Buttercup is exactly where she should be — that is so evident in this post from Georgia:
“We lost a member of our pack this week: VLX American Beauty Ain't She Sweet Topaz NW1 NW2 CGC RN TKN TKI TKA THDN THDA THDX ATT SCN SIN SEN SBN SHDN SWN SINE SENE SCA SIA SEA SBA SWA SCE SIE SEE SBE SWE. She died probably of Hemangiosarcoma (it affects a lot of Berners, as well). She was almost nine. She was the consummate puppy-lover, swimmer, guardian, 'Read to Rover' therapy dog and scent worker. She will be missed by both the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds.
Topaz
A couple of weeks ago we went to Kingston, WA to take some pictures in "the big adirondack chairs". We garnered a lot of amusement and appreciation (along with a smattering of applause) from the people watching us when we got the dogs to pose in the chairs in what is now the last group picture with Topaz.
Buttercup is growing like a weed. People who haven't seen her for a couple of weeks (or days :-) are amazed by the change. She weighs in at 43.8 pounds. Her coat is almost all the adult fur and she has a perfect 'Fleur de Lis' on her butt as you can see in the side-by-side comparison.
I'm amazed at how good Buttercup is in the car. She loves going for rides and even stays in the back of the van when I run into places where she can't come in. Her favorite though is riding in the sports car with the top down. It's a scent-o-rama!
We've been working on our Intermediate Tricks title and are almost ready for the AKC Evaluator. Here are her Intermediate tricks so far: Buttercup can fetch (amazing for a Berner!), manipulate an interactive canine toy, Hand Signals (sit, down, come, stand), push a button on a sound toy, sit with a head tilt (the cue is asking her a question, ha!), speak, and shut the drawer. Only three more to go. Here's a video of Anja and Buttercup playing with the bell after we taught them the trick. We got the bells on Amazon...it was $8.99 for a two pack. It was nine bucks worth of fun just watching them play with it!
Buttercup has a lot of drive (or what I call 'work ethic'). Most dog owners don't like drivey dogs, but they're a dog trainer's dream!! They require more attention, more challenges in their training (they get bored with repetition) and more supervision. I'm always needing to give her a job. If I don't give her a job, she'll find her own job. And I guarantee that I won't like the job that Buttercup finds for herself as much as the job that I give her! (e.g. Buttercup likes to stalk and eat bugs and even getting stung in the mouth by a hornet hasn't put her off the hunt.) She's always up for training! (notice the double snaggletooth and drool coming out at the corners of her mouth).
It wasn't a stellar week for me but just when things were darkest, I found a baby tooth from Buttercup. I think it's an upper P4 (premolar). My collection of a baby tooth from every dog stands complete!”
This wonderful update is a snapshot of life — sorrows and joys and lots of adventuring. Condolences to Buttercup’s entire family on the loss of Topaz — there is never enough time — and gratitude for taking the time to update us all on The Life and Times of Buttercup.
Georgia makes this important point in her post: An experienced breeder is the one who should make puppy matches. Georgia and Patty have Buttercup instead of other wonderful families who were options for her precisely because of that drive and work ethic.
Families deserve to be well-fitted with the right puppy but even more — a puppy deserves to be well-fitted to a family. Buttercup needed the life she has, which is enriched and interesting and with a smart and positive trainer who appreciates Buttercup’s drive and intelligence. #winwin
Please have yourself a winning day.