Where in Canada

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

I live in Kimberley, BC with my precious Yarrow who is my Bernedoodle pup.  She's almost 20 weeks old.  Kimberley is a ski resort town with a Bavarian flavor.  As such, there are quite a few Bernese Mountain dogs in town.  People tent to do a double take when they see Yarrow in town, with her Berner markings and poodle mop top.  My little muppet!

[Julie and Max]

Yarrow is absolutely precious. I originally looked at a bernedoodle but the only breeder I could find wanted quite a lot more money than I could afford to spend. I am glad now though because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten my wonderful Max whom I adore. Someone else posted on another group here that when your dog is ready they find you, and I feel like that was the case with Max. Max will be six months old on Febuary 8th. I always thought I was a cat person, until I got Max, and now I am a doodle adorer. 

I'm in Sarnia Ontario. There is not much to do around here it's kind of a boring town, so Max and these forums are pretty much my entertainment. My DH and I are hoping to find places to travel and camp with Max this summer and I've been looking for dog friendly camping and perhaps beaches and hiking trails. 

[Debbie]

Hi Julie,

I live near Simcoe ON,.. a great doodle beach is at Port Burwell Provincial Park.  They have a huge section of beach for dogs and the swimming is good.  Really nice campground although you have to contend with ticks.  Lots of the provincial parks say dog beaches but when you get there it is like 200 feet.. My doodle Mila loves swimming and loves the snow which we are sick of but she is not lol  Debbie

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Love the song on your page.  That's how Yarrow makes me feel. Weird how we came to have Yarrow.  It's a long story but in a nutshell, she definitely picked us.

[Julie and Max]

That's how Max makes me feel too, I love that song. :)

I'd love to hear how you got Yarrow!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Well, the story begins with a tragedy.  We lived on a pretty, wooded acreage in a little place called Bittern Lake in central Alberta.  I had a most wonderful dog, Wabush, part Newfoundland retriever and part Belgian Shepherd for 13 years.  She was my constant companion since she was 8 weeks old.  She was one of those dogs who understands every word - like Lassie.  The day we were loading the big truck to move to B.C., with the help of neighbours from the village, my beloved pet left the fenced yard.  The gate had been left open.  She made it home, but after ingesting a fatal amount of poison that was intended for coyotes.  We had no idea that any of our neighbours were putting out poisoned bait.  Anyway, I was devastated beyond belief and didn't think I would ever want another dog.

After moving to Kimberley, I started thinking about a friend of ours who breeds Bernese Mountain dogs.  Not knowing anything about that breed, I started to do research to find out if we should even consider getting a pup. I have never NOT had a dog and felt quite incomplete. The Google search brought up Bernedoodle.  What the heck is that, I wondered.  I liked what I read about their temperament and intelligence, and the first picture I saw nearly knocked me over.  It looked so much like the amazing dog that was my constant companion as a teen (over 40 years ago).  That dog was a Labradoodle before they were known by that name.  That was my Sam with shaggy black hair with white chest and paws.

So, here's this interesting dog with the intelligence and temperament of my beloved Wabush and the looks of Sam.  My next discovery was that there were only two registered breeders in Canada; one in Ontario and one in Alberta.  Here's the next thing that nearly knocked me over, the Alberta breeder is in the village of Gwynn - just minutes down the highway from our acreage - where Wabush passed.  What an eerie coincidence. We used to go buy our honey in Gwynn.   

Anyway, I decided that I should fill out an application form and go through the interview process.  I was accepted but told that I would likely have to wait until fall 2014 for a pup.  I told her that was fine with me as we didn't even have a fence up yet.

I made arrangements to go to Tucson for 6 weeks, January and February to attend the gem show.  I even set up house sitters from New Zealand who were going to be house sitting their way across Canada. 

Then, one afternoon in September, the phone rang and it was the breeder saying that her Dam had just had a large litter of mostly females and would I like a puppy sooner than later.  I started jumping up and down like a little girl.  Absolutely!  I had to cancel the trip and the house sitters.  They were so disappointed but understanding.  I also had to hire someone to build me a wildlife-proof fence right away.

