ANDREA BRIN

Andrea is skilled in canine massage, acupressure and Chinese herbs for dogs. Animal wellness comes naturally to Andrea, who has spent the last eight years on a quest to create a holistic health environment for her Bernese Mountain Dogs. She works as a holistic consultant and provides services to BARC. She has been a vital force for The Rabies Challenge Fund and works closely with Jean Dodds and Hemopet.

MARY-ANN BOWMAN

Mary-Ann Bowman has been involved with Berners for over 15 years. She actively trains and competes in conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, rally and draft. Mary-Ann and her husband breed under the kennel name “Kaibab” with one of their primary goals being to produce dogs with both type and working ability.  Their foundation bitch, the late CH Pinnacle’s East of Eden TD, CDX, OA, OAJ, VCD2, RE, DD, BDD, CGC is one of the very few Top Producers of Versatility Dogs in the breed, and Mary-Ann has earned Versatility Dog awards on five of her Berners.         

FRANDEL BROWN

Fran has owned, bred, shown and judged Berners most of her life. Her first Bernerwas a Sanctuary Woods boy, Ch Delsas Andante v Lancer. She was only able to get him because he was very shy, as many were in those days. In 40 years of having the privilege of knowing their gentle souls and their great desire to connect to their people, she’s seen an improvement in Berner character and temperament. Fran has not ever, nor will ever, be an advocate of owning many as she feels the breed benefits from having a close relationship with their people and deserves every bit of attention they get.

She has bred or owned about 20 Champions and judged bitches and Best Of Breed at our National Specialty in Gettysburg in 2005 with an entry of 1042! In addition to judging the national, Fran has also judged many Supported entries and Regional Specialties. Her further service is through Judges’ Education as a ringside mentor. In addition to Bernese, Fran has owned Top Winning and Best In Show Sealyham Terriers since 1980. Being licensed for eight Terriers and fifteen Working Breeds, she has an excellent eye for a dog that she will share with us during the Sieger evaluations.

SHERI CASSENS

Sheri Cassens started a service dog training program, Anything’s PAWSible, at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault Minnesota five years ago.  Most of the dogs come through area shelters and rescue groups.  Five dogs live at the minimum security facility at a time, each having two handlers.  Sheri's Papillion, Border Terrier, and three Bernese assist at weekly training classes to provide distractions and help teach operant conditioning skills to new handlers.

 Sheri has been involved with conformation and obedience since 1987, and in the last four years rally and agility.  She has taught pet training classes for 18 years, particularly puppy classes, with an emphasis on preventing aggression and behavior problems through humane training techniques.  

 CLAIRE COPPOLA

Claire Coppola has been studying essential oil therapies for animals since 2004 in conjunction with her keen interest in a natural, non-synthetic, life-style, and deep belief in the healing power of plants. Her knowledge is constantly evolving, including completing in 2006/2007 The Guild of Essential Oil Therapy for Animals diploma course, in Oxfordshire, England. Claire, who resides in New Jersey, shows and breeds Bernese Mountain Dogs and Tibetan Terriers. Her dogs have achieved the BMDCA Versatility Award twice and Working Dog Award once, as well as earning titles and ribbons in both the US and Canada. She was Assistant Show chair for the BMDCA 2005 National Specialty, Herding Chair for the 2008 National Specialty, and is the moderator of herdingberners@yahoogroups.com.

 SHARI CURRAN

Shari is the Executive Director of the Therapet Foundation, wrote Animal Assisted Therapy: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals and Volunteers and speaks about AAT nationally. She is an Occupational Therapist and has done Animal Assisted Therapy for over 24 years. Town and Country magazine named Shari the leading expert in AAT.

 KEVIN CURRAN MD

Kevin serves as the Medical Director of the Therapet Foundation and has trained three Bernese as therapy dogs.  In 1998, Kevin's Berner Rev was named Therapy Dog of The Year for his outstanding work. Kevin served as chair for the BMDCA Health Committee for the past 10 years.

