Hi Everyone,
I'm so excited to have found BernerTalk. I got Moca on 12-1-11 when she was 8 weeks old. As a family, we researched breeds and narrowed it down to the Bernese. We've always had rescue dogs, mutts, and were never quite sure of their characteristics. Now with a Berner, I've been doing and can't find what I'm looking for. Can someone tell me if the following is part of the breed, or just part of her uniqueness.
- will not sit on the couch
-doesn't snuggle
-afraid to climb the steps (we keep trying)
-drinks a lot of water (vet said to limit it to 750ml) If she has drank all of her limit, she just goes out to eat snow, then I give her more. Of course she voids a lot too. No urinary tract infection.
-doesn't like the crate

Thanks for your input!

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AnnetteG

What health certifications were done on her parents? And have you x-rayed her hips and elbows yet? This is breed standard per the BMDCA and I highly recommend you get a baseline on her if she showing a reluctance to use her joints for sofa, stairs etc.

Some Berners are cuddlers....and some are more independent and not. The females tend to be very cuddly and so if she isn't, it would further concern me that there is a physical discomfort there that should be checked out.

I can't speak to the water limit thing.....Berners run hot and are very sensitive to heat - including hot houses running the heat. If she is not showing any other signs of gastric upset, I would let her drink, especially if she is eating a dry kibble which makes puppies very thirsty. I don't have a frame of reference as all of my dogs have been raw-fed and there is a lot of moisture in their food so they never drink much and haven't their entire lives. Kibble dogs would be different however.

Have you done a blood panel on her to check kidney function? If she is truly drinking more than a normal kibble fed puppy, this is a good idea as well.

hmmm, storm was not cuddly as a pup but boy is he now.

I found that he got to hot to cuddle and the couch might be to hot.

stairs might take a while, but be careful on the stairs.

and water, well again if it is hot they drink more.

Thanks for some thought provoking answers. I will have her kidneys checked, and urethra, because she just voids a little at a time, but frequently. Her parents where hip certified. They way Moca jumps around and plays with the other pups, I doubt she has joint pain yet. Feeding her the right foods is a top priority, can you reccomend readings regarding the raw diet? Boy, that is a mouthful of alliteration!
Thanks,

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AnnetteG