deserve regular cleaning.

This is Special Spike signing off from the 2008 Condo circuit. 

Zanzebern Camp out this coming weekend. 

6 September: Bernese romp at Oura beach (on Murrumbidgee River) from 2pm, set up camp and then ,  > off to the Wagga Wagga winery for a hearty dinner.  7 September > Breakfast by the camp fire and back to Zanzebern for a paddock romp in the Barley and puppy socialisation between 11am and 12 midday.

Email or call if I don't already know you are coming!  We can loan you a tent if you need one!  We have people doing the full shabang, others just for the romp, others for the dinner and others just coming to Zanzebern sunday.  Whatever you can fit in All Welcome!

Left: Buzz previously known as BAGGINS! and right Duke previously BIFF (he's more game than me ..I never get on the scales!!!)

New Champion Zanzebern Undeniably ( Now I performed hand over the Treat!)

Congratulations also to Michael Eslick, Zoe Wall, Lynette Dawson who titled Tobias, Saskia and Lizzie this month and thanks to Annie for titling Remi for Erica Salveson. FIVE NEW Zanzebern CHAMPIONS this month!

Leo the Pyranean Mtn Dog and Jake the Bernese (Formally BOB)

Boo - ( Denzel x Amy) what a view!

Tank and Grace - left alone for 5 minutes!

Nik's part time job at Zanzebern

Denzel is a Champion of Sweden after his first show there. He won the open dog class then Best Dog, then Best of Breed ...he then went on to Best in Group and Best in Show 5!!!  Thank you to Karla and Bert for keeping him so well while he rested in Holland for a month.  Thank you to Eva who handled him so well after only just having a few minutes to practice before the show - not a bad result!!!

Denzel with his Best of Opposite bitch Molleyclans Moa

Thank you to everyone who sent me these beautiful pictures!

Denzel's Best in Show 5 Flowers and certificates and below his sashes from one weekend in Sweden

Below Denzel and Eva - the heavens opened up in the final stages of showing so they were both drowned in the rain!!

Wow what a great and fun weekend.  Firstly we had Pam and Alex come down from Sydney to pick up Ju Ju and see the puppies and we had a lovely dinner (thanks Pete) and relaxed after washing dogs for dog shows and puppies before they left for their new homes.

Later that evening Annie arrived to stay the night before the big Wagga weekend of shows.  Katrina arrived really early on Saturday to meet and pick up her boy "Bernie", Katrina was followed by Melinda and Ben who came to pick up Biff and helped to shuttle Bruiser off to the Carpenter family.  The Murphy's dropped in to see Bob and came back two days later to pick him up and Rod and Virginia Parker whizzed down as fast as they could when they heard that Barney was still available.  Carmel also visited on the saturday afternoon to see the puppies and check out the breed after admiring them for many years.

Sue, Annie, Nik, Storm and Nicole had a great weekend showing ...see opposite.  It was great to catch up with Belle and Simon and Steph as well as Nicole, Gordon and Wita (AKA - Holly).  The sun shone most of the time although it was still a day to wear a scarf - the dogs loved it!  We had a meal at the local RSL club and crashed in bed by 9.30pm feeling that it was much later.

Gordon, Annie, Nicole and Wita plus fluff ball dog!

Suki's puppies have just started to live outdoors but go back into their house to go to the toilet ...so we think they either don't have brains or the brain fairy hasn't arrived yet@!  More pictures in the next couple of days of them ..they remind me so much of Suki and her littermates when she was a puppy its uncanny!

Don't forget the camp out / get together Saturday 6 September.  Oura Beach (10 mins from Wagga Wagga).  We'll meet around 1.30 - 2 pm for a couple of hours romp in the reserve and river (for the game ones) tent setting up etc can take place at the same time if the dogs permit.  This will be followed by an early dinner at the Wagga Winery 6pm just a couple of minutes drive from the beach.  Some are camping, some are staying in cabins and others are just coming for the day.  Please let me know if you'll be at the dinner.  Sunday we'll have some puppy socialisation at Zanzebern Headquarters and dogs can have a gallop around our paddock at about 11am.  This will be an entirely casual event for the dogs and humans to have some fun.

Mojo winning Best in Group under Esther Joseph (Victoria) - thank you for such a thrill!

Challenge Dog Line Up on Sunday Mojo, Spike, Fudge, Fletch

Carmel falling in love with Baggins - sorry he's taken!

Day 1:  Fudge and Sue took the BOB award followed by Runner UP to Best exhibit in Group

Zanzebern Lote Tiquiri and Sue Young RUBIG prize.  Pam Alex and Ju Ju in the background

Annie won 2nd in All breeds puppy sweepstakes with our Dora

Annie and Dora in the sweepstakes event

Fletch won Best Junior in Group - pictured below

DAY 2: Mojo won BEST EXHIBIT IN SHOW!!!!!!! below with judge Mrs Norris (Tasmania) - THANK YOU

Get well to Kakola - you are in our thoughts!

I am home after a whirlwind trip to the world dog show in Sweden.  Denzel and Kim flew in from Canada and it took me 42 hours to get there from Australia due to flight delays and issues ..but I made it.

