By Estelle Johnson
Special correspondent to the Cedar Falls News Hub
Dogs – they are the heart of a family.
We lost our lab/Saint Bernard mix pup last November. Her name was White Sox, after her white paws – not the Chicago baseball team.
Before she passed at the age of 12, my bonus dad, Matt Harken, had been dreaming of finding a dog to call his own. He has had dogs before, but none were technically his.
On a camping trip in Clear Lake a few years ago, my parents had come across a couple who had two Bernese mountain dogs. After staring at the dogs for a few days, the owners invited my parents to come and meet their pups.
It took one pat for them to know that their next pet would be a Bernese.
The couple with the pups told my parents all about the specific breeder where their dogs came from. These dogs are ethically and responsibly bred by a kind Minnesotan family who has owned Bernese dogs for years.
Bernese mountain dogs are brown, black and white – they look very similar to Saint Bernards, but have a slightly smaller stature. Bernese are known for their affectionate, yet aloof characteristics, which made the breed so endearing to my parents.
The Harkens live an active, yet relaxed life. In the summer, Mom is typically outside all day – in her garden, in the flowerbeds or working on our pool. Matt works remotely during the day, then does tasks around the house when his work day is over.
They wanted a dog that would relax with them, and be willing to go on adventures. My parents will often go on hikes in the fall, and they wanted a dog that would be excited to join. The Bernese is the perfect mix of laid back, yet eccentric creature, totally amenable to whatever their human is doing.
As soon as the Bear Creek Berners had a litter available, the Harkens reached out. They submitted an application, which was accepted. On April 3, ten Bernese babies were born. Three of them were boys. My bonus dad had the first pick, and he was overjoyed for his new friend. He named him Woodford Reserve Harken, after his favorite bourbon whiskey, made in Kentucky. Acquaintances can call Woodford by his full name, and his friends can call him Woody.
Woodford Reserve Harken came home to us on Friday, May 30. He is eight weeks old and full of audacity.
I have seen plenty of puppies in my life – I can safely say that Woodford is the cutest I have encountered. He is a ball of fluff, just like a teddy bear. He has the infamous razor sharp puppy teeth that pair nicely with his funky puppy breath.
Woody is roughly 20 pounds now. He has massive paws that sometimes drag when he walks, which signals just how large he may be. Bernese mountain dogs can range in weight and height, many weighing over 100 pounds. Annie, Woody’s Mom, is 105 pounds. Moses, his dad, is 140 pounds.
Woody is truly a lover. He will climb into your lap and give you puppy kisses. He snuggles right up to whoever is holding him, which makes him even more lovable. He has such a perfect face, and his markings are artistically stunning. He has a little wave to the fur on his ears, and his Bernese double coat is thick and soft.
Woody has a little sway to his step, and has a sassy spin-around move that he likes to show off. His personality is comical – Woody is full of attitude and is not afraid to let us know how he feels. He has really enjoyed nipping off the leaves of Mom’s hosta plants in the front yard.
On Saturday, Woody joined the family at a graduation party in Minnesota. He was very popular and took a nap before going to meet more friends. He met Tank, Avery and Barbara – all small breed dogs. Woody was a very good boy and acted responsibly in a visitor’s space.
The only creature unsure of Woody is my cat, Astro. Woody wants to play, and Astro is used to his silent house cat life. It has only been a few days since Woody’s arrival, but the hisses and growls from Astro have quieted down. I think one day, they could end up being friends.
We are truly enjoying having Woodford as a part of our family. Puppies are a lot of work, and they can be exhausting, but it’s all worth it when that perfect Bernese face looks up at you. He is so fun to have around and has really adapted well to all of us. This is an exciting time for our family and we are taking every minute in. Watching him grow up will be undoubtedly a highlight of my life.