This article first appeared in Front and Finish, January 2003, in the "Pacific Northwest Natter" column by Sue Cox.

Meet Ch. Max UD & Ruth

It will be a long time before Ruth Nielsen forgets the excitement of October 5, 2002, at Portland Dog Obedience Club's obedience trial. That's the day she achieved her first UD title. I'll let Ruth tell you the story.

"Max is my first Bernese Mountain Dog, and my first competitive obedience dog. I didn't intend to get a competitive obedience dog; I just wanted my dog to be well behaved. I went to the best obedience trainer I could find, and she had never had a Bernese in any of her classes before. Max surprised us both with how well he did in class, and before I knew it I was setting goals along with all the Golden Retrievers and Shelties in our training class. One of those goals included earning a Utility title.

"Max was a joy to show in Novice. He did well, earning a spot at the Gaines/PupPeroni Classic. I was thrilled to be able to compete with some of the best dogs in the country, knowing that not many Berners ever compete at that level. Max was ranked as one of the top Bernese in obedience that year, something I had not even dreamed of. Training for the CDX was another story. Max didn't like to retrieve, and he was particularly talented at spitting the dumbbell as far away as possible. While we struggled with retrieving, I decided to teach Max to