Denzel looked fabulous albeit a bit jetlagged as we all were.  Here are some pictures.  Denzel was awarded an excellent rating and made it into the top 6 males out of the champions class which was quite an accomplishment as there were many multi champions from around the world.  We were very proud of him as he had a lot of support around the ring and we thank everyone for there kind words from around the globe.

It was wonderful to catch up with my great friends Jenny and Jens and their children Anna and Albin while we were there too.

Sadly in just the week I was away Chicca passed away (suddenly just in her sleep) as well as her son Chester (liver failure) leaving two families very empty.  We are thinking of you Dana Copp and Peter and Ros Murchison.

Denzel at the World Show outside the ring and below inside the ring with some of his competition.  The two dogs to the left hand side were World winners number 3 and 4.

Nik and Denzel - Jet Lagged in Stockholm with bright eyed Albin and Anna in the back ground!

Denzel proudly displaying his structure overlooking a lake in Stockholm (it was 9.30 pm and still light!!!). Below Denzel in the ring being expertly presented by Kim Groves - Thanks Kim!!

Another busy month has rolled by.  Sadly we must say farewell to one of the original Zanzebern "tennis star" boys.  Reena and Adam Brown sadly informed us that they lost their boy Zanzebern Agassi last month.  His name was Warden and he was named after Adams mother's nick name as Adam had lost his mum only a short time before Agassi came into their lives. The Brown's have stayed in touch regularly over many years informing us of Wardens life.  He was a pets as therapy boy and did a lot of community service over his time.  Thank you Reena and Adam for being such a wonderful home to Warden, I am sure the memory of him will bring warmth to your heart for many years to come.

On a happy note ...Welcome to the world Ju Ju's seven boys.

Nik is off to Stockholm to "The World Dog Show" early July and will see about 250 Berners strutting their stuff to try and win the World Title! It should be fun.

Huge thank you to the Ross family who looked after Czenzi for the last few months.  She has come home in terrific condition and now all we have to do is try and get her pregnant ...I think she may be one of those" modern woman types"  and children maybe just aren't her style.  Please Czenzi you are beautiful ...give us some babies!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL CZENZI IN SUPER CONDITION AFTER HER TIME AT THE "ROSS" RETREAT!

We have had many visitors over the last several months and our Berner numbers had risen into the double digits ....

Anja (Denzel x Dakini) at 9 months with Stuart - Anja is 40 kg at 9 months

Pembroke Family at the beach...that's Bella the  CALM ZANZEBERN girl in the centre!! And below when Bella is actually sitting still with BEAR.  Bear is from the ZOLLIKON kennel of Emma Sankey's

Nik Showing Mojo and Lexis daughter Stella at the specialty in June 2008

Zoobi (Spike x Lini) pipped at the post by a labrador in a Netball outfit for Best Fancy Dress at the Weethalle Pet Show in Western NSW. Below that's Fudge with Jason (How's ya teeth Jason?)

Zanzebern Agassi - "WARDEN" - 19.01.00 - 14.04.08

MARK YOU CALENDARS

We are planning to have a Berner Camp out here in Wagga for Berner lovers and their Bernese. The site is the OURA pebbly beach which is only 15 mins from the Wagga Wagga CBD. We plan to join around lunch time on the Saturday and play with Berners on the grounds and the beach.

We will have dinner at the Wagga Wagga Winery (BBQ style) which is only 5 mins from the camp ground.

Pitch tents, bring caravans or sleep in the back of your station wagon.

Camp ground is primitive. Two pit toilets available but no other services.

Bacon and Eggs for breakfast on Sunday ..we'll bring a BBQ. Zanzebern baby puppy socialisation and play time at Zanzebern around lunch on the Sunday.

Where: OURA Beach (just outside of Wagga Wagga) on Saturday night 6 September 2008.

When: Saturday / Sunday 6-7 September.

RSVP required for booking dinner 10 August 2008

nik@zanzebern.com

Gorgeous Sarah Keen 14 years of age this picture taken only one week before she went to rainbow bridge to join her 3 Bernese friends Zema, Barney and Abbey.  Special thoughts are with our friends Robyn and Chris although this

This is SUKI (Denzel x Roxy daughter) at 6.5 weeks pregnant - Mojo will be the DAD

Mojo and Nik at the BMD Club of Victoria Specialty in June 2008.  Even though they didn't win Nik thinks her new show outfit might get her a job as a flight attendant!

Local Wagga Girl "Picot"  (Spike x Lini) graduates puppy preschool

Dora the Explorer's first show (AMY x Denzel) - thanks for these great pictures BEV!

Wita (Orsa x Mojo) - looking very much like her grandma Petrai at the sane age! 9 months.  Thanks to the Eslick Family for giving her so much show experience as well as LOVE!

Well my hope of updating this newsletter every couple of weeks has been shot out the window - but I did have an excuse.  I went to the USA to catch up with Denzel and meet his human team, Jennifer and Kim.  Firstly I went to New York and had a brilliant couple of days with Cheryl (another Bernese owner from WA). Cheryl and I had a great time combining our favourite past times - shopping, eating, sight seeing and talking about Bernese - PERFECT.  Cheryl  even rivaled me in the shopping stakes.  For some reason I can't find my New York pictures so nothing to share - sorry!! Will track them down.