 PATRICIA DABBERT

Patricia owns and operates Doggie Day Care and Bed & Biscuit in Frankfort, Ohio. She has been a clicker trainer for over 20 years leading group classes as well as working closely with local veterinarians to help their clients with behavior problems.   

 DENISE DEAN

Denise has been involved in purebred-bred dogs since 1975 when she got her first Old English Sheep dog. She has been involved with Berners since 1978 and has attended all the National Specialties since then. Over 100 champion Bernese have carried the Deer Park name, and her breeding program has produced a national specialty Best of Breed winner along with best in sweeps, winners dog and winners bitch at specialties through the years. Denise has been an AKC licensed judge for about nine years and is currently approved to judge the Herding group and two working breeds. She judged sweepstakes at the national in Kansas City, was editor of the Alpenhorn for several years, and has worked on many Nationals.

 KATHY DEYO

Kathy has been blessed with Bernese since 1986 and has bred five generations of Bernese under the Hapi Mtn kennel name. She joined the BMDCA in 1987, served on the BMDCA board in 2001-2002 and again in 2007-2008, and became the BMDCA National Rescue & Rehome Coordinator in 2001 after helping with several Bernese rescue situations in her area. She currently shows in conformation, teaches obedience, showmanship and agility classes, works with 4-H kids, and just enjoys her dogs including Spam, a 2 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She continues to compete and also performs with the family entertainments group, the Superdogs.

 MARTY GREER DVM

Dr. Greer received her Bachelor of Science in 1978 and her DVM in 1981 from Iowa State University. She established the Small Anima clinic in Brownsville in 1982 and then in 1988, moved her practice to Lormira. She has a special interest in Pediatrics, Reproduction and Behavior. In 2002, she opened a Canine Semen Freezing Center, International Canine Semen Bank-Wisconsin and became Penn-hip certified. Dr. Greer has contributed to pharmaceutical and nutritional research as an investigator for Abbott Laboratory, Deprenyl Animal Health and Hill’s Pet Food Corporation. Governor Jim Doyle appointed her to the Veterinary Examining Board of the Department of Regulation and Licensing.

 Dr. Greer and her husband, Dr. Daniel Griffiths have two children, Katy and Karl. They raise and show Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Bernese Mountain Dogs. They also have cats, rescue dogs, a horse, 4H dairy heifers, llamas and sheep. Her family has raised four puppies for Canine Companions for Independence, a service dog organization. She is in her second year of law school at Marquette University.

 LIBBY KESNER

A Berner first entered Libby’s life in 1975, and she has been hooked ever since.  She started breeding in 1984, and has bred 48 litters to date.  After years of judging Sweepstakes at specialties and supported entries, Libby recently became an AKC provisional judge of Bernese Mountain Dogs - and her education continues. It's the breeding of Berners that is her foremost interest - studying dogs and their pedigrees, planning generations down the line, cuddling all those puppies, and evaluating them and their potential as the grow. Libby exhibits in conformation, and sometimes in obedience.  She is proud of the breed type, soundness, working ability, and temperaments of the dogs she produces, and she’s thrilled when they leave her and go on to success in their varied homes.

 MICHELE LABAGH

Michele has had Bernese since 1996 when she acquired Missy, aka AM/CAN CH. Halidom's Miss Chiff Maker, for her two boys. Mike and Max have sustained their involvement with Berners attending five specialties and helping Michele show in conformation, obedience and draft. Michele breeds on a limited basis, is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Evaluator for AKC Canine Good Citizen, evaluator for Therapy Dogs International and Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. In her spare time she is Director of Training & Education for Monticello New York Kennel Club, Owner of Pawzabilities Dog Training & Sudzey Paws Dog Spa. 

