Monday, May 10

Time

Session A

Session B

Session C

9-11am

AKC BMD STANDARD –THE FINER POINTS

FRANDEL BROWN

First things first at Berner U means Know the Standard. This seminar will cover the basic information about Bernese using the AKC Standard, as well as many of the finer points that only the experienced eyes of a longtime breeder and judge might notice.  Fran will share the presentation given to provisional judges but will elaborate, using live examples of the details that make a truly spectacular conformation BMD.

BMD HISTORY

DAN SERNICOLA

 This class will give a basic overview of the history of the Bernese Mountain Dog, and dispel some myths along the way. Where did Berners come from? How did they get to the United States? Who were the individuals who preserved our breed? What can you learn from history that may help brighten the future of your Berner? Along with learning historical facts, you will also learn about some theories and current research. Dan has a wealth of interesting stories as well as many intriguing photographs, ephemera, and other antique Berner items to share.

DRAFTING 101

CHRISTINE MANN

 Ever wonder how to get started doing draft work with your Berner?  Come learn how you and your best friend can enjoy carting. Whether you would like to get some help around the farm, to enter the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, or train for the BMDCA Draft Test, we can help. We will discuss equipment, training techniques and conditioning. Above all else, drafting is about teamwork and having fun! This is a demonstration class; contact Christine if your Berner can show off drafting skills.

12-2pm

HOLISTIC CARE

ANDREA BRIN

Many holistic veterinarians view physical symptoms not as manifestations of a disease or a syndrome, but as the body's attempt to combat an underlying imbalance on a more fundamental, energetic level. They prefer to treat the root of a health problem, instead of its symptoms, and thereby help your animal regain and maintain its own health. Andrea will explain the range of options available, including acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, homeopathy, herbal medicine, chiropractic and rehabilitation medicine. Learn how these modalities can make a difference in the care of your animals.

THE VERSATILE BERNER

MARY-ANN BOWMAN

Are you dreaming of a BMDCA Versatility Dog award? Well, stop dreaming and let’s get going!  Together we will transform those hopes and wishes into an action plan so that your dream becomes reality.  We will identify what it takes to earn a BMDCA Versatility Dog award, and discuss the various title options that can be combined to earn the award. Participants will engage in goal setting to plan the specific steps needed to be able to step up and receive that Versatility Dog award at a future Specialty!

SERVICE PROGRAMS ROUND TABLE

SHERI CASSENS, MICHELE LABAGH, CAROL STEPHENSON, PENNY TURNER, GARY TURNER & VICKY WHITNEY

Listen carefully to all the marvelous ways that Berners and owners work together in a service capacity. Our experienced faculty will describe the following programs: Animal Assisted Therapy, Noah's Canine Crisis Response, Delta Society Pet Partners, Therapy Dog International, Search and Rescue, Puppies Behind Bars, HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, Intermountain Therapy Animals & their Reading Educational Assistance Dogs. The challenges and rewards of each program differ so be prepared to ask questions and decipher which might be the best fit for you and your Berner.

3-5pm

CANINE NUTRITION 101: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

NANCY STEWART 

This seminar will be a discussion that will guide attendees through the maze of feeding options available to today’s dog owner. The session will include an overview of the evolution of the pet food industry, instruction on how to read a label, keys to evaluation of ingredient quality, uses of supplementation, and the potential impact of nutrition on health and longevity. Raw, homemade, kibble, canned, and combination diets will be discussed and compared. There will be ample time for questions and attendees are encouraged to bring food labels with them for comparison.

MASSAGE FUNDAMENTALS

 
DEBBIE TOWNDROW

This workshop will introduce the benefits of massage and demonstrate techniques to calm animals and relax muscles. Time will be spent discussing special canine needs of the pregnant bitch, developing puppies/adolescents and geriatrics.  Discussion on optimizing performance animals while minimizing injury will conclude the workshop. This is a "hands on" workshop so bring a Berner (you can always borrow one) along with two mats or blankets, one for you and one for your dog. Wear comfortable clothes, as we will work on the floor.

