Dipstick - what a cutie! Welcome to the world of Berners, they are very charming. Let me start off by inviting you (if you aren't already a member) to join the Berner-L yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Berner-l/. It is a great source of information and support. They will scold you for buying a pet store puppy (as I am about to), but will be happy to help with any problems or questions you may have. Many of these dogs have hip and elbow problems even if gotten from a good breeder. I hope that Dipstick will do well in spite of this problem! I am asking that you read my story and please understand why I feel very strongly about pet stores.

We recently got another dog - a Bernese Mountain Dog (the same breed as Maya "psycho puppy"). We got Maya at 8 weeks of age from a moderately reputable breeder. She is now 18 months and goofy as all get out! She has some allergy problems but is otherwise healthy and happy, happy, happy. She loves everyone and everything - her tail never stops wagging and she always has a doggy smile on her face. Now, the reason I am telling you about Maya is so that you can compare her to our newest addition - Bridget.

Bridget just turned 3 in June. She came to us from a group that rescues dogs from puppy mills. She was a breeder - probably has had around 5 litters of puppies already. She had already spent 3 months with a foster family before we got her. She had probably never been out of a cage (except to be bred) in her entire life at the mill. Her fur was so matted from never being brushed that the foster home shaved it all off. She weighs 63 lbs now - she should weigh 85 lbs. She is skin and bones - you can see every rib, hip and back bone. She doesn't walk - she slinks - all bent over, as low to the ground as she can get. This could be due to fear or the fact that she could never stand up fully during all of that time in a cage. She had worms and a skin infection. She is fearful - I opened the garage door last night to come in from our walk and it startled her so badly that she tried to bolt and about yanked my arm off. She is timid of everyone - if you walk up to her directly or look at her directly, she will back away (usually into a corner or into the wall). She doesn't wag her tail, but it's no longer tucked tightly between her hind legs (progress!). She won't eat if we are in the same room, but if left alone for quite a while she devours the food. The one thing we see as an advantage is that she loves to be petted. If you will sit still with her and all is quite, she will let you pet her for hours - and I'm not exaggerating. If you stop - she asks for more by bumping you with her nose or giving you a paw. In time, I hope that she will learn to trust and love us, as well as become a happy, happy dog!

This is a problem that effects all breeds of dogs - even more so for the little dogs (and the new "designer" mixed breeds like labradoodle or puggles) that are so popular right now. Please don't buy those pet shop puppies! I believe that if everyone knew where those cute puppies in the pet shops and on the internet come from, there might not be puppy mills. You might think that you are rescuing that puppy from the pet shop, but you are condemning the puppies parents and many more like them to a life of misery!

Thanks for listening!