 ANDREW LUESCHER DVM PhD DACVB

Andrew Luescher, Associate Professor and Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Purdue University, has been treating companion animals with behavioral problems for over 15 years. Dr. Luescher earned his DVM and MSc from the University of Zurich, Switzerland and a Ph.D. in animal behavior from the University of Guelph, Ontario. He is certified as an applied animal behaviorist by the Animal Behavior Society and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. In August 1997 Dr. Luescher joined the Veterinary Clinical Sciences faculty at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine and established the Animal Behavior Clinic.  He sees behavioral cases in dogs, cats, parrots, and horses and develops treatment regimens based on scientific principles of behavior and learning.  Dr. Luescher's special research interests include behavioral development, compulsive disorders, and canine aggression.  He is a popular speaker and teacher at academic and professional conferences on a variety of animal behavior topics. His presentation on Longevity & Behavioral Health was presented at the Health Symposium during the 100 Jubilee celebration in Burgdorf, Switzerland in 2007.

 JUDY LUTHER

Judy Luther is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and owner of Dog Stars Training in St. Louis, Missouri. Judy has trained animals for over 20 years. She has worked with performing Frisbee dogs, obedience dogs, rally competition dogs, and dogs trained to perform in theater productions, television work, and commercial shoots. On any given day, you can find Judy working on a commercial photo set, handling animals for the advertising industry, training and showing Frisbee dogs for a football halftime show, training an animal for a stage production, teaching a family pet good manners, making a presentation to a group of school children on animal safety or to a group of pet owners on dog behavior, or consulting on animal behavior and training.

Judy is also a certified Equine and Canine Sports Massage Therapist. Her clients include the St. Louis Police Department's Mounted Patrol, Jump Dog Team, and the Purina Incredible Dog Team. Judy was voted St. Louis' "Best Trainer" 2008 and 2009.

 CHRISTINE MANN

Christine saw her first Bernese Mountain Dog in 1974 but it was not until the late 80s that she was able to have a Berner of her own. CH Alpine Joy’s Deerpark Sgt Harpo CD DD HIC TT CGC revealed the wonderful world of Bernese to Christine while becoming one of the BMDCA’s first Versatility Dogs. Twenty years later, she successfully trains and handles her own dogs in conformation, draft, obedience and therapy work creating five generations of BMDCA Versatility Dogs and Delta Society Animal Assisted Pet Partners. Breeding only occasionally, Christine has bred fewer than twenty litters of Bernese under the kennel name Blue Moon.

She has been a member of the BMDCA and the BMD Club of the Rockies sine 1990 and a BMDCA Draft judge since 1993. She served as the BMDCA Draft Chair for four years and currently is a member of the BMDCA Judges Education Committee. She is also a Delta Society Team Evaluator.

With their two children grown, Christine shares her Colorado mountain life with Michael, her husband of thirty-seven years, and five special Bernese Mountain Dogs: Houston, MECO, Mesa, True and Rita. The two cats, Poncho and Lola, keep everyone in line! While dogs tend to run her life, there is always time for gardening, hiking and skiing.

 LAURIE McCAULEY DVM CCRT

A 1992 graduate of Colorado State University's School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Laurie McCauley is the Medical Director of TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation, which she owns and operates with her husband Tom. Since starting TOPS Vet Rehab in 1998, Dr. McCauley has been credited as one of the pioneers of veterinary rehabilitation, and has become one of the most recognized names in this field. The Canine Rehabilitation Institute certifies Dr. McCauley in veterinary rehabilitation, in veterinary acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. In addition to these certifications, Dr. McCauley is also on faculty of the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.  She is a contributing author to Canine Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, as well as the 6th Edition of the Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians.  She is a frequent national and international lecturer on the topics of complementary medicine and rehabilitation.

Dr. McCauley is credited with introducing the world to the use of hydro-treadmill therapy as a part of canine rehabilitation, a modality considered almost standard in veterinary rehabilitation today. In addition to her expertise in rehabilitation, acupuncture, and chiropractic, she brings an uncommon passion and energy to her work. This combination of skills and passion has helped her return agility dogs to the ring; police K-9 dogs to service and companion dogs back to normal function. Although she operates in all areas of canine rehabilitation, Dr. McCauley specializes in canine neurological rehabilitation, where she reports a 75% success rate in the area of returning paralyzed dogs to near normal function.

