Of Mountiains and Cheese

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

The Bernese Mountain dog was originally bred to pull the carts of the dairy farmers in the Swiss mountain towns and villages.  Yarrow's mother is a Berner, as they are nicknamed.  I can tell that the drive to pull is quite strong in Yarrow.

Here in the mountain town of Kimberley, B.C., it's not possible for me to go anywhere without having to go uphill one way or the other.  That includes a simple trip to check the mailbox at the front of the house.  I instruct any deliveries to the back door because you have to be part mountain goat to get up those front steps to the, basically useless, front door.  Folks who have lived on this street for many years (some their whole lives!) tell me that nobody has ever used the front door of this house. 

On Halloween I sat out at street level to hand out the treats.  Otherwise, I suppose kids would just skip this house.  Even though I made it as easy as possible for little goblins and their parents to score great treats at my house, we had far fewer kids than I had hoped for.  "That's because we live at the top of heart attack hill", I told my neighbour Betty.

Okay, so you get what I'm saying about the terrain here.  So, here's the picture of Yarrow, Sadhu and I coming home from a walk:  11 week old Yarrow is in the lead with Sadhu's leash firmly in her teeth.  Unwavering, she plods uphill as though it's her job and big old Sadhu is paying good money for the assistance.  I love being witness to this every day.  My guy is scheduled to return home Monday evening.  I'm going to have him take a picture of our little ox pulling Sadhu uphill like he's a cart of Emmental cheese!

[Camilla and Darwin]

We'd love a picture!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, a picture would be grand.

[BG and Gavin]

We definitely need a picture of this.  Sounds like Yarrow is the perfect match to your pack.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Yarrow sounds like a born helper!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

I had a dog like that when I was a kid.  We lived in Quebec for several years and I had a newspaper route.  Sam used to help me pull my wagon full of papers and my sled in the winter.  She was my best friend until I was 18.  Sam would even wait outside of school for me, in the rain.  Such a bond.

[Miss Ellie]

This reminds me of our golden retriever Jack...when our boys were really little he use to help pull them up the hill after tobogganing...such sweet memories!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

It's adorable to watch, but I don't know if she is aware that she is being of assistance or if she just enjoys the physical sensation of pulling something uphill.  It makes me think that this particular mix might be the perfect type of dog to assist someone who is wheelchair bound.  I've seen someone on TV who's assistance dog (lab or retriever) had a harness to pull the wheelchair. 

[Miss Ellie]

I find it so fascinating how instincts just kick in and they just do what they were bred to do...even when you add a poodle into the mix...your sweet, sweet Yarrow still exhibits his Bernese Mountain dog skills.  How precious that he helps Sadhu up the hill.