I'm so glad to know that they can live past their life expectancy. I would love to have a bernese but I would hate to lose one after just a few short years!

Whew! That got me quite worried for a while. I couldn't imagine taking care of a dog (or any pet for that matter) and losing him/her so soon. I can still remember how devastated I was when I lost my pet dog when I was young!

Loosing a pet is horrible! They become just like a family member. Riley has had a lot of medical issues in the past, and there were many times I thought we might loose him. But I wouldn't trade any amount of time that we have had him. They just bring so much love and joy to your life. I cant imagine never knowing him.

We lost a dog at 41/2 to cancer he was a x breed. I was devastated by it and it took me 3+ years to think about getting another dog.
I had fallen in love with the Bernese, but was put off by the all the health issues main one being cancer, but my OH talked me round and said for however long we had that dog he would bring a lot to our lives, so we went ahead he is now nearly 21/2 and as of yet fingers crossed no health issues although we will expect them.
There is a saying for the Bernese 3 years a young dog,3 years a good dog,3 years an old dog and anything else is a gift from a God.
Ollie's breeder has got some who are 13 so we hope that is the case with Ollie.
If not we certainly would not of been without him and however long or short the time is we have with him I would not of changed a day of it.It is always heartbreaking to lose a pet of any kind at any age,