Hi Donna.
Thanks for sending the video it s very helpful. I will send you a check in the mail. Pansy is doing great and is wonderful with my children. I have just recently found out why i have had so many problems with Josh. They say he has a mild form of asbergers and also fits the criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. I now understand so many of the reasons he does the things that he does and why he does not respond to many situations and discipline the way the others do. I always knew he was different but did not know why. It has been rough but his councilor uses her standard poodle as part of the process which Josh loves. He has a real connection to dogs and Pansy could not have come into our live at a better time. She loves him for him and does not care what his day was like at school and does not expect any thing from him. He can just be himself. This is a gift I can't give him but she does every day. Talk to you soon.
Kellie Hudson
01/11/09
SHE IS THE BEST!
CALLIOPE FULFILLS EVERY ASPECT OF DOG-FRIENDSHIP THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE HER!
She thinks she is a 3rd grade girl... has to dance every time my daughter turns on music to show me what she is studying in ballet, etc. Calliope jumps up on the trampoline whenever the children are up there (she does a great job navigating the net for entry), and Calliope can jump up onto the porch of our treehouse (probably 4.5 feet from the ground). She really loves being a part of whatever is going on.
Thanks!
Elizabeth
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Dear Donna,
I thought I'd send you our baby pictures of our puppies. They were born June 2nd. Tassa had 9 puppies, but the very small runt died the next day.
We are having so much fun with these puppies. It is such a great joy to have them crawl into our laps and fall asleep. My son, Kyle, was by Tassa's side during all of the puppy births except the first one. He is so very very happy to be a part of these puppies' lives.
Thank you so much for encouraging us in many ways. You're right, Tassa is an excellent mother. We are so thankful to have her.
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Thank you, also, for giving us Lydia's number. They are also excited that Rim fathered these beautiful puppies with just one collection. Somehow, we all just got lucky.
We'll keep you up to date on how they are doing.
Thank you so much for helping us pass along the great joy of a Bergamasco Sheep Dog to others.
Susan Bavis
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Donna
First let me say how sorry we are for the misunderstanding about keeping in touch with you. We had a address of bergamasc@aol.com, Silverpastori@aol.com . We visited the Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America, thats how we found a few other breeders including your name but I was sending it to the wrong e-mail hopefully the last email I got back I sent to your address so that you could see it was sent back undeliverable. Thats when I discovered I was putting the wrong address.So I hope you forgive us.
Also let me say REA is everything and more then what we read about the breed and what you & Steve told us. We are so HAPPY w/her she is Tyler's little sister (apart of our family) She goes every where w/us, every vacation if they don't allow dogs we don't stay, goes w/dad or mom to drop off and pickup Tyler from school. She is such a big part of us we had our family picture done last year and Tyler & REA are front & center for all to see, o yeah mom & dad are in there somewhere.
I will quit rambling on about our little girl and how well she fits w/our family. The vet loves it when REA comes because "She is such a beautiful and well mannered dog" she has asked us when we first got REA if we were going to show her and also become breeder, we explained weren't going to have her a show dog and that we really weren't interested in being breeder that one day we would like another but it would be hard to find a mate and explain that we didn't want a full litter, that we would only like one. So leaving some else to take the burden of trying to find homes for the pups and having REA to stay on site or leaving her so she could mate just didn't seem logistically or logical. We explained that we signed a contract saying the if REA was to be spayed we would have to get permission from the breeder. She said think about it but make sure not to wait much longer after her 5th birthday. So from what you mentioned in your email our bets bet is to get a puppy from another breeder. When Tyler saw your video of the pups he decided he wanted Petra or Pansy. I explained tonight that the pups were all placed.
I will email Susan and David and see what they can do. I hope you know that we have kept up w/ the Bergamasco rules and give REA so much love that you wouldn't be disappointed. I hope if you don't mind we have tons of pictures of the little lady I would share some of them with you. And yes I will join the chat club I have been on it and read it only, but last time I went to the site it wasn't there anymore??
Please keep in touch and thanks for all your help. Hopefully we will be proud parents of a new Bergamasco....Keep your fingers crossed. Also REA turned 5 in March should we have her spayed? and if so can we??
Thanks
Maryanne
06/09/08
Hi Donna,
Just wanted to drop a quick note to tell you that today is Orione's 7th birthday. It's hard to believe that our little boy is 7 already! I'll never forget coming to your house, seeing all of your beautiful Bergamascos and feeling a little ball of fur rubbing up against my ankle as I spoke to you. I looked down only to see the most beautiful puppy I had ever seen looking up at me. I asked you if the puppy was ours. The moment you said yes, I knelt down and held Orione for the first time. I knew then and there he was a gift.
All of our animals are special. The love both Marijke and I felt for Fiore and feel for our new boy, Otello, are unquestionable. There's just something about Orione that makes me humble, happy and proud all at the same time. Just like Fauno holds a special place in your hearts, Orione is truly one of a kind. Words can't describe the happiness he has brought to us.
Thanks again for all you help, advice, and guidance. Here's to Orione on his special day!
Jim, Marijke, Orione, & Otello
Donna, believe it or not, it was one year ago today that we were at your house seeing for our very eyes, what we now consider our son, Orione. Time flies doesn't it?
I can tell you, it's been a hectic year, but all in all, a great one for us.
A little over a year ago, we were very sad and confused with the loss of our first son, Rip. We really didn't know what to do. We were searching web sites, reading books and magazines, even talking to vets on the phone, trying to decide what dog was right for us. Then...call it divine intervention, luck, whatever, we somehow found the Bergamasco website. I remember calling you for the first time with my list of questions. You were very helpful and seemed sincere in your explanation of the breed. The only thing upsetting you stated at that time was there were no Bergamasco's immediately available!
Again, call it divine intervention, luck or just being at the right place at the right time, several weeks later, you brought Orione home from Italy, and the rest is history. Never in a million years would we have considered getting two of them, but within several short weeks, we were convinced we HAD to have another Bergamasco. Fiore entered our lives and hearts in January.
I must tell you..everything written about the Bergamasco is 100% accurate. They are the most gentle and kind breed of dog we have ever encountered. They have a human like quality that I can't quite put my finger on, but I know that when we speak to them and they look at you, they know exactly what you are saying. I also know that they tell us how they feel by nuzzling us around the neck, and following us everywhere.
We are having a great time raising them as brothers, and we would honestly have more if we had the room. They are truly "gifts from the angels" which is what we tell them when we are all together either relaxing in the yard, or all on the floor playing together.
I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate all of your help in the past year, and also to let you know that you really are dealing with a breed that is unique not only in look, but in spirit as well. Let's hope more and more people come to realize the qualities the Bergamasco has to offer.