 DENISE McCLURE

Denise McClure has shared her life with Berners since 1998.  She has put four Tracking Dog (TD) titles and two Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) titles on her Berners, and has encouraged others to get involved in tracking and helped them to successfully earn TD titles on their dogs as well. She has actively supported tracking tests by chairing tests, serving as chief tracklayer as well as laying tracks. Denise also participates in agility, obedience, draft and rally.  She currently lives with two Berners, Clue and Dot.

 ANN MILLIGAN

Ann acquired her first Berner in 1983. She has bred 23 litters since then under the Bon Mead kennel name. She is an AKC licensed judge for Bernese Mountain Dogs.

 MARK MILLIGAN

Mark has been involved with Bernese for over 25 years. He is a licensed judge for Bernese Mountain Dogs.

  MARJORIE REHO

Marjorie has owned Bernese Mountain Dogs and been active in the BMDCA since 1978. Under the kennel name of “Dallybeck”, she has bred 24 litters, and has produced some of the top dogs in the United States and Canada. At National Specialties, her own dogs, Dallybeck-produced dogs, and offspring of Dallybeck dogs, have won such prestigious awards as High In Trial, Best of Opposite Sex, Winners Dog, Best of Winners, Award of Merit, first in Stud Dog, first in Brood Bitch, both Best and Best of Opposite in Veteran Sweeps with son and dam. Many dogs from her breeding have been Versatility Award Winners over the years. She has produced the BMDCA Top Producer, Conformation Dog. Margie’s active interests in the breed focus on the total dog: structure, soundness, type, temperament, working ability and longevity. She became the first recipient of a Dog World Award for Bernese in obedience, and also placed a Tracking Degree on her bitch. In conformation, she has judged Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes classes in Canada, and at the BMDCA National Specialty in Colorado.

 RONALD D. SCHULTZ PhD

Dr. Schultz earned his PhD in Immunology and Veterinary Pathology (1970) from the Pennsylvania State University. He established the first Veterinary Clinical Immunology Laboratory in the US while on the faculty at Cornell. He accepted his current position as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982. Dr. Schultz also holds faculty appointments in the Medical School and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at UW-Madison. He has been a visiting professor at several US and International Universities.

Dr. Schultz has won a number of awards including the first Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award in 1988. He is on the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force, the AAFP Feline Vaccine Task Force that provides Guidelines for Canine and Feline Vaccines and Vaccination Programs. He has recently been asked to help develop the canine and feline vaccination guidelines for the World Small Animal Veterinary medical Association. His years of research on vaccines serve as the scientific basis of the new guidelines. He was the first president of the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (1980) and has been president of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease. He has published more than 200 papers on the immunology and microbiology of animal disease, clinical immunology and vaccinology and has edited several books and holds multiple patents. Currently, Dr. Schultz leads the efforts to develop evidence based vaccination protocols. 

 DAN SERNICOLA

While Daniel has only been in Berners for a relatively short time, he has a passion for the breed that is contagious! He is serves Berner Garde as a trustee, Ways and Means chair, and Public Relations and Marketing chair. If you haven't seen Dan's Berner-Garde Annuals, you've missed a tempting treat - be sure to look for the next one later this year. Attendees of the specialties are most familiar with Daniel’s enthusiasm as chair of the Fundraising Committee overseeing the annual Health Auction. As an organizer of the event, he ensures that it runs smoothly. As a “Vanna” for the event, he ensures that attendees have a great time.

Dan's research into the history of Bernese Mountain Dogs has led to some fascinating finds, not the least of which is his collection of antique cards, paintings, photographs and ephemera. He has immersed himself in the literature and history of the breed hoping to learn how the history can affect the future of the breed. Dan is currently writing a book to document the history of the breed and will gladly accept copies of historic Berner items for this purpose and archival preservation.