SERVICE SKILLS WORKSHOP

SHARI & KEVIN CURRAN

Creators of Therapet, an Animal Assisted Therapy program in Texas, Shari and Kevin have identified a set of skills useful for dogs to master no matter what kind of therapeutic setting you have chosen. You could be in a psychiatric hospital, in a school library or part of a trauma response team and these skills would prove essential for both handler and dog.  Come with your Berner, your clicker, lots of tiny treats and be ready to work. Leave having strengthened your working partnership. There will be limited working spaces for this workshop.

3-5pm

Session D

TRACKING BASICS 101

 DENISE MCCLURE

Tracking Basics will be a "working" workshop with your Berner.  In this two-hour class you will learn the basics of starting your dog in tracking. The program will include demonstration of laying beginning tracks, an explanation of step-by-step progression from very short, basic tracks up through longer tracks, line handling, line of sight (or how to walk a straight line) and motivational ideas to help both you and your dog love to track.  You will need to bring a crate, collar and six foot leash, and lots of easy to see small, bite-sized treats such as cheese, chicken, hot dogs, etc.  Each working participant will have the opportunity to lay and run their Berner on a beginner set of tracks. There will be limited working spaces for this workshop.

5-7pm

VACCINES & TITERS

RONALD D. SCHULTZ, PHD

 What vaccines are needed for all puppies? When do the core vaccines need to be given? What about all the other vaccines currently available for your Berner? Expand your health vocabulary to include such terms as “immunological memory”, “natural vaccination” and “leptospirosis”. Dr. Schultz will explain how vaccines work, when to titer and why vaccination programs are changing. Every Berner owner, kennel owner and veterinarian should be familiar with the most current thinking about canine vaccines and we are fortunate to learn from the world’s leading researcher.

EUROPEAN STYLE SIEGER EVALUATIONS

DENISE DEAN

Denise, a respected and experienced Berner breeder judge, has offered to evaluate your Berner in the European manner. She will closely observe and evaluate over 30 different conformation characteristics while the dog stands in a relaxed, natural pose and then is gaited down and back. She will then give an oral critique of the dog to you and the observing Berner U students. You will also receive: a written, signed evaluation of conformation and a Sieger certificate if your dog receives an "Excellent" rating. Everyone is welcome to come and observe without prior registration.

Tuesday, May 12

9-11am

LIFE EXPECTANCY & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: MAINTAINING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

ANDREW URS LUESCHER, DVM, PhD, DACVB

Dr. Luescher will present recent thinking about the relationship between stress and longevity in dogs. Recognize the signs, causes and consequences of stress in your Berner and plan to prevent both stress and anxiety at every stage of his life. Consistent, predictable and reliable environments and cognitive stimulation, such as clicker training, can actually improve the inside as well as the outside of a dog. Breeders can contribute to a healthy start with neonates and those fortunate to live with senior Berners can understand how to manage their older dog. Imagine – something we all can do to extend a Berner’s life!

CLICKER TRAINING 101: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW SEMINAR

JUDY LUTHER

Judy comes to share the history of clicker training and why clickers are used to train animals.  She will describe and demonstrate the method of clicker training, learning theory and how the clicker helps you communicate with your dog, strengthening your partnership. You will also hear actual case studies where a clicker was used to resolve behavior problems and solve training challenges.  Judy uses clicker training with animals for production work, the advertising industry, theater and television as well as a relaxed visit to the vet's office. Questions welcome!

EUROPEAN STYLE SIEGER EVALUATIONS

 LIBBY KESNER

Libby, a respected experienced Berner breeder judge, has offered to evaluate your Berner in the European manner. She will closely observe and evaluate over 30 different conformation characteristics while the dog stands in a relaxed, natural pose and then is gaited down and back. She will then give an oral critique of the dog to you and the observing Berner U students. You will also receive: a written, signed evaluation of conformation, a Sieger certificate if your dog receives an "Excellent " rating. Everyone is welcome to come and observe without prior registration.

12-2pm

PLANNING A LITTER WITH BMDPEDfw

 RON SMITH

 BMDPedfw (Bernese Mountain Dog Pedigree for Windows) is the long awaited Windows version of the popular BMDPed for DOS program. A joint product of Valleyvu Kennels Reg'd and Longstreet Software, it includes a very comprehensive, extensive and complete database of Bernese Mountain Dogs and is kept up-to-date almost on a daily basis. The software, in conjunction with the database, is designed to be used by Bernese Mountain Dog breeders as an aide in selecting and evaluating potential breeding stock through the use of pedigrees, certifications, titles, longevity, In-breeding coefficients, and sex-linked gene lists, as well as analysis of siblings, half-siblings, and progeny. The intention is to give the breeder as much information as possible for making good breeding decisions. Come and see this exciting new technology first hand and bring your questions.