Being at the National Specialty in the USA again was wonderful, perhaps the best show I had ever been too ...topped off by the fact that Denzel was entered and I felt really involved ...being his rouse about, walker, poo picker uppperer and chief hugger!  Denzel being polite and friendly to everyone was cordial when he first met me in the dark the Monday night but Tuesday I think he realised who I was but I have to admit this boy is in total love with his handler Kim - I mean who wouldn't she is gorgeous, she grooms him all the time and she introduces him to girlfriends regularly ...Denzel loves KIM.  I love Kim too because she is a fantastic girl and she piloted Denzel expertly to Best of Opposite Sex in Show at the National Specialty.  Over 500 hundread Entries ...Denzel was the best Bloke and reserve to the lovely female Berner from Canada!  Huge thanks to Kim and Jennifer who also drove me for hundreds of kilometres to their own homes and to visit other Berner breeders and puppies ..not to mention side trips into shopping malls!!

When I arrived home I had a huge welcome party of Peter PJ and Tobie all smiles to see MUMMY after two weeks.  It was very difficult to be away from them but so lovely to be home again and they all loved their presents from America and Canada.  It was wonderful to see Missy also half way to the front gate when I got home.  She is getting herself around really well and her main issue now is dragging of her bad foot a lot which is causing quite a bit of damage to her toes.  We bought a large dog boot for her but it was too small ...so I am now still on the hunt for a solution for her.

The Sydney Berner Buddies picnic is on Sunday 24 May at Blackmans Park Lanecove between 12 and 3 pm.  Unfortunately we can't make it yet again but I will be at the Melbourne Showgrounds Ascotvale on Sunday 8 June for the Bernese Specialty Show - Show starts at midday.

The puppies had grown while I was away as well and it was nice to catch up on my email and see more pictures of the berners out there - in loving homes.  I get more pictures of Bernese on couches than anyone I imagine.

Missy - on recovery after a spinal embolism left her paralysed just after easter.

Happy Birthday TOBIE!! 2 years old today!

                    

Denzel in action with Kim at the USA National.  Aussie Lindsay Ryan and New Zealander Lisa Stevenson in the background. 

Denzel a big smile after becoming named the BEST MALE at the USA National Specialty 2008 - Thanks to Kim Groves for expertly handling him!

PJ with Orsa and below playing with Tobie on her birthday.

Kandy Queen  (Rosie x Fender ) with Proud mum Robyn at her first show and below Kandy learning the ropes from the oldies SAM and SARAH the GOLDEN ones  at home

Jet meets the cows in Adelaide!  Apparently these not so friendly cows just loved JET!  The magnetism of the Bernese extends beyond humans!

Monti (AKA Boots - Rosie x Fender) with Ross Johnston

Gus (sitting - Ju Ju x Mojo) settling in well with the Barnes household and Sachi lying down (Qeno x Elke)

Velvet (Lexi x Mojo)- quite comfortable thank you!

Zoo (Zanzebern Zoo York) with Marie -Helene in Canada. Zoo is from Lini and Spike

Barli can con the pats from any position!

Boston - mmm white floors and a Bernese!!!???

Whose smile is bigger Scott or Mcduff?

Grossley Ruffington Coulture (Molly x Denzel) - What a name!

Tank - Amy x Denzel just 5 months and below engulfing Kelly on the lounge

And below Tank when he was 2 months old

Firstly huge apologies for not writing news more regularly.  We did have some trouble with our homepage when the server it was being hosted on was hacked into.  This problem has been fixed although google still tells everyone we are dangerous until they get around to checking that we are in fact SAFE!!!

We have been busy fare welling our Rosie x Fender puppies to their new homes.

Congratulations to Kennel ZOLLIKON (Emma and Paul Sankey) on the safe but early arrival of their gorgeous first son BRADY.  Emma is obviously doing a fabulous job with motherhood and is a fantastic brood bitch - Brady is putting on weight, eating and sleeping very well we hear.

I very much enjoyed the Sydney Royal dog show this year only taking one dog Mojo.  Mojo was a hit with the crowd as everyone loved him and the judge did too.  Mojo did us proud by winning Runner UP to Best of Breed.  Congratulations to the Wall family with their gorgeous girl Kitty (Ch Zanzebern Here Kitty Kitty) for taking out challenge (best) bitch.

It was very much a shock though while I was away I had a call from Peter that our gorgeous girl Missy at home was suddenly paralysed in her back right leg, within 24 hours she could not stand at all.  After trips to our local vet Peter took her to a specialist in Canberra who confirmed that she had suffered a spinal embolism (like a stroke) which had left her with serious paralysis.  With encouragement from the vet and the fact that Missy was not in any pain Peter bought her home and so began the very hard and intensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy program to try and get her back on her feet.  After much stress, worry on our part and incontinence and lack of mobility on Missy's we can report after two weeks that there has been significant improvement in Missy although she is still very handicapped.  We are really hopeful that she will still improve over the weeks and months to lead a happy and self sufficient lifestyle.  She has been such a trooper through all this and has never given us reason to doubt our decision.  Please keep positive thoughts for our Missy.

