The big day...

Sunday April 1 could not come soon enough for Sheryl...

We had packed up all sorts of stuff to take with us and I'd burned a couple of new CDs for the drive. About a half hour from our house, Sheryl asked if I had brought the camera... One u-turn and a swearing fit from yours truly later, we were headed (again) to see Sharon and the babies.

Today was their first adventure out of their whelping box so initially, the six pups were all a little nervous and uncertain. However, soon enough they were climbing over one another and chewing on noses, tails, paws - anything that came withing a few centimetres of their small jaws.

We had actually settled on our pups' name about one week before - Ben. We had still to select our boy but we did have a name.

As you can see, Sheryl delighted in holding our boy who had grown a few pounds since we last saw him two weeks earlier.

B2 was a little uncertain about all the activity and excitement but settled down amd eagerly oversaw her brood as they did their thing.

We'll likely be picking up Ben from Sharon the week of April 15 to bring him home.

And then, it's training; crate training; all kinds of training; obedience classes; socialization and of course, chaos, when the cats and Ben are introduced!

We'll keep you posted!

Mom - Blossom (B2)

Here's a shot of Mom, Blossom - or as she's known, B2.

Turns out she is a great mother to her growing brood and dotes upon her pups. She needs to put on some weight though; the little monsters appear to be nursing almost constantly!

Three boys and three girls...

On Sunday March 18, Sheryl and I drove to see our friend and Bernese Mountain Dog breeder, Sharon Groves, in Trenton Ontario. A litter of six pups was born to Blossom (aka B2) on February 23. We saw them all Sunday; three girls and three boys.
They were all stunning; not a "bad" one out of the lot. Anyone of these little (it's all relative!) beasties would be a welcome addition to any home.
We made no hard and fast decisions that day. They had only begun stumbling about a few days before we saw them.
We'll be back to see them all on April 1 and likely will make our selection then. As most of you know, we're leaning towards a boy. I think Sheryl has the name narrowed down to four. I'll let you know what they are in a few days time.
Meanwhile, there is no smell quite like a new puppy's breath...

A new addition to the Taylor household...

Sunday morning, Sheryl called our breeder, Sharon Groves, to inquire if the latest litter of puppies had been born. On February 23, 2007, six pups were born; three boys and three girls. Mother and kids are doing just fine. One of the boys is earmarked for our home. We'll be driving to see the brood down in Trenton, Ontario in the next couple of weeks.

All being well, by the end of April, we should have a new Berner boy in the house! We are all very excited - including, I'm told by Sheryl, all the cats - except, perhaps for Merlin who is way too cool to have anything affect him. So, watch this space...