CLICKER TRAINING 201: PUTTING CLICKER TRAINING IN MOTION WORKSHOP

 JUDY LUTHER

Come ready to have fun and learn in this is active, hands-on session with your Berner.   You will teach your dog the basic foundation behaviors for clicker training and we will put them into real life scenarios. Bring a few suggestions of some behaviors you would like to teach your dog as well as a large bag of small, especially tasty treats and, of course, your clicker. Additional BMDCA clicker trainers will assist Judy to achieve small group learning.

AKC BMD STANDARD

ANN & MARK MILLIGAN

First things first! This seminar will cover the basic information about Bernese, as approved by the AKC and presented by two distinguished and longtime breeders and judges. The Standard is the absolute first and most important information to master if you want to appreciate the conformation ring and imagine you might ever consider breeding.

3-5pm

ESSENTIAL OILS

CLAIRE COPPOLA

How and why do essential oils work? This class will explain the basic chemistry of essential oils and demonstrate the ways we should and should not offer to our dogs the most frequently self-selected plant essences. Remedies for common physical and psychological problems will be presented.  An opportunity to taste, inhale and/or topically apply a selection of pure essences will give a hands-on knowledge of their therapeutic effects. We will conclude with guidelines for use and safety considerations.

FREESTYLE 101

JIM BARRETT & SUE WILKINSON, DVM

 This workshop is an interactive session where you and your Berner will be introduced to the musical sport of freestyle. It’s a new performance sport, high on creativity and low on stress where you will learn how to move together as a team to the rhythm of music. Freestyle is a great way to keep your dog in shape, strengthen your communication and have fun together. Discover whether your dog prefers easy listening or good ol’ rock & roll!

UNDERSTANDING MOVEMENT

MARJORIE REHO

The language of canine anatomy, the definitions of gait patterns, and the necessity of angulation and balance to good structure - these are the essentials to understanding movement in the Bernese Mountain Dog. We’ll look at shoulder assemblies and examples of center lining, crossing, crabbing, pacing, knitting and purling in our much loved companion dogs. What’s normal? What’s correct? How do you spot faulty movement and why does it matter?  Learn to see what the judges see. Class size limited.

Wednesday, May 13

3-5pm

RESCUE ROUND TABLE

KATHY DEYO & VILMA BRIGGS

As more and more Bernese are bought online or from breeders who refuse to take back unwanted dogs, the rescue chairs of regional clubs find themselves busier than ever before. This seminar is designed for those involved in rescue to share strategies, resources and methods of evaluating temperament and medical health, finding transport, screening prospective homes, raising funds and networking with shelters and other rescue groups – all with the goal of finding forever homes for dogs in need. Anyone curious about rescue is welcome to come, to learn from each other and to contribute creative solutions.

4-6pm

FITNESS MATTERS

LAURIE MCCAULEY, DVM, CCRT

 Exercise can decrease the chance of injury and joint instability as well as enhancing balance and grace.  In this demonstration, you will learn how to use canine fitness exercises to increase longevity and build strength and flexibility from puppyhood through the geriatric years. The value of daily stretching and a selection of injury prevention strategies will have you thinking about “exercising” your dog in a whole new way every day.

5-7pm

FROM PREGNANCY TO NEONATAL CARE

MARTY GREER, DVM

Marty Greer, DVM will discuss care of the pregnant and whelping bitch, specifically management and nutrition from breeding to whelping. She’ll cover what constitutes a normal delivery and briefly discuss medical vs. surgical management of whelping problems. In order to be fully prepared for the worst case, Marty will address common disorders of pregnancy, whelping and the immediate postpartum period. Should you be fortunate enough to have a litter of beautiful Berner babies, she will describe their normal health and development. Proper management and nutritional concerns will be covered. Furthermore, the most common neonatal diseases, their signs, diagnosis, treatment and prevention will be explained ... all essential information for both new and experienced breeders.