We have had a number of visiting girls at our house, Genna (Zollikon) came to be mated to Teddy but we are not certain of much success.  Remi (Zanzebern Odessa) has been bred to Bachus.  We currently have JU JU here to undertake a repeat of the MOJO x JUJU litter and hope for a nice girl for NIK.

Nik is off to the USA to catch up with Denzel at the USA NATIONAL SPECIALTY in Rhode Island.   Denzel has been seriously carving up the show ring with two BEST IN SHOWS in one week along with his Best in Specialty Show.  I wonder if I will recognise him - Kim Groves has turned him into a GOLDEN BOY he looks so stunning!!!

At the specialty, there'll be a band of Aussies and Lisa from NZ there so I am sure we'll have a wow of a time.  I am so LUCKY that Peter is so supportive as I will be leaving him to care for two toddlers, the healthy dogs, MISSY and he rehab program and a feral kitten that we are hand raising.  Please send positive vibes Peters way!!!

Thank you to everyone who has sent through some great pictures of your dogs ...keep it up!!

MORE ON MY RETURN!!!

Multi Best in Show winning and Multi Champion Zanzebern Defender "Denzel"

STANLEY Shepherd (Rosie x Fender) - look at the size of my hooves?

Princess Candy at the LANECOVE Manor (Rosie x Fender)

Abi (Spike x Lini) taking over the play session with PATIENT SAM

MOJO WITH AN ADMIRER AT SYDNEY

Kitty and Zoe Wall in full flight - go on to win Best bitch

Spikus with Annie Bell and Tobias sulking over his second PLACE

BOO RADLEY - what a spunk!! - Amy x Denzel

Tank another Amy x Denzel boy

Jason Young and Cricket Team with Mascot FUDGE

Jet (Rosie x Fender) and Miss Johnston - Adelaide

Heh did I mention we were busy?  This place is a crazy house...only crazy people and dogs permitted!!

We have just merged a business, had christmas and new year and raised 31 puppies ...what a cinch!! Lets do it again tomorrow I say!! ;-)

What a beautiful summer though - after a month of tremendously hot weather it has really cooled off and we've had plenty of rain so it is GREEN.  GREEN and FEBRUARY are two words not often said together in Wagga Wagga.

The visiting mums have all been fabulous house guests. Molly, Amy, Lini and Rosie were all fabulous and have really enjoyed their holiday at Zanzebern Headquarters. The puppies have been delicious and we have had regular visitors locally and further afield who have spent hours with the puppies helping to socialise them.  We are teaching Tobie that you don't pick up a puppy by the ear ..she is learning...especially if I pick her up by her ear!

Thank you to everyone who have sent us some gorgeous pictures ..I am going to throw them all in and will label them shortly.  It has been so great to see so many HAPPY and well loved dogs ..albiet some of them WET!

SPECIAL birthday greetings to the 7 year old Qeno x Petrai litter. Our ORSA sends her big horsey love.  Will get a picture of her to include here!  Mummy Petrai is still alive and well in the USA!

Bernese Puppies sometimes confuse themselves as a GOLDFISH

Marshall (Teddy x Petrai son) - in the USA doing us proud - not only a champion but an agility dog.

Mannie Howlett - South Australia

Czenzi - back in South Australia being spoilt by the ROSS's.

Barli - but I am a lap dog!

BOSTON TOM - (Lexi x Mojo) 4 months

Stella (Mojo x Lexi) and Goldie friend

Wilson and Bronte Makin - Almost Twins - Both Denzel kids

The Mullens and the Kings get together!

Anja - a prize winning photo (Anja is from Dakini and Denzel)

Boss and David on Sydney Harbour.  Boss has his show debut tomorrow - good luck BOSS

DENZEL and KIM in CANADA

Maggie and Stewie in north Western Australia - how cute is she and how regal is he!!!

Ju Ju and Alex

Billy - Orsa and Mojo

We hope everyone has had a fabulous Christmas and New Year.  We had a lovely time at home and the children and dogs enjoyed the cooler weather.  It has hotted up over the last week though.

We said Farewell to Lexi who went back to New Zealand before Christmas.  What a fabulous guest she was and gave us a beautiful litter ..thats her son Virgil with the children at right.

MOJO says farewell to his two time girlfriend Lexi

Sadly over the last month Bernese owners have had to say goodbye to 4 Beautiful Bernese.  The Shepherd family lost their beautiful boy Hagrid to Kidney failure, this was followed by the Cleaver families most beautiful Bella who was taken way too soon by poisoning from a tropical plant and maybe a cane toad. Erin Hubbards boy Gimli sadly died in his own back garden for no apparent reason.  Then we heard from closer to home that the Murphy family lost their 10 year old boy Bill after he had what should have been a routine surgery to fix an injury to his tail - overnight.  We are really sending out our most heartfelt condolences to the families - particularly when all of these loses were sudden ad without notice.

Hagrid and Bella

Gimli and sorry we don;t have a picture of Bill

We hear that Denzel had a white Christmas ..LUCKY boy. See his webpage for pics.

VINCENT - the Cat's bed will do fine thanks! And the cat makes a great Pillow!!

On a happier note we received some fun Christmas pictures of Bernese behaving and misbehaving for the Camera.