 RON SMITH

Ron was born in Cobourg, Ontario and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer.  He spent 32 years with General Motors, leaving as Superintendent of Maintenance and Engineering. Ron met his first Bernese in 1973 by accident while looking to purchase a Landseer Newfoundland. He raised 26 litters of Berners over a 25-year period and was always interested in pedigree research. When a fellow engineering friend saw what he was doing, he offered to write something more elaborate and eventually they created the DOS version of BMDPed. Several breeders saw this version and wanted a copy and his little hobby got out of hand from there. In 2006, his friend Dave Long again offered to write the software for a Windows version, which you are seeing today.

 NANCY STEWART

Nancy has lived with Bernese since 1985. She served as President of the BMDCA from 1994-1999.She was a founding member of the Grand Canyon State BMD Club and is a Trustee for the Berner Garde Foundation. Nancy participates in conformation, draft, obedience, and is currently an approved AKC Judge for Bernese Mountain Dogs. Her passion, however, is the health of the breed and she feels that nutrition is a major key to sound growth, disease control, and longevity.

 CAROL STEPHENSON

Carol is a Social Psychologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  She conducts research and tests interventions aimed at influencing people to adopt healthy and safe behaviors. Prior to her career at CDC, she worked as a licensed Veterinary Technician in small animal practice for 20 years and has been raising, showing, and training dogs since childhood. She teaches various obedience, conformation, and agility classes at her local dog training club, trains a Delta Society Pet Partners group, and serves on the Ohio Veterinary Emergency Response team. A Berner first won Carol's heart in 2000 and the family now includes the family now includes Berners Albie and Nexi with their kitty buddy, Puddy and our cockatoo Herschel.

 PATRICIA TACKETT

Pat has been involved in Obedience training since 1986 when she purchased her first Berner.  Dixie earned her CD just as she turned 1 year of age, and Pat went on to join the Dallas Obedience Training Club where she turned to Clicker Training in the late 1990's. Her second Berner, Rosie, taught her the most with clicker being a cross over trained dog and earning her UD.  Ace and Pat explored Freestyle successfully with Clicker for all his various moves.  She has taught Clicker classes over the years and will never turn away from Clicker training; it is the best mode of training, in her opinion, for Bernese!   Pat also enjoys Draft and Tracking with her dogs having earned three TDs, 4 NDDs, 1 DD and 1 BNDD. In addition, she is a BMDCA Draft Judge (Emeritus).

 DEBBIE TOWNDROW

Debbie has been practicing as a full time certified massage therapist, specializing in canines, since 1998. She is a former veterinary technician with a degree in Applied Science from Bel Rea Institute of Animal Technology. Her practice mission is simple: through therapeutic massage and education, to enhance the quality of life for both humans and animals. Her goal is for the client to see the improvements and experience the benefits of therapeutic massage. Debbie is a member of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork as well as the Associated Bodyworkers and Massage Professionals. She is a long time member of BMDCA and BMDCR and has owned Berners for 14 years. You have most likely seen her massage booth at our National Specialties over the past 10 years.

 GARY & PENNY TURNER

Gary & Penny became involved in obedience training & competition 35 years ago and have multiple titles on four Shelties & two Berners.  Ten years ago they became involved in Animal Assisted Therapy with their first Berner, Archie.  They have since brought in Moritz (Berner) and Brodie (Sheltie) as well.  They work in AAT work at a residential home for severely abused children as well as various nursing homes and their certifications are with Delta Society and Mo-Kan Pet Partners.  Gary has also been a Delta evaluator for three years. Four years ago they both attended extensive training in Animal Assisted Crisis Response and became certified with Animal Assisted Crisis Response (national) and Noah’s Canine Crisis Response (Midwest regional).  Since then, Gary and Penny have worked at four towns that were destroyed by tornadoes and various other disaster sites.