My boys

I had two Bernese mountain dogs for a total of 14 and half years. The older one was born in 1993, and lived to be nearly 14 (just 4 days short). He was stubborn (in a soft way) and rascally, with a definite sense of humour. When he was six years old, I took another Bernese. Junior was kind of a Peter Pan, he never really grew up. He remained always 'the puppy', energetic, enthusiastic; he was a "me first" kind of a dog, who considered himself the centre of the world. He was 8 when he had to be put to sleep due to an illness.

The two of them couldn't have been more different in character and in built, but still they were the best of friends. And they were my "boys", my best friends.

I lost them both in 2007, the older one in February, then the younger in September. I still miss them both a lot, but the worst agony is over. I am now ready for a new dog, and so, in a bit over a week, there will be a puppy in the house.