I waited an agonizing 4 weeks to see the puppy pictures online.  There were 7 females.  I couldn't get to Gwynn to choose for myself but my daughter, Ashly, who lives only minutes from there would go in my place. She has three dogs and is very similar to me in energy.  I told her which one we felt most interested in, going by the photos the breeder had sent me.  Ashly also had the pictures of the puppies and she had her own idea of which one she should choose for me. 

But, when she got there, all the pups were playing together and wrestling - except for one.  This one came up to her, sat down, made the most intense eye contact and put it's little paw on Ashly's hand.  That was it.  The puppy-choosing was done.  Ashly phoned me and said, "I got her!" 

"Already?", I exclaimed. "But you have a whole hour."

"No Mum, I'm sure. We got her!"  The first time I saw her picture I cried, "She's so beautiful."  She was not the one I had picked from the photos, nor the one Ashly thought she was going to choose for me.

Yarrow still has that intense eye contact.  A neighbour of mine just remarked the other day, "She's like an old soul the way she looks so deeply into my eyes."  The breeder almost kept her for that reason.  I'm so glad she didn't!  She said she wasn't independent enough for her.  Thank goodness.

And that's the long story of how Yarrow chose us.  By the way, my partner is enjoying the warm weather in Tucson until the end of February.  But I'd rather be here playing in the snow with Yarrow.

[Debbie]

Deb,, I am sorry about the loss of your dog Wabush but so happy for your next companion...  as we all know our dogs choose us,, you get the dog you need not the dog you want.  Yarrow looks adorable!! Too bad we are on opposite sides of the country

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Thanks Debbie.  That tragedy was a year ago this month.  What I don't tell too many people is that my last words to Wabush were, 'Come back to me in any way or form. I'll find you.'  I certainly didn't expect her to come so quickly.  It really took me by surprise and I wasn't sure I was ready, but I knew I had to trust her wisdom.  She always knew better than me.  I know beyond a doubt that Yarrow is Wabush.  She knows me, Sadhu and the cats far too well to be brand new.  My daughter said my grandson, Liam, had tears in his eyes when he met Yarrow at 6 weeks because of the way she looked at him.  Liam was Wabush's second favorite person in the world beside me.

Sorry, I'm feeling pretty nostalgic about the whole thing this week, and so grateful for my sweetheart Yarrow.  She's been a challenge, like a precocious child, but I adore her.

The attached photo is Liam with Yarrow.  I couldn't go to choose in person so Liam and my daughter went in my place.

[Julie and Max]

Deb I am so sorry that the story of Yarrow had to start with tragedy, and sorry you lost your beloved Wabush who sounds simply wonderful. The story of Yarrow is pretty beautiful though, it's like she chose you, and was just waiting for you to find her. She really is beautiful. I think we are so lucky to be chosen by our dogs. 

I wish we lived closer so that Max and I could meet you and your Yarrow. 

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Too bad you're on the other side of the country.  Yarrow sure could use a rambunctious playmate her own speed to run and play with.  I saw the picture of you all bundled up like the little boy in the book I Have To Go by Robert Munsch.  That's what I look like when it's really cold.  I'm used to the frigid Alberta winters.  I'd get all bundled up and put Wabush's Muttluks on. It doesn't get that cold here.  We get tons of snow but the temperature is not far below freezing.

So, how did you handsome little Max come to be with you?

[Julie and Max]

OMG I haven't thought about that book in years, my kids loved that book!

My favourite was I'll love you forever :D

Honestly, most days that coat is too hot, but that day was -17 outside eww, I can't wait till tomorrow it's supposed to warm up a bit and we're missing our walks big time. 

Max could really use a playmate that can keep up to him too!

I also sent you a private message. :)

[Darlene Rogers]

Hi.  I am in Calgary.  You are so lucky to be in BC.  I love the weather.  We have been having quite a cold winter.  More than cold, it has been icy so it is cold and hard to take Bella to the dog park or even walk for that matter.  My trainer has had Bella  walking on a treadmill but it is kind of boring for her.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

This week's weather is more like Alberta.  It's only -10 right now but the temperature is forecast to plummet until next Monday.  But for the most part we have really been spared that terrible Polar Vortex the rest of North America has been getting.

It's the spring rain and mud I'm more dreading.  Yarrow is a digger.