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Celebrating our Berner Veterans
In Loving Memory of Gideon Von Wink Zanzebern Sir Galahad January 13th 2003 to February 10th 2014 Proudly owned, so much loved and now so sadly missed by Annie Bell 
There are many aspirational goals that one can have with a Berner, not all will be achieved and that is a good thing. Those tempered by harsh reality can be redirected into something equally if not more special, and the Berner has done nothing but be a Berner. On 13 January 2003, Zanzebern Iced Portrait (AI) (Petrai) gave birth to a litter in Wagga Wagga sired by Zanzebern Sokit Turi (Hobby). Known as the gentry litter; one is a boy whose posh name is Zanzebern Sir Galahad (Gideon). Today is Gideon's 10th birthday. Gideon came to live with me aged 7.5 months. He had a dicky hip. So it was decided that he would not be exported to Sweden but would be rehomed. Â I needed a companion for Harry Brat. Lucky for me, Nik Lennon agreed that his forever home was here. Â I had to pick him up from Emma Sankey's place in Victoria. So Harry and I rode 10 hours to pickup and 10 hours back the next day. Gideon arrived at my place on 26th September 2003. It is remembered because it was the day of Slim Dusty's funeral. Along with the congregation I remember singing about "having a beer with Duncan" up the Hume Highway thinking this was the best memorial service ever. Gideon had entropin which had to be surgically corrected. On his first birthday, his present was to be neutered and have his eyes done. A most original present! Touch wood, he has remarkably excellent health having only been under anaesthetic three times in 10 years. His most recent x-rays shows some arthritic bridging starting in the vertebrae closest to his last ribs but in all he is in robust health. He has been a wonderful teacher. First and foremost he taught me that he was not Harry Brat, and never would be. He easily passed Beginners obedience but entered a phase where he was afraid of everyone apart from me. It took 6 months of working with him and other women before he would allow them to touch him and a further 6 months for a man. Intermediate level obedience took 12 months. To this day, my heart does flip-flops when he confidently approaches a bloke for a pat. If there are too many people around, Gideon will slide between my knees for reassurance. Invariably I'm raised onto my toes. Gideon thinks this is great fun. We attempted Advanced Obedience for two years but resigned to never passing. For as soon as the treats were withdrawn, he could not see the point and our performance was always worst on Assessment Day. So ended our obedience trialling aspirations! However, he is a great demo dog for Beginners Obedience (due to the availability of treats) and some trainee handlers have said that my experience with him in Intermediate and Advanced gave them hope. In July 2010 the ANKC introduced conformation Neuter Titles. I'd always thought that of all my dogs, Gideon deserved a chance in the conformation ring. After 7 months of concentrated effort, Gideon achieved Neuter Champion Title in Australia in October 2011. It is believed that he is the first Berner in Australia to achieve this title. I'd dreamed of winning a Class in Show or Specialty Show. Gideon did both. He achieved Neuter In Show in August 2011. At the BMDCV Specialty in June 2012, he was Best Opposite Neuter in Show at 9.5 years AND led the Veterans Parade as the oldest Berner. I was so, so proud (and still am). He is now retired from conformation apart from the Specialty and Veterans Parades. He loves the grooming table and prefers sleeping there to being in a crate. He rolls in the common mint before settling for the night, and has learnt to leverage his age to remove Harri-ette from prime position on the couch or bed. He is getting white in the brown spots above his eyes. He needs more time to eat his meals and that's OK. Having described the older dog he has become; he can still be an imp. Recently he slipped his collar and cavorted around the cul-de-sac peeing on trees and lawns ignoring me until I ruined his approach to jumping over a low fence by standing in front with the lead and collar. (If a dog said Drat"that day he did.) He is Peter Pan in a Berner suit. There are times when you think "he can't be that old". His Mum lived until 11; his father until 9.5 and his grandfather (Turi) until 11. Puppies are delightful and they teach you plenty. However, the opportunities to spend time with a golden oldie are rare and every day is treasured. I'm being greedy and want to spend as long as I can with this magnificent, ratbag son of mine. Thanks always to Nik for agreeing to let him live with me and to Emma for taking care of him in his formative months. I admit that the last three weeks have been the longest. To those who have had a Berner cross the bridge within weeks/months of the magical 10, I've felt your pain for I've come to understand how privileged is this journey when you get into "gift time". In the past 10 days the hours have dragged, so.... Gideon Aloysius Ho Hepper Wink, With big long legs and a bum that doen't stink" Happy Birthday! You are one of a kind and have a place in the heart of many. I'm sorry that you won't celebrate your birthday today; it is too hot to party. There is yoghurt, honey and peanut butter ice blocks, frozen watermelon and strawberries in the fridge as a special treat and roast chook for dinner. Annie (Berner Tragic) in Queanbeyan Australia with Gideon von Wink, Suki-lala and Harri-ette the 'orrible dog. 
January 2014 - Grand Old Gidman taken in the Garden at Wagga. Febuary 9th 2014 - At 03.40 I went searching for Gideon in the backyard to see if he was OK. I took out a quilt and lay in front of him so he knew I was close. He put a paw on my heart and I took it massaging it for the best part of an hour. I thought long and hard about what I should do if he didn't pee just after dawn. We went for a walk in the park to see if new smells would stimulate a pee. It was not to be. He even required assistance getting into the trailer. So it is with great sadness that I let you know that my teacher Gideon Von Wink crossed the bridge. He had not improved overnight with his abdomen filling with fluid. When I took him to the vet today, the vet observed that he was in a poorer state than yesterday being moderately dehydrated even though he had a belly full of water. Logic said that if we tried to find out why it would mean fighting a losing battle. So at 09.14 I kissed him and stroked him until he gasped his last breath. I took some fur for posterity and have organised his cremation and to come home in a box. When I left the surgery, I turned on the radio and the Hawian (whose name escapes me) was singing 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' with a ukelele. I was blubbering all the way down Edward Street. 
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole 
Run free Gidman. Now there are only girls in the house so there is no need to put the toilet seat up.! Give Harry and Spike heaps and give the seniors a nudge on the hip to ensure you get fed. Remembering
The Harry Brat Shining Knight Award *Veteran Berners Home Page* *Samson's Story *My Gang *Sunny,Simmy,Barney,Pixie,Herb *Friend's Gallery *In Loving Memory* *Histio Roll Call *Berner Veterans *Bernese Art *Berner Fun Stuff *Berner Articles & Info* *Berner Shop *Longlease Links. *Humour. *Guestbook. *Berner Fundraisers *LostandFound *Rescue* *Recent Updates* *Longlease Bernese Mountain Dogs Home Page* |
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