Welcome to Swiss Charm BMD's web site. We hope you enjoy looking through our pages and learning. Please feel free to drop us an email if you are interested or have questions. I have been involved in breeding through my work as a technician and assistant at a veterinary hospital since 1996 and involved with my own Bernese since 2000. We are a family based kennel. These are our house dogs and pets first. Our goal is to produce sound working dogs with solid temperaments and healthy futures. Questions To Ask When Searching For a Puppy, Don't Forget To Be Patient:
1) Is the breeder a member of the parent club (this is how I keep up with the goings on in the breed, to promote the health) www.bmdca.org I also have a code of ethics to follow. If they are not a member, go to the web site to find members, even click on the breed steward link for help.
2) Does the breeder only breed healthy stock that has passed hips/elbows by OFA www.offa.org so they are not breeding dysplastic dogs. Ask for proof, so many "breeders" are making claims that they are. All you need is the registered name of the dog and you can double check at the OFA site.
3) Does the breeder screen for eye problems every year? www.vmdb.org Not all breeders register their CERF certificate every year so it may not be listed, but they will have a carbon copy to show you results.
4) Does the breeder clear the heart with a cardiologist? That can also be listed on the OFA site.
5) Does the breeder test for vWD (a bleeding disorder)
6) Does the breeder show their dogs in hopes of helping to better the breed, talk with other breeders to discuss health problems in lines (that helps not double up on the bad things but does not guarantee), and to find superior stud dogs? If a breeder does not feel showing is important, ask them why they are breeding dogs and how they get info to know what lines go together best. Even if you have bred 20 years, you don't know everything. A breeder who is making money by not showing any of their dogs may have ulterior motives for breeding a dog. You say you "only want a pet". Hopefully you want a healthy pet that looks like a Berner, that is where a good breeder comes in.
7) Does the breeder only have a litter with the intention of keeping something that may have a great impact on the breed?
Only serious people should be breeding but unfortunately there are so many puppy mill types and back yard breeders that can't tell you anything about health. No line is free of problems but a responsible breeder can lessen those problems greatly.
Heather Bartlett-Anschutz Owego, New York, 13827 email: swisscharmBMD@juno.com