The Jason and Simone Young and FUDGE from Western NSW were ecstatic to send me pictures after FINALLY some RAIN!! AND NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

Brandy settling in at the Viviers household!!

Wow what a fabulous couple of weeks for our Denzel.  He has only been in the USA for two weeks and has already chalked up his USA Championship title in 4 shows within a week timeframe and then his Canadian Championship title in four shows in the second week, including a Best Exhibit in Group win.  He has had his success amongst some of the strongest competition North America has to offer and has made many new friends and admirers.  We are very proud of him and the fantastic team he has including Jennifer Shupert and Kimberly Groves.  We are so grateful of the wonderful and positive reception Denzel has received and have been overwhelmed by all the notes and well wishers from people who have met him.

Closer to home we have had some lovely pictures sent to us from so many of our Bernese family and we have totally updated our gallery pages with these new pictures. Thanks to everyone who has been sending.

On a very sad note we had an email from Sarah Tennessen in the USA that her Ozzie (who we have all followed from afar) has suffered an unknown trauma accident that has resulted in paralysis requiring him to be euthanased.  I was so terribly sad for Sarah as she had so frequently emailed me with news and pictures and was so very attached to this special boy.  Not only did he seem to fulfil Sarahs dreams in terms of a show dog and potential foundation sire for her kennel but he had become her total "heart" dog.  They had a connection she could not put words to.  I know exactly what she is talking about and I can feel her emptiness from here.  We are so sorry Sarah.

Vale: Zanzebern Jackaroo Ozzie

I have just had a whirlwind trip to Melbourne to deliver Denzel's dad Fender home to mum Emma Sankey and also Fenders daughter Sugar who tricked us all into thinking she was in season when she wasn't.  While in Melbourne I stayed overnight at camp ZAANZ with the ever hospitabile Wall family and saw the beautiful and very consistent litter of Saskia and Axel's.  The puppies are lovely and I have posted some pictures on the puppy page.  In addition I was able to meet Fletches gorgeous Brother called Ferris and took some pictures of him which I will share.

ZAANZ ROMANCE WAS BORN  "Ferris" 7 months.  Son of Axel and Kitty.  Bred by Zoe Wall and Nicole Lennon

The third prong to my trip included the Victorian BMD Club xmas party which was great to get to attend and made up part way for my absence at the Sydney Berner Buddies picnic the weekend before - although I do seem to see the Victorian crew a lot more than the Sydney folk and their dogs ..so I must try to get to Sydney next time.

SPECIAL CONGRATS TO THE SANKEYS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR PREGNANCY!!  ALSO GOOD LUCK TO FELICITY BROOME ND ANDREW WHO ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST BABY IN 2 WEEKS TIME!!!

Denzel looking pretty good in the line up at his first show in America

Multi Best Exhibit in Group winning star show boy and star daddy

Ch Zanzebern Sir Tristram "AXEL"

PJ with Fletch ZAANZ FASHION ASSASSIN -

Yes PJ has put his pants on back to front but we aren't telling him!

Well I have had a fabulous trip to New Zealand to my fathers wedding and then up to the north island where we caught up with some of the NZ breeders and their beautiful dogs.  Thanks to Lisa and Peter Hardegger, Lisa Stevenson and Stu for having me.

Straight after we were off to the South Coast to my sisters wedding as well ...so the bells have been ringing this month for our family!

This month we say Bon Voyage to Denzel as he takes a sabbatical trip to the USA, he will not only get to miss out on our hot summer but he is going on a study tour of the North American show scene.  I think he also has hopes of meeting some foreign girls while he is there.  We will miss him greatly but know that Jennifer Schupert will look after him like one of her own children.  Good Luck Denzel we love you!!!

Ch Zanzebern Defender    - "DENZEL"

Amy Pride - enjoying the good life!

We have been sick ..everyone has had a bug the last two weeks ..sorry so slow with news ...will have something for you this LONG weekend ..have a great one if you are in Australia....

Mojo at Melbourne Royal Show

Sugar and her dad Fender, Nienna and her daughter Saskia

Kerry Howlett with new addition Zanzebern Undeniably

Barli giving the eyes!

Robyn and Rosie hot the show scene in Sydney

Jason and Fudge at West Wyalong Show - Best intermediate in Group

Ozzie winning big in the USA

Mary Rogers and her beautiful Charlotte

Happy Birthday Hound cake for Buddy - Dogs enjoying it at Right  >>

Diesal and David - Snowing in Victoria

Hi All,

I have had to duck into work as we are having phone and internet connection problems at home ..so please accept my apologies if I have not got back to you on email over the past week.

I am going to quickly throw in some brilliant pictures I have been receiving recently and will follow up with more words when my phone line is fixed.

We have added some beautiful new pictures of Mojo to his page ..so take a look.

This picture is a classic - TONKA enjoying the company of his new Feline friend. And below "how close are we can I jump on you or is that tail flicking for a reason?"

Freja with FRIEND at the McGuiness household in Sydney

Vincent with Malteser friend - I'll humour you for now but SOON I'll be the BOSS!

 Beautiful Archie Howlett ...10 months old (Orsa x Denzel)

Marat 24 carat and Anne Gribbon

Conceived on a new years eve jaunt in Australia - Summer and Denzel's babies in New Zealand. And below The breeder Lina Jury left and centre Lisa Stevenson who holds Migua who is not a brother but a cousin Anahera boy!

We have just returned from a week on the Gold Coast ...what a lovely break away catching up with my sister and helping to arrange things for her wedding which is happening in October.  Although we managed to get our head colds back again even though the weather was lovely and warm!!

Just before we left Dakini had her puppies and they are absolutely beautiful.  She is doing a great job looking after them and they are fat little munckins.

All but one of Amy's puppies have left for their new homes.  Poor Tommy had a case of diarrhea the day before he was set to fly out of Australia so his trip has been cancelled and he is getting over his bout and needs to gain some weight before we choose a home for him on Australian Soil...poor little guy is quite lonely now that his brothers have left him and mum doesn't have any milk anymore either.

Next week we have another litter due from Lexi and she is huge like a whale!  AND it looks as though Orsa is pregnant too!  What HAVE WE DONE!!!

What a classic picture "Boss" previously known as Solomon (JU JU x MOJO) meets Cockatoos in front of the Harbour Bridge at his home in Sydney.

We have had rain rain and more rain -the place is looking like a Chinese laundry with dog blankets and bedding and human clothes hung around everywhere trying to dry.

Had great fun at the specialty last month.  Huge congratulations to Zoe and Lynney with Challenge bitch, Best Opposite and Runner UP to Best Exhibit in Show with Ch Zanzebern Here Kitty Kitty who not only won Challenge bitch for the second year running but did so this year 8 weeks after whelping a litter of 11!!!

Our Mojo Am and Can Ch Ebnets Mojo (USA) also won Best Intermediate of Show.  Several Zanzebern dogs achieved the "excellent" rating from the judge Ms Anita Whitmarsh (Sweden) and it was most informative to hear her judge with the microphone.

The trip was fun with Annie and we were kindly "put up" by the Wall Family - thank you.  Had a lovely meal with friends on the Saturday night too.

Earlier this week we took advantage of a sunny and semi warm day and Tobie, PJ and I enjoyed playing with the puppies in the sun.

Here are some pictures of "Fletch" at 11 weeks playing with PJ. 

Watch for Fletch - Zaanz Fashion Assassin in the show ring.

Ch Zollikon Sweet Dreams with Dad Ch Fender van't Rijkenspark

Tiny Sally - now proudly owned by Dennis Mannering in Victoria along with her big fat sister Suzie!

Karina and Winston with "hubby" and "Shepherd friend" - caught up with us at the Specialty in Melbourne last month.

Sarah and Bronte showing at their first Specialty.

Here is a picture of Dr Katrina Warren (TV personality and Vet) with her dog Archie, posing with Zoe and Fletches brother Ferris - Zaanz Romance was Born

Best of luck to Nicole and Jeanette Farren who are set to open their new Doggy Day Care centre in Melbourne this week. Nicole and Jeanette own Kitty sister Qenia and also the proud new owners of Ali sister to Ferris and Fletch.

Vincent Groom with Kitty Kat friend in Adelaide

We had a fun time at a show at Yass on the weekend ...Tobie, Mojo and Lexi. Everyone thought I was carrying around a Bernese puppy or a toy but it was TOBIE in her Bernese outfit that Lynette Dawson sent for her from the USA. 

Lexi had a great day and won Best of Breed and then was looked at for Best in Group but ended up being awarded Best open in group.  There were 110 dogs in the group so quite an accomplishment!  It was sunny and warmish (after a frost) and it was just so nice to get to a more local show like I used to.

We (Annie Bell and I ) are off this weekend to Melbourne for the specialty show - so that should be fun too.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me pictures ..on Monday my computer starting bouncing back to people because I had about 12 MG of pictures being sent to me from around the globe all at the same time!!

Lexi with a very serious Nik (needs a face lift) Lennon at the show

Mojo and Lexi in the back of the wagon at the dog show

Here are some family pics ...

Mia (Bessie x Mojo) and Ross Johnstone at left and Tilly Forster (Kitty x Axel)

Dakota "star" (Bachus x Sascha)

Hunter Hall - show practice in the garage - "Keep the treats coming this is a sinch"

Barli (Orsa x Denzel) - this is a stick up - give me a pat or else

Max says : What do ya mean you're a labradoodle - what on earth is that?

Its 2.40 am and I am helping Amy (our new German girl) to whelp her puppies.  In between time I am looking for something to do other than "real work"!  So why not update the newsletter!

The Kitty x Axel puppies have begun to make way to their homes.  They have been a delight, very well adjusted puppies that are confident yet calm and not too bitey or jumpy so far!  First reports back from new owners are that they are completely smitten with them.

The Vella family in north Queensland are thrilled with Zorro - now known as Mo!

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Amy attending her 3 boys so far - she is a natural! Pity she whelped to the northern hemisphere daytime and not ours!!

Mo settling in with the Vella family in North Queensland

Ju Ju and Mojo's puppies first day outside!

Aussie Girl enjoying summer in Denmark

Silver in the USA

The Makin's win the prize for the best correspondents ..we get monthly pictures.  The dogs Bronte and Wilson are not spoilt at all!!

Diesal looking a bit regal in Melbourne!

Tess also in the USA

News from Maggie Dix - her boy King Kefu (AKA Josh) had an operation earlier this week.  We wish him a speedy recovery!

Josh after his operation

Tobie Lennon

Can't help but throw in a family picture of our gorgeous Tobie.  She went on her first horse ride this month and loved it! PJ only went on after he saw Tobie go on!!!

Winter is here ...brrrrrrrr ..the dogs love it. There has been so much rain we are all covered in mud!  PJ really loves the mud ..he is such a boy. Last weekend I took off without kids or dogs down to Melbourne to visit Kitty and Axels puppies (and bring some home).  I had a lovely and relaxing weekend with the Wall family and have to commend them in particular for doing such a brilliant job raising the puppies. This litter are so very people orientated and just a delight to be around.  Zoe had already picked out a favourite who she wanted to keep and named him Ferris.  The puppies were such high quality there could be a few of them in the show ring.  These will be the first puppies for the new "ZAANZ" kennel which is an off shoot of Zanzebern that will be based in Melbourne and will hopefully create the occasional but special litter from the Walls girls Kitty and Saskia.

It has been lovely to receive pictures from many Zanzebern's out there and I shall share some with you here.  Some new pictures can also be found on our Exports page as we here news from overseas too!

Here is a picture of Robyn and Rosie who attended the recent Berner Buddies picnic in Sydney.  I am hoping to arrange a get together in Sydney in the not too distant future - so watch this space!

Below ..From South Australia: Archie (Orsa x Denzel) and Mannie (Zema x Tulkas)

Sadly the Leeman family this month said goodbye to "Daniel" who had been an exceptional companion to Andrew and later his new baby daughter Bronte. Daniel is pictrured below with Bronte in 2006. Daniel was a son of Inka and Casey. 

From Victoria: This is the boy from Kitty and Axel that Zoe, Lyney and David are keeping.  They call him Ferris!

From Queensland : Cleavers family with their new baby Bella next to their 10 year old girl Mags  and then a few months later!  Apparently she is now bigger than Maggs at 7 months old.

This is Anton (Bessie x Mojo) from the Douglas family in Victoria

PJ AND TOBIE

What a busy month May has been.  Firstly JuJu gave birth to a very big litter.  Here she is posing patiently with PJ with only 3 day old puppies.

Still on the puppy theme below you will see Amy getting the royal treatment at Emmas place while pregnant.  Now one must be comfortable!!  We are very excited that the puppies are due the Queens birthday weekend in June.

Victorian Bernese Specialty KCC PARK Saturday 23 June 2007.  We will only be showing 4 dogs this year and I will be without any children!!!  So I would love it if many of our Melbourne Zanzeberns could drop by for a visit.  Some of you I haven't seen since you left...it would be great to catch up again.

A big Happy First birthday to our own daughter Tobie !  Here she is with grandmez and Ballet who will finally (after a false start and a green stick fracture injury) leave for Quebec this week!

Below: Hughy Dobson - Soaking up the LOVE!

 

A still moment  Lexi left and Mojo right (under sufferance) during the morning ritual paddock walk.

Lexi reminds us of Grandma Chicca and great grandma Amber - Always carrying!

Barli -  Zanzebern Q T Pie - the six month size comparison!!  I can't wait for the next installment.

Wedding congratulations to Zanzebern owners Kerry and Tony Howlett.  Kerry looks stunning and is attended on the left by Julie Ross (Beamers mum)

I falsely reported "post Easter news" that Nienna and Orsa had bashed up Denzel while we were away in Sydney (which I did find strange). I have sinced discovered that he has been chewing at himself, so has Ju Ju and Nienna ...so they have an itch! A vet visit hasn't really got to the bottom of it so we have used a broad spectrum "everything killer" called Advocate and hope that we see some improvement. The rest of the gang seem fine but also had the advocate treatment just in case.

Erin and Mark Hubbard had a narrow escape for their Gypsey who suffered an extremely bad case of pyometra but is recovering from surgery.  They thought she had just all of a sudden got fat but called me on Anzac Day and I suspected Pyometra ..it turned out to be a uterus and 7kg of Pus!!!!!!!!

This week we are saying goodbye to the cheeky and very cute Zanzebern Hwy Ballet who is going to live in Quebec Canada with Birgit Schulz.  Birgit already has a boy from us Can Ch Zanzebern Auberon.

Sarah with her two kids at the park

This is the Fender x Dakini daughter Zanzebern Jillaroo who lives in Japan with Eisaku at his Legend Rigi

This is Spikes Portrait, it was painted by an artist  in Holland and is fantastic!  He did it for charity and I jus wish I could get a copy. I think it really captures Annie Bell's Spike perfectly.  He is otherwise known as Ch Zanzebern Ignatious

Unfortunately we are very sad to report the passing of Harry (Petrai x Sam) who likely had hystiocytosis.  Harry was only five years old which reminds us of how short our time can be with these precious dogs.  Harry was much loved   by the Matenson's incuding their son John.

On a happier note, Kitty produced 11 puppies to Axel, 9 boys and 2 girls all are doing well and Lynney is doing a great job being the nurse and cleaner and puppy breath smeller - I can't wait to meet them ...apparently they all have lovely markings and are growing well.

Ju Ju resembles a hippopotamus and is due to have puppies Friday the 5th of May.  She is still eating well and hasn't begun to dig a nest yet.  Orsa on the other hand is not pregnant but has begun to dig her nest for imaginary puppies!!

Our New Zealand visitor Lexi likes to carry balls and toys just like her great grandma Amber

Harry with John - I am stumped for words

This is Zanzebern Cossette who lives in Florida USA with Carol-Ann.  It was lovely to get this updated picture of her.  She is a veteran but only looks 2 years old!

New Champion Zanzebern Bienne Mira - congrats to Emma and Erica

We had a great time up in Sydney for the Sydney Royal Show.  Czenzi was awarded Best Champion Bitch and Runner Up to Best of Breed.  It was great to catch up with the regular Bernese crowd (which Annie Bell is now a member of!).  It was also lovely to catch up with Kushla, Bettina, Robyn, Susan Moore, Jaquie Catt and my Cousin Joey.  Peter brought PJ in for the afternoon and we did the show bag hall and came home with some great sample bags and a big Thomas balloon (PJ was in heaven). A big thanks to my mums neighbour and our friend Bethany who helped out for the day!

We left Denzel home from the show so he could continue to grow some coat for our specialty in June.  Unfortunately luck wasn't with us or him and the two girls at home had decided to gang up on him and give him the "once over".  He now has an elizabethan collar to stop him biting his wounds and will have a big hairless spot for several weeks while he heels.  I would be interested to learn what exactly he did to have the two older girls bash him up!!!

Czenzi

Czenzi on her way to RUBOB

Happy Easter!!!!!

Hello from all of us at Zanzebern.  We have endured a very long hot summer but are now enjoying brilliant milder autumn weather.  The dogs have been enjoying romping around our paddock for runs while our horse Chester munches out on greener pastures in our neighbours paddock.

Since last newsletter we have welcomed two new imports to our house (Amy and Alex "LEXI") - both are stunning girls and we are very excited about what qualities they will give to our kennel when they each have a litter later in 2007.

We had a very quick trip to Adelaide with our show team early March and were very successful at the first ever Specialty Show run by the SA Club.  It was a lovely event and very well organised.  It was hot but the building was air conditioned and carpeted so we were spoilt.  Suki at her first ever show won Best Puppy of Show,  Denzel in his summer bikini still managed to win the Open Dog class and went on to win Best Open in Show. Our most beautiful holidaying show girl "Lexi" won the open bitch class and went Best opposite to Denzel and over the weekend won Best bitch and Best of Breed to earn almost half the points necessary for her title (she is quite spectacular).  Denzel's son Archie won Best Baby puppy in Show.

Mojo and Nik at the SA Specialty

We have had a very small and enjoyable litter of three puppies by Zharni and Tulkas.  They are due to leave us in the next couple of weeks but have been a delight.

Zanzebern Hwy Ballet 4 weeks

Tobie and Gracie having "pram time" while there mums are showing at the specialty!!

Our beautiful new import Amy from Germany has been a welcome guest at Emma Sankey's home in Melbourne.  Emma is helping to show Amy and Amy has already got some points towards her championship.  Amy is an amazingly friendly dog and as you can see has the most amazing head. 

We also welcome back Czenzi who spent a few months with the Ross family in Adelaide - she had some great show wins while she was there and got very used to the Royal Leather Couch lifestyle!!

Just like PJ, Tobie enjoys playing with the puppies!

While we have welcomed two new girls we have also some farewells to say as well.  Aussie (Orsa and Denzel) had a successful flight to Denmark and was welcomed with open arms by Jytte Birch who will adore her and hopes that she will add to her small family of Breeding Berners.

Welcome Lexi our welcome addition from the Hardegger family in New Zealand.

We are also saying a sad goodbye to Xavier, Zanzebern Mallisse X who is going to Japan to be Yoshio Ako's future Stud male and show dog.  Yoshio already has 3 Bernese from us.

This is Denzels daughter Bronte who is the much loved friend of Sarah Makin - watch for her in the Melbourne Show scene!

Lanie and Nik showing as a youngster.

Here is Brontes sister Barli - As you can see she has grown in just a few weeks since arriving at the Moore household!!

Both these girls and Aussie are all grand daughters of Lanie above.

Congratulations to Pannaz and Kathy Dugger in Arizona USA as Pannaz shown here wins the 6 - 9 month puppy class at their regional specialty show.

Here is a familiar scene - the Gribbon household have a new boy "Marat" who is surveying their pool.  Marat was recently looking for a new home and has found himself in doggy heaven at the Gribbons!!

Marat took all of 2 minutes to settle in at the Gribbons! Marat is the brother of Xavier and our Missy and Marty.

Erin and Gypsey sun baking by the sea!

Erin and Mark took their two Bernese for a holiday around their home island of Tasmania - what a beautiful place and the dogs look like they are having a great time

Gimli and Gypsey below

Beppi (12 months) with his smaller friend enjoy cuddle time.

O'Malley - a really lovely combination of mum Summer and Dad Denzel