As always, we will keep you posted with pictures and notes..
Jim, Marrier, Orione, & Fiore
Dear Donna,
Looking at the photo of so many fine Bergamasco all together in a so big show my heart missed a beat. When I sow my little Faun leave for so far away, I never could imagine that he would be the founder of a new so promising chapter of Bergamasco's history. What can I say? I am happy, proud and thankful. No wonder if people felt amazed seeing how quick grows up the number of Bergamasco. Happy for your big success!!
I looked at the photos and I am really satisfied seeing that the new generations go on the right way. Now you can rest.
Thanks to Stephen for the letter that I send. Now we have only to wait and hope!!! Ciao for now
Pupa
Dear Donna and Steve,
I apologize for my lapse in correspondence. As usual, life here is in fast gear. Adam just graduated from high school and we have just finished our new home. Interesting as that might be, I'm sure you would rather hear about Dante. He is continuing to be a delight. I was a little concerned about the move to a new house, so we have attempted to make the move gradually (we built a new home within four country miles of our old home), so that both we and our pets could adapt at a comfortable rate. Of course, since we have owned the property for four years and have spent many hours there while the house was being built, the transition has been a little easier. Initially, we were concerned about how Dante might adjust to stairs because our old home was a one story structure. We should not have spent an ounce of energy on such a trivial matter. He truly looks as agile and comfortable on them as a mountain goat and negotiates them effortlessly. I swear he has investigated every inch of our new property (about fifteen acres). Our neighbors (old friends of the family) have a black lab which likes to visit. Dante has made sure that his territory has been marked. Although he allows short, casual visits from the neighbors dog there is no question about who is in charge.
Dante is becoming a truly magnificent adult (of course, I'm not very objective). He loves to lay at our feet and he gives kisses only when the recipient is truly deserving. I also find his manners to be impeccable in a delightful sort of way. His gait is very proud and smooth which, as a physical therapist, I love to watch. Interestingly enough, he has continued to allow our two oldest sons to pick him up and cradle him as you would an infant (belly-side up). This was something Adam, our oldest son, started when Dante was just a puppy. He is a wonderful watch dog, aware of everything that goes on - inside and outside. Thank you so much for introducing the Bergamasco breed to us. Our lives have been wonderfully and forever changed.
Sincerely,
Vicki and Robert Harring
(and Adam, Laura, Benjamin, and John)
Dear Donna and Stephen,
We first became aware of Bergamascos in 1960 when we saw a picture and description in a Dog Breed book. At the time we could not find any breeders so we forgot about it and went on over the years to own a large variety of dogs including several German Shepherds, a Hybrid Wolf, a Borzoi, a Scottie, a Collie and two Komondors. Two years ago we decided to expand our herd of dogs from 3 (German Shepherd, Collie and Komondor) to 4. We loved our Komondor for her intelligence, independence and shaggy coat, however we really wanted a smaller dog and our thoughts went back to 1960 and the picture of the Bergamasco. Thats when we discovered you folks and reserved a puppy. Elisheba (Sheba) came into our life in November 2000 when we first saw her at 3-weeks and it was love at first sight. Since then we have been absolutely delighted with her. In many ways she is like our Komondor (reserved, highly-intelligent and independent) but she is much more sociable and playful, and her coat is much easier to maintain. She quickly fit in with our other dogs and has become our favorite. Although we have had many great dogs in our lives, we believe that Sheba embodies all the best qualities of temperament, intelligence, looks, and great appeal (along with a little swagger). At this point we could not imagine life without a Bergamasco, and know that our next dog will be another Bergamasco.
Sincerely,
Marty and Jim Harbaugh
ps. Donna - Great job on the video. Since we last saw you, we've pretty much left Sheba's coat alone and she is looking great. It looks like she won't require much work. I've attached a few words (MS Word) you may want to add to your website. Unfortunately, the words really don't express how much Sheba really means to us. She has become super cute in everything she does, and gives us endless enjoyment. SO glad we found you and Stephen and your wonderful Bergamascos. We'll keep in touch.
Jim H
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Hi Donna - This Saturday we took Ares to a fundraising event for a new Bark Park in our area. It's a 3 acre fenced area with an open field and woods for dogs to run, play and socialize. He was the hit of the party! Everyone was very interested in him and asked all kinds of questions. I told them how to contact you through the rarebreed website. You may be getting some inquiries. Ares was a perfect gentleman the entire day. He did have a small spat with a male intact Swiss Mountain Dog, but I think he was just protecting his boys. I can't get over what a good dog he has turned out to be. The boys just love him, and he has even won Alan over who was not so gung-ho in the beginning. We laugh about something funny he does every day. We took him to the boy's T ball games this summer. He watches the entire game and every time someone hits the ball, he barks like he's cheering them on. I have some pictures that I will send you if I can ever remember to take them to the office to scan them. I would be very happy to share our experience with Ares with anyone interested in adopting a Bergamasco. Just give them my email or phone number. Thank you for all of your support.
Talk to you later.
- Lovelle
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A Boy and His Dog
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Dear Mom and Dad,
Did you remember today is my birthday? I want to thank you for making me possible. My life is so wonderful. I love my human Mom soooooooooo much and my human Dad too - just not as much. My sister Portia is really cool. She pretends that I annoy her. Then, the moment something seems to be different, she is quick to protect me. I love her. Sometimes we take naps together with our paws touching. She is a loving older sister even if she is a bouvier.
I still play as much as possible. I love to tease other dogs. Your human, Mom and Dad, say that my behavior is a lot like my Dad, Clothos. I also love to dance and twirl around which I understand is like my Mom, Latria.
Anyhow my days are happy. I have all the food I want, treats, playtime and playmates when my human Mom makes playdates for me.
For the past few weeks, we have a bouvier mix puppy with us. His name is Sam. I tease and torture Sam with my play moves. He does not care. No matter what I do, he comes back for more. My human Mom corrects me. She says I am too rough at times and need time outs. I go to the garden door and wait for her to let me out by myself. I cool down and then come in with a great big smile on my face. She forgives me immediately. Then, I start my games all over again. I just can't help myself. My human Mom tells me I am a play-aholic. I think she is right.
I wanted to share my birthday with you. Sending hugs and bergie kisses.
Ernesto
Grazzie is wonderful, settling in well, and has become a true member of the family. She is showing signs of understanding potty training, and has developed a true bond with Lady, our other dog. They play for hours together, and it has made Lady, our thirteen year old dog almost like a puppy again. They sleep together, eat together, go on walks together, (with us) and car rides together. Lady watches out for Grazzie and Grazzie observes about EVERYTHING! She is so smart! We are constantly reminded of what a wonderful and intelligent breed this is. Keith and I have made the realization that we will never own another breed. We are hooked on Bergamascos! Couldn't be happier actually. Thank You so much for helping her to come into our lives. She is the best little blessing, and the perfect Christmas present ever. Thank you for the names of the othr Bergamasco owners, I have written a couple of them, and have heard from Mark and Irene. Its great to keep in touch! it has to be hard to adopt-out the other two puppies on Friday, I feel sorry for Gala too. That has to be hard on her. I read that Bergamasco book that you sent a long with us, and it stated that the bonds Bergamascos develop with each other will never be broken, so that if taken away as a puppy, and returned years later, they will respond with glee and love with the lifelong bond they developed years before. that is amazing. Yes, it has been really busy for the Holidays, I hope that yours are wonderful and filled with many blessings. have a truely wonderful Christmas, I will keep in touch! thank you once again.
Julie
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In One Week...
I would never have thought that within one week, I could love Gianna as much as I do now. Yesterday as we played around and were hanging out, Christopher and I were saying how we could not believe that it has only been a week. So here is just a quick list of some things we love about Gianna....
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We love how each day, she expands her world to another room in the house.
We love how she goes to the patio door when she needs to go outside and taps the door when she is ready to come in.
We love how she looks for us even when she is just relaxing.
We love how her natural position is sitting tall with her legs in front of her.
We love that even though her hair is growing we can still tell by her eyes what she is thinking.
We love how she likes new people.
We love how she says hello to other dogs but does not starting jumping all over.
We love how she loves Greenies and cheese.
We love how her tail wags and she runs to us when we say..."Who's a good girl? Gianna is a good girl"!
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We can go on and on...but most of all...we love her little spirit that so fills our hearts with so much love and gratitude!
Thanks for giving us the best Christmas gift! Hope you enjoy your holidays!
Love,
Christopher, Julie and Gianna
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Hiya
Just to update you on things....decided not to breed Cara this time around. She is about 5 pounds underweight and I was thinking it would be best to let her grow a bit anyway and ......it doesn't really matter what I think right now as I have recently found out that I am actually pregnant! (due in Sept.)... So I believe we can wait to try for puppies for now. I am thinking August '04 would probably be best.
Also, I really wanted to have a playmate for Cara sooner then that. Do you or anyone you know happen to have a dog we can purchase - one who is about a year old, and has different coloring then Cara? I would really like to skip the young puppy stages. A young adult would be perfect. So let me know if there are any possibilities around. Thanks!
p.s. Cara is the pickiest eatier I know. And though I wasn't going to commit to the raw diet, I tried some and she didn't like it. Cara wants people food and that is that. One of her favorites is bread and butter. She also loves many canned dog foods but I can't afford the better ones one a daily basis and I refuse to feed her crap ones from the grocery store. When I mix canned with kibble - she'll eat/lick it off the kibble. We, many times, just get to a stalemate with this issue. Then I break down and scramble her some eggs. (Yes, and butter her some toast.) I do love this dog though - she's has the most stable wonderful temperment I have ever seen in a dog. I couldn't live without her, she's my shadow. Now, it seems, she's lucky as I will have to put off going to school another year so I'll be hanging around the house a bit longer now with a new baby coming.)
p.s. Did I tell you that she scared away a coyote from stalking my husband last year? It was weird, my husband saw the coyote while walking Cara in a large field - Cara didn't see it but Dan saw it slowly start walking towards them. It was staring at them and was kind of late at night. As Dan began to walk away, Cara stopped dead in her tracks. She didn't see it, but her nose was to the ground. Dan said, Cara then poofed her hair up like a cat and a really menacing growl came from her throat. He thinks Cara still didn't look up, but Dan saw the coyote start moving away after this, so it must have gotten the message. After a few minutes he was able to get Cara to walk again back towards home. I don't know what scared Dan more - the coyote or Cara's behavior, but ever since then he certainly has more repect for her. This happened when she was about 1 year old. Of course, since the passage of time, when Dan tells the story, the coyote has grown from a coyote to a wolf, from a wolf to a hellhound, etc. But anyway - she is one brave dog.
Hey Donna ...... just wanted to update you on our Bello- Marley... He is doing really well... we started puppy training classes and he does well working at home... but gets SOOOO excited around the other dogs...... yet we actually won a stuffed animal last week because he was able to take 3 steps while watching me without moving his gaze..... the best in the class...... I was also amazed the other week when he came down into a session with me... ( I was seeing a 9 yr old ADHD Kid ) I told her that if she is really calm and quiet that Marley could stay in the session with us...... this kid got so calm.... as the dog was calm as well...... Bello was still and was lying at our feet the entire session,,,, I was amazed this kid thought that because SHE was calm that the dog was calm but it worked the other way around.......!!! Anyway I just wanted to thank you again.... we are so pleased......
xoxoxo
Karen
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Karen:
When I think of our Bergamasco, I think about how lucky we are to have him as a part of our lives I am particularly thankful to you Donna, (and Stephen) for having the wisdom to choose a male for us. With clients and students coming and going all the time at our house Marley has been a gem. He rarely if ever barks at people entering or leaving our home. (He will bark at the neighbors now and then). He seems to have a certain respect for my workspace and will only enter the office/studio if he is asked. He sleeps outside the door when I see clients who are unable to tolerate a dog in the session. I am amazed at what I call his tolerant respect of other living beings in general..last week at the camp for Mentally Retarded children, a nonverbal child approached him Marley sensed that this kid needed some extra attention and licked his entire head. It was funny to watch there were at LEAST 6 other kids crowded around at the time yet Marley choose the one kid who seemed the neediest. He also allowed all of those children around him all at once without missing a beat.
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One of my clients is a 45 yr old deaf/autistic/nearly blind, woman with downs syndrome. (YOW). When she comes to her session Marley will join us she makes strange vocalizations and at times can get overwhelming with her affection. When this happens and Marley is feeling like this is all he can take he retreats to a corner backing slowly away from her, he also has left the roomhe seems to know how much he can tolerate. OK One last example of tolerance then I will stop. Today we were at our dog training class..the trainer had out those tubes that dogs go through for obstacle training.(the wide ones) this was only his 3rd time ever going through the tube and meeting me on the other side.. this time, he got stuck in the tube his leg was caught on a portion of the metal spring. I had to get down into the tube to unhook him. The trainer was amazed that Marley did not panic he remained quiet and stood still till I got to him. This was all happening within a flurry of 8 other dogs 3 kids and the chaos of a training class. I was sooo proud!!!
I make it sound like we have THE KING OF ALL PERFECT DOGS!!! Not true! I still clean up poop every day! His puppy coat is shedding in gobs! And he occasionally loves to chew those toilet paper rolls and the occasional Barbie Doll.
Jeff:
When our terrier died, we knew we wanted a different kind of dog. Using the internet, we looked for the traits we wanted in our next dog - intelligence, good temperament and low allergy triggers. We stumbled on the Bergamasco and were immediately taken with its noble looks and the passionate way owners spoke of their dogs.
We have now had our Bergamasco for 8 months and I am happy to say he has more than exceeded our expectations. His intelligence is keen and he is a fast learner. His temperament is very balanced. I trust him implicitly with my children and their friends. As far as my allergies go, I am fine unless he plays at a friend's house that has cats.
What we didn't know beforehand was how affectionate our dog would be. He has brought pure joy into our house in the ways that he shows and responds to affection. We were a little scared when we read that Bergamascos were extremely strong minded, in that we thought they might not be the kind of dog that would want to please its owners, but that is not the case. He seems to take much joy in pleasing us. We all swear that we see him smile!
Jordan: (14 yrs)
The day we received our Bergamasco, Marley, I had mixed feelings. Would he be similar to our other dog (which was a bad experience), or would he a brilliant, beautiful, and kind dog? Now that I know him, I pick the latter. Marley has fulfilled all of my expectations, and much, much more. He is an amazing dog in all categories. He's smart, loyal, reliable, and has a shimmering coat (even without the dreadlocks). As he grows, so does my connection to him. His eyes are human-like (if you can see them under all the fur), and he seems to permeate his emotions from them. He is truly an amazing dog, and he gets better every day he's with us.
Veronica (10yrs old):
Sometimes when I think of my best friends, our dog Marley is certainly in the top 5. He makes me laugh and smile everyday. I love him and if someone asked me if I would count Marley as part of the family, I would say yes. Here are a few reasons why I love him:
- He lets me hug him and pet him when he doesn't want to be hugged or petted.
- He always is calm when he doesn't get attention or when we have guests.
- He loves us and he would always protect us.
We love our Marley. The only thing is he chews up my Barbies : o)
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Donna,
As you can see from the many photos I have shared with you Beril has a very special place in our family. The relationship she has with our oldest Trista is more like a friendship...they are buddies. She has a very different relationship with our youngest Olivia; she is more like a guardian to her. When we first got Beril, Olivia was just over a year old and I was so surprised at how gentle Beril was with her. She would run and chase Trista and bite her in the butt, but she would slow right down around Olivia. Even now when Beril starts running through the house like a maniac if Olivia gets in her path and gets knocked down Beril stops right away and looks very sad and disappointed that she made Olivia cry. Both girls love her to death, Olivia likes to lie down with her at bedtime and has to always give Beril bedtime and goodbye kisses. When Olivia was a baby Beril would be the first in her room if she woke in the night crying. I know when we were searching for just the right dog I had explained to you how important it was that she would be good with the kids and also ok for my husband's allergies/asthma. She has been everything we were hoping for and more. We always have a houseful of kids and I never have to be concerned with her behavior, once she gives them her initial (very excited) greeting she settles right down and lets them play. As you know we hope that we can find a suitable mate for Beril so that her wonderful personality can be passed on to other families.
Take care,
Casey Parker
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Hello Everyone!!! WOW! A year went by so fast! Seems like just yesterday that I was gently "stuffing" a little puppy under the seat in front of me on the airplane from Newark airport! Our stay-over due to weather conditions and the such!!! I have adored her since they day that I first saw pics of her. She has been a wonderful companion and friend, and has become a part of our family, as well as our hearts! I can't imagine life without her! We are trying to set up a play date with Dieter, so that she gets accustomed to being around him, as she tends to avoid all dogs big and small. She just gets a little nervous around other dogs, but we are going to try and breed her with Dieter by the time that she is maybe 18 months to 2 years.
For her birthday, she ate a large dinner, followed by a large white cake with whipped topping for icing. Maddy made she and our other dog party hats, and we sang happy birthday, lit a big #1 candle, and lit sparklers in honor of her big day! She loved it, and played "Monkey-in-the-Middle" with the kids; one of her favorite games. When she catches the ball, all the kids run up to her, she "talks" to them, wags her tail and rolls over for a congratulatory tummy rub,...at that time, and only after the tummy rub, does she spit back out the ball for the game to resume again! She has the kids all figured out! She walks the kids to the bus every morning and picks them up off the bus every day. She is a real "talker" and "speaks" to me every morning to get me out of bed, always at 6:45ish to 7:00ish, I don't need an alarm clock!
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She and our other dog are inseparable. Grazzie has a real bond with Lady, I sometimes worry that she will have a hard time when Lady passes away.(Lady doesn't show any signs of being ill, or anything, but she is 13 and is has turned quite gray around the muzzle, eyelashes and beard) It still doesn't stop her from rolling around with Grazzie, and playing with her. She loves her like she were her own.
Just thought I'd share Grazzie's big day with you, since you made it all possible, thank you once again.
Love,
Grazzie, Julie, keith, & kids
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Dear Donna,
It is interesting to hear how sensitive this breed of dog is with special needs children. Tassa does seem to have a close relationship with each one of us. I have seen her trying to get Matt to play with her, but mostly, Matt just rubs her gently.
Tassa is wonderful with all four of your cats. She is gentle, yet playful, but never aggressive.
Another quality that I love about her is that we can let her out of our front door and she does not wander off. Even when our gate is open, which is still 1/4 mile away from the house and out of sight, she does not try to escape as our male Newfoundland would. She sticks close to home, and many times, we will find her sitting at our front door, just waiting patiently until we are ready to let her back in. We never trained her to do this, or threatened punishment if she wandered off. She just seems to have a lot of sense.
Many days, Dave and I look at Tassa and say "what a sweetie!" I tell Dave that "she is a lady - gentle, sensitive, and loving."
We will try to get some pictures for you. We love her!
Thanks
Susan
Dear Donna
How are you? We are all doing great here. I thought you might want an update on our dog.
Rilla is such a wonderful dog. She is just like one of the children. She folllows me around. We are always in the same room. In fact, right now she is laying by my feet eating a toy. She is scared of the dark though. We have a lot of fun with her. Rilla still has a few accidents but is house training well. Rilla is able to open all the doors in the house. We have to keeep the front door locked because she can open the wood and glass doors. She even follows me to the bathroom (just like the other children). In the morning, when I say, "Kaitlyn, it is time to get to the bus stop," Rilla runs over and waits by the door. She likes to walk Kay to her bus stop. It is just a few houses down the street. The other day Rilla heard the diesel of a delivery truck and barked thinking Kay was home early. Rill will wait by the door close to the time Mark gets home from work. She gets so excited like the kids. They all jump up and want attention. I think she gives Mark the biggest kisses. Rilla does not like it when Mark gives Kay her medications. He makes her lay on the floor and Rilla gets very upset. When I tickle Andrew, I say, "help me get him Rilla!" She will come over and sit on top of him. She likes when we wake up the childeren. She licks Kaitlyn(5), She jumps on Andrews(12) bed and shakes her collar until he gets up, and she kisses and sits on Alex(3). Did I tell you how she plays with Alex? It is so funny she will sneek up on her and grab a toy and run away. Alex goes over and gets the toy back and they will play this way for a while. Once she took Alex's blanket. Alex was very mad at that. She told Rilla to go on time out. We play hide and seek with Rilla. All of the neighborhood children love her too. They were having races and let Rilla be in the contest too. I still hold Rilla on my lap like a baby even though she is 37 pounds. Mark says she looks like a man in a dog suit. I guess you can tell we love her very much. (even when she eats our shoes)
Did you keep a dog from Italy? Have a good day!
Kim
Dear Donna,
Hi! I just wanted to keep you up-to-date on our sweet puppy, Tassa. She is wonderful and very happy here.
I had a psychic reading recently with a woman who has been guiding me on how to help my son Matthew, and she started talking about how Matt is going to be very close to a dog. She could see the dog and she, herself, described Tassa. She saw Matt and Tassa taking long walks out in the yard together, and she saw that Matt and Tassa would completely understand each other. In fact, she saw Tassa teaching Matt how to appreciate and love everything outdoors. She said they would be in complete harmony together and that they are actually already close.
Isn't this a happy picture? She went on to say that Tassa is a gift from spirit and that this dog came to help Matt, and that she, herself, had chosen to be here for Matt.
In fact, a week ago last Friday, we lost Matt for awhile, and Dave finally found him down at our barn WITH TASSA BY HIS SIDE! She already knows her job.
Of course, our three-year-old, Kyle still loves playing with her and loves her too. Both Dave and I think she is wonderful also and she has brought a spark back to our 14-year-old husky/Shepard mix. Dave and I are so pleased with her.
Thank you.
Susan
Hello Donna,
We just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that we just celebrated Rea's 1st birthday. I want to thank you again because Tyler and Rea are truly brother & sister. In the morning after she goes out I let her in and say Rea lets go wake up your brother, she runs into his room jumps on his bed kisses his ears and snuggles with him till he gets up, then Tyler eats breakfast and then he spends a few minutes on the floor with Rea pushing Rea's hair out of her eyes and says I need to see you and then he gives her a kiss. They play very well together, Rea likes to trick her brother she will run after him and nip his butt. Rea is very friendly, she listens well. The vet said she has very nice temperament and listens well and a very good dog. I would have to agree (but I am little prejudice). Rea doesn't' run out of the yard, if Tony and I are working outside she lays right by us. She was very easy to potty train, only a few weeks. I don't know if I ever told you, but when we got back from picking but Rea up I got very ill, well one day when I went to the doctor, I got home Tony said when he got home Rea was in the living room so I must have forgotten to put up the gate, I said no I know I did, but being sick I thought well maybe. Then one day I came home a Rea was in the living room and Tony was last to leave so I called he said he had put up the gate, but just maybe he thought he did well on morning Tony had left and i was getting ready to leave out the front door and tony had put the gate up for Rea, well she started whining so I decided to go give her another kiss goodbye, well guess what Rea was almost over the gate with half her body was over it. I hurried and grabbed the camera and took a picture, well needless to say the mystery was solved and that was her 1st week home. We have tons of pictures and needless to say since I have a digital camera I have been very lazy getting pictures or downloaded or printed, but I promise to you I will send you a little photo book of Rea and her life with us. She still is eating the raw diet, for her b-day Tony bought her a ham bone and she has had a couple very loose stools and stinky. So no more of those. We do have a couple of questions, 1st Rea has been whining a lot about going outside, we keep the house cool around 65 when we aren't' home and 69 @ night and sometime just a few times this week she has been rubbing her rump on the carpet she has done this before maybe 1-2 times but this week before the bone she has done it in the house a few times and then she did it on the wood deck, I know about the gland, do you think there is a problem she hasn't' done it today, sometimes I know the vet has to go in and take care if it. Is this a common thing for this breed? Also about the whining could she be in season, we have not noticed her cycle, however I remember when we went to Michigan
I hope you can help us with our questions and sorry that I keep rattling on about Rea but she is such a good dog, you did a wonderful job of picking out the right dog for our family...thanks
I appreciate your time. Talk to you soon!!
Maryanne, Tony and Tyler, Rea
Hi Donna
Sorry we haven't made contact sooner, been busy. Wanted to let you know how Henna is doing. Henna is the best dog I have ever had.
She's a real buddy. She hangs by my side. When I'm watching TV she lays her head on my feet. When I decide to go upstairs for a snack she follows me right up. If the kids were to go upstairs, Henna doesn't move.
She's starting to mat up, creating a challenge for us to keep up with, but we're getting through it.
Henna loves playing with her buddy Bernie (the Shitzu). They love to race around the house with socks.
In the evening we take a good hour walk with her. On nights that are raining and we can't go, she barks like mad, wondering why we are not going on our usual walk.
Try to get some pictures to you soon. Finally got a digital camera, got to figure out how to work it yet.
Thanks very much for the beautiful Christmas card of Fauno. Hope you had a nice Christmas too.
I'll keep in touch, Scott
Donna and Steve,
I know that this won't surprise you as you know how intelligent the Bergamascos are and I apologize for invading your emails so often this week, but we have a new potty training development here as of today.
This morning while Kasa was enjoying some indoor playtime with the kids, he ran into the kitchen to grab down his leash. I just took a guess and asked him if he had to go outside. Sure enough he did and immediately went to the "potty". Later on in the afternoon during a little rest time in the house, he again went for his leash and once again went out to "do his job". Dan and I just laughed as it is hard to believe that he is communicating so well so early. I was at Reigning Cats and Dogs recently and a lady had a one year old dog that was still potty training--still going in the house. We are thrilled that he is completely potty trained at close to 6 months.
He is a real sweet heart who seems to really love his family. (The other day I caught him watching "Bambi" in bed with Wesley.)
Hi Guys,
Hope this finds you and yours well. Bello-Marley is in excellent health and bringing us more joy then we ever imagined. How amazingly smart he is. It is uncanny how we communicate w/o audible commands. Well, not commands, suggestions haha. Nothing is new, I just wanted to let you know that he is doing wonderfully, and we continue to be thankful to you for giving us the opportunity to be with him.
Have a great week,
Jeff
Donna and Steve,
Hope all is well with you and your "family". We are all doing well and enjoying the fresh spring air. It is time to bathe the kids every night again as it seems that "digging in the dirt" for little ones rings in the Springtime season.
Do you have lots of little Bergamasco puppies around or on their way? I am sure that you are looking forward to that. Kasa has become quite the gentleman. While he still has that quiet and resolute pride displayed by the Bergamascos--that unspoken air about him that he is definitely the one in charge here--he has become quite accustomed to life here with all of "his" family. He definitely has respect for Dan as the "Alpha Male" so to speak and is quite obedient about commands like "come" and "sit". He has also become very good at "dropping" toys or socks that he might come into contact with when he is asked to do so..........even if sometimes he does it with a look like "OK I will, but I am not happy about it". He loves to go in the car for errands and even has enjoyed his first soccer game of the season out in public. He cannot wait for the kids in the neighborhood to show up for a basketball game. He jumps right in there and tries to play a little "pick up". We have a little trouble when the kids play baseball or tennis as he is a true Salzman competitor and will not give up the ball without a fight.
He also enjoys Sunday movie night as he jumps up for a little cuddle and movie. His flocks are looking great. Dan has done a great job with the onset of all of the flocks. He is getting pretty well covered. I would say that we put in a half hour a day just checking for new flocks and mats so they don't get too out of hand early. We pay special attention to his joints as they seem to bother him if they are separated right away. Our neighbors talk about how beautiful he is when he runs. He is quite the handsome fellow. He is also a great "NANNY" as he lets me know whenever someone walks by.........he keeps good track of my little ones. He has also finally figured out that he is pushes his nose up against the trashcan lid, he can open the trashcan. I knew that it was only a matter of time.....................
Take Care and keep in touch.
Betsy
04/14/05
Hi Donna,
Thanks for the info. An update on Luca. What a handsome dog, AND what a good dog, Just wants to please, super friendly, loving, happy and getting BIG.
Will send some new pics soon. We have taken him to obedience school, he's a quick learner, but has a bit of an independence streak that I want him to keep. School people a little bit too authoritarian for my liking, seem to want dogs to be robots, by and large though I like their methods, and we can always alter it to our life style. They all believe in crates, I hate them and will not use one (as I know you won't). Everyone loves him, including the instructers, you were certainly accurate in your description of them. I've never seen a dog who eats like he does, actually CHEWS all his treats and eats his food slowly, sometimes in shifts, never wolfs it down, and takes treats so gently. Best dog we've ever had. Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Mario and Eva
PS Our best to you both.
Donna--
Just thought that I'd drop you an e-mail to say hi and give you an update on Luci. He's just about 52 pounds now, but very gentle, even when he jumps up, he doesn't push his weight against you. In recent days he's realized that he's big enough to sit on the couch and look out the window and to jump up on our (very high) bed! He is just so sweet...
He's amazing too -- if Chris and I are both home, but in different rooms, he'll position himself in the house so he can see us both. If I am the only one home, he sits right at my feet. I have gotten so used to him following me from room to room. I love it.
This week I took him to visit my grandmother at her Nursing Home. He approached her very slowly and just put his chin in her lap and looked up at her. (She's in a wheelchair) he seems to sense how each person would be most comfortable to be greeted!
Also, I've hung up a ton of pictures of Luci and an article about Bergamascos in my office. Lots of people have stopped to ask me about the breed...and to comment on how handsome he is! I can't tell you how many people have commented, "That's the cutest dog I've ever seen!"
I just run at the mouth when people ask me about him -- I can't even begin to tell them how wonderful a breed they are! I always send them a link to your website.
In fact, one of the people who works in our playlab here may be interested in getting a Bergamasco in the future...
Enjoy the picture...he's growing up sooo fast! Do you think that he'll continue to gray, or will stay mostly black as he is here?
-Rebecca
Althea has the best disposition and personality of any dog I have ever encountered. We have really grown attached to each other. I guess that comes from me driving home from work for lunch every day to take her out and play, as well as from being the first one home at night. we've spent a lot time together. I don't know. I fed her by hand for quite some time when she first joined the family. 2 years later she can still be like a little baby! Stubborn and mischievous at times. always playful. very talkative and expressive. docile and extremely loyal in the end. She has the most endearing habit of caching her new bones and chew toys in various locations around the house. wedged in between couch cushions, dropped in plant pots, hidden underneath chairs and the like. she will check on them on a daily basis then finally decide to chew on them after several months of storage. It's really cute. last night she finally decided to chew up a bone I gave her probably 6 months ago. just decided it was the right time I guess. She also has this endearing habit of stopping behind me if we are walking with her leash, sitting down, then wrapping one paw over the leash to stop me, then waiting for me to come back and unwrap it. I don't know if that is a standard Bergamasco move, but I think she does it to remind me that I am not going to dictate the terms of the walk! She obviously wants me to know that we will stop for indefinite periods to smell the air and look around, we will move at her pace and our itinerary will be determined as our travel proceeds! She also does this somersault type maneuver. she gets into a slow trot, head low to the ground, then does a full somersault. I've never seen another dog do this particular move... it is quite a talent. When we are in the yard. if she doesn't want to come in just yet, she will wait for me to come near her while she is sitting, then fall over on her back, completely limp, belly exposed. waiting for me to rub her tummy. Another favorite thing about her is when she is tired, she will lie down, audibly exhale, then issue a low sustained groan. it is so cute. Sometimes I will preempt her with a groan of my own and she will respond with the same. Anyway, I seem to be blathering. but for these reasons and many more, I would never let anything come between me and Althea.
Best,
Benjamin
Hi Donna,
The Chinese couple came Saturday and picked out their male. They are getting my favorite male and will pick him up on Thursday. They were headed on to Florida and are getting him on the way back. As you said, they're an absolutely sweet couple.
I'm writing to report on those two bergamascos, Refe and Rim. We NEVER have visitors. It's one thing that hurts our koms, so it's not as if the bergamascos see people in our home on a daily, or even weekly, basis. We brought both to meet the Chinese couple of Saturday, and let me tell you that I came within a rat's rear of wanting to sell all my koms!!
Those two greeted the couple as if they saw people in our home on a daily basis. Refe was lying on her back for tummy rubs, while Rim was his prancing, dancing self. What's truly amazing is thinking how shy Refe was when we got her. In all honesty, we didn't exactly kill ourselves socializing her. I've never been more proud!! And I'm equally proud of the girl we're keeping. She's adorable and will be called Aria (Ari for short).
One of the pups is going (hopefully) to one of our kom owners. More and more kom people are becoming interested in the breed because it's a nice mix of a larger (but not large) corded breed, that isn't crazy like many pulis now.
In short, we're just thrilled. When you do find a pup that would mesh well with ours from a pedigree standpoint, please, please let me know!! These guys are just wonderful!!
Lydia
Donna --
I almost called you last night to thank you! (But, I thought that it might be too late.) Your suggestion of giving Marzio a raw potato worked like a charm! He lost the really bad tooth (the one that was pressing on his adult tooth) the first day and lost one of the other 2 last night (the other 2 were on the top canines, and the vet felt that they weren't really posing a problem). So we have 1 more (very loose) tooth to go!!!
I cannot thank you enough — I am so relieved that our little guy won't have to go under and then go through days of pain meds...not to mention, he seems like a much happier pup now that those 2 teeth are out!!!
You are the greatest breeder ever!!! We are all so lucky to have you as a resource!!!
Thanks again!
Rebecca
Donna and Stephen –
Want to thank you both for all the help, support and encouragement for Donnegal's Championship. We couldn't have done it without you!! Marty was so pleased that he finished, even though she wasn't there to see it.
I really enjoyed the show and seeing you folks again. Also was great to see Irene and Mark again and to meet Donnegal's sister. Thanks to Juan and Stephen, I was able to watch Donnegal perform – he seems to enjoy being in the ring with other dogs, and his motion is absolutely beautiful…flowing, fluid motion with perfect top-line and great reach and trail. We are hoping that his championship photo turns out good…in case you can't tell, we are really proud of him!!
Going home Saturday was definitely the right thing, since Donnegal was very hot and tired…after we got home he slept and slept and slept…one tired puppy. Sunday morning though, he had fully recovered and was absolutely full of it. Hope that Zeus and Florinda had a good day on Sunday…Marty and I really, really like them both. Florinda is so much like our Sheba , and Zeus and Donnegal are almost identical…both with such beautiful temperaments.
Donnegal can rest on his laurels for now…will skip the August show in New Jersey , but may enter him in one more show this year. Since his Championship hurdle is over, I'll try to do the handling in the future.
Again, thanks for everything and for making the weekend so enjoyable! All the best,
Jim and Marty
Hi Donna,
Many thanks for the wonderful write-up on Gasparo--that is so nice of you--but you should also be VERY PROUD--he is all yours, after all! Hey, what's the latest with Nerea? Do you have puppies to report yet? If congratulations are in order, please let me extend them to you and Stephen! I always get so excited to hear about all of your breedings--you have such gorgeous dogs!
More good news here: Gasparo won an ARBA Best In Show last Saturday, and a Reserve BIS as well. Even better than that--3 of the 4 shows, he beat Daniel and the Shiloh Harley--WOW! He has never done that until then, and then 3 times--it was wonderful. He won that BIS on his 4th birthday--and what a nice birthday present to us, and to our fabulous Bergamasco breed. Also, his daughter (our Behnina) won a Junior Puppy BIS there. Father and Daughter! And we've never had any of our dogs win an ARBA puppy BIS--this is a first for us. Gasparo now has 10 BIS, 9 RBIS, and he has won a BIS in every venue we show in, ARBA, Rarities and UKC--this is just stunning to us what a good dog you have given us!
Keep me posted on your puppies, and pass along congrats to Kim and Pino on their ARBA BIS, too.
Best,
Irene and Mark
Herdabout Bergamascos
09/29/06
Donna--
I want to tell you a story about my Luci that I think is a wonderful insight into his gentle, intuitive, sweet personality...
Last week, I woke up early to take the dogs out...Marzio ran ahead down the stairs, I was next to go and then Luci behind me (he always waits patiently for me to reach the bottom before he comes down). Well, I missed the top stair and went sailing down, luge-style, on my back. As I was falling, Luci was going wild barking -- he ran to the bedroom to wake up Chris and ran back to me. Once I came to a stop, he carefully walked down the stairs to me, touched his nose to mine (another typical behavior of his when he is concerned about me) and waited for me to say, "I'm okay Luci." Once I did, he proceeded to sniff every inch of me then again touched his nose to mine and gave me the softest lick on the nose. As if to say..."okay, you're all right." He stood next to me while I got up and followed me downstairs...
He is just amazing — so intuitively intelligent...a wonderful addition to our household. We just love him and Marzio so so much!
Thanks Donna! I can't imagine living with another breed!
Rebecca
~Oct 3, 2006
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Hi Silver Pastori Gang!
Isn't it wonderful news about the 3 Bergamascos finding loving, caring homes?! Has, is it Mindy Shapiro?, sent you pix of the peach-colored boy? Is he albino or just very rare.. I guess missmarked for a Bergamasco, but sure looked beautiful in the photos from Dottie. I spoke to Val this morning, before heading back to Texas with Winston & Odie, the other rescued boys, plus her 2 dogs. I wish we had been able to drive down to Temecula to meet them, but it's too far & they left this morning. Dottie said "Bergamasco people are very special." She's right! And you guys are to be commended for raising us right. Thank you for providing us with Bodie, from that little place in the Swiss Alps, and for introducing us to so many great new friends and their Bergamasco kids. We can't imagine life without Bodie Dow!
We are very grateful for you, Donna and Stephen.
Stay well!
Love
Lauren, Tony & Bodie
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Yesterday while shopping, we ended up in a "Most Beautiful Ugly Dog Contest" - One of the judges spotted us and begged us to be a part of it. Well, Orso won and will appear in the musical Camelot in the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is a nationally touring show and they apparently include a local dog in each performance. He will have a walk on part in the show with Guinevere. There were several reporters there and I'm not certain of all of the papers he will be in - but he is on the cover of our local city newspaper today. Although I'm not thrilled about the "ugly" part - I think it is great for him to be in the show and he had a great time posing for pictures and being fawned over by adoring fans.
And here is the rest of the story with one picture: www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-07/02-18-07/04local.htm
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This is not our first time in a newspaper but it will certainly be our first time performing! We have to take him to dress rehearsal on Friday at 3 and if all goes well, he will be in the show at 8. He has to walk across the stage and sit nicely for a few minutes. I am not sure how he will respond to the crowd. We'll have to ask Guinevere to take some turkey in her hand to ensure a quality acting performance. Our Camelot experience was so funny. We got there early for dress rehearsal and everyone loved him. All the actors were going crazy for him and he was having a wonderful time being fussed over. The actor to work with him on stage was to play King Pellinor and he was not really into dogs. Orso had a mixed reaction to him - but in rehearsal, it went beautifully - Orso walked with him across the stage while he made jokes - One of the lines was something like, "how can you see with all that hair?" The picture is from rehearsal - we were not allowed to take pics during the actual performance. The other picture is from his dressing room - Orso got his own little dressing room. At the start of the show, the theater's director announced the show and announced Orso making his on stage debut. In rehearsal, Pellinor was just wearing clothes and in the show, he was wearing full armour and carrying a giant metal staff. The noise of it and Pellinor being tense made Orso uncomfortable. He went on stage with him, clearly happy to see the other actors that he liked. But he wouldn't do the full walk across the stage with Pellinor with that staff. He planted his feet and wouldn't budge! Orso just didn't trust him. Pellinor made due and let him stay where he was and did the lines from there. The crowd loved him!!! Despite his less than enthusiastic performance from our perspective, the crowd was thrilled with him and he got a big applause.
I think Orso would do very well "acting" - he just needs to get used to the circumstances and person working with him. I've learned over our 5 years together to trust his judgment of people and situations - when he's not comfortable with something he usually has very good reason for it. All in all, we had a great time with the whole experience. After being in the paper last week, Orso is more famous than ever - neighbors have been talking to us about him and his acting. Orso just brings joy wherever he goes.
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Donna-
Hope all is well with you and your family, and that you're having a great summer.
Robert and I were just this morning talking about you and saying we need to send you an update! I just don't know where to start - Otto is doing just beautifully.
He is sweet, goofy and dignified both, somehow, and so affectionate. He actually dances, and can bend his body in all different kinds of ways, when we come home or a favorite friend comes by.
Some of his favorite things are:
- licking people's feet, to mixed responses
- wrestling
- hamburgers
- honeydew melon
- sitting regally on his patio and surveying his yard
- chasing our (his) cat Marley, and licking and chewing on her head (which she allows) when he catches up to her
- going out and about where he can visit with other dogs and people, as he is certain they are all just dying to greet him
- "shaking" his paw
- going to the vet (!), where he is treated like a rock star
- playing fetch and hide and seek
Some of his least favorite things are:
- "staying" on command
- asparagus
- being in the sun
- can't really think of anything else - he is a pretty agreeable guy!
Otto loves to come with us in the car, but seems equally comfortable staying at home with free reign of the house - my friends with dogs are blown away that he does not bother any item in the home except for his toys, and never has. He is typically very mellow and low-key, which also surprises people, given his age (6 months tomorrow!). He came with us to our small town 4th of July parade, where he was a huge hit, and he just went with the flow - fireworks, horns, etc, don't bother him at all - he recently had his first thunderstorm, and while he was curious about the new sound, he wasn't rattled at all.
I'm sorry I don't have a photo on my computer to send - Robert will download some soon. He's absolutely gorgeous (maybe I'm biased?), weighs 49 pounds, and is the picture of health. I'd be happy with his fluffy puppy coat forever! He really is just the coolest - I could tell story after story, but I'd never know when to stop - I'll try to be better about communicating, and sending quick cute stories as they come. You'd be very proud of your boy, he's a wonderful addition to our family, and we can't imagine how we ever got along without him - thanks so much for helping us get such a great guy!
Sincerely,
Leslie
07/18/07
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Gaio has such a great personality and is pretty well-behaved considering he is still a puppy. We thought the kids would enjoy having a puppy... Huh! He’s given so much joy to Maurizio and I.
I can’t remember the last time I wrote, so I hope I am not repeating myself, but I would love to share my Gaio stories with you. We had a great vacation in Maine and we were close to the most wonderful and dog-friendly beach. Gaio met lots of other dogs and people and had a great time playing on the beach. I guess the hardest part was that I couldn’t let him run as much as I would have liked to because he kept trying to drink the water! He also was very good at herding the kids.
One morning we met a group of Golden Retriever pups on the beach and Gaio herded them. By the time he was finished he had them in a straight line for the owners. They were impressed!
Sean was outside playing with Gaio one day and I went out to check on them and saw my neighbor’s 3-year-old wandering over. I am pretty confident at this point that Gaio wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone, but he still has a bad habit of jumping when he is excited. Anyway, Quinn started running and Gaio thought it was great that he had come over to play. I kept saying gentle, gentle ... And he was.
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Then, my neighbor let his one-year-old toddle over and I was really worried. But Gaio was ok and when Devon fell down Gaio didn’t try to pounce on him. Quinn says bye to Gaio every morning when the preschool bus picks him up.
Gaio hates to be left behind. He’s never happier than when I open the back of the Jeep and tell him to get in. You would think he would be used to us going to work by now, but he’s not. First, he learned how to lift the handle and open the gate to let himself out of the kitchen area. When I locked it so he couldn’t do that, he broke the latch off the gate. We decided since he’d already had two days of freedom in the whole house and managed to stay out of trouble I would just forget about the gates. He has been really good about not chewing up or tearing up anything while we are gone. Occasionally, he will still grab a shoe and start chewing, but always when we are home. I think he does it for attention and he figures if there is no one here to discipline him it just isn’t worth it.
In the morning we have a routine and he sticks to us like glue. He comes downstairs while I workout in the basement. Then we go out for a walk and come back in and he lies just outside while I’m in the shower. After I get dressed he thinks it is his job to help wake everyone up. He goes from room to room barking ... Which is actually a bit annoying ...! I have to feed him while everyone is in the kitchen, otherwise he stops eating to check where we are going. We usually go back outside and play another 15 minutes while we wait for the bus. Then he comes in and sticks to me or Maurizio until the last person is gone. At which point he cries and we feel so guilty. A couple times I told him to sit and gave him a treat as I was leaving. He spit it out and saved it until I got back. That kind of made me laugh ... But I hope that doesn’t mean he is sad the whole time I’m gone. (I’m still only working 6 hours.) I did find that he’ll eat cheese immediately even if I’m leaving. He also gets very upset when we start putting on shoes and jackets.
One bad habit Gaio does have is humping. If one of the kids is playing on the floor he’ll jump right on top. He also likes to steal Aurora’s stuffed animals for this purpose. How can I prevent or control this behavior? I don’t remember your males doing this. Maybe it is a “teenage” phase that will improve as he matures?
How are all of Gaio’s siblings doing? I swear he recognizes them in photos! :)
Take care, Donna and have a nice
Thanksgiving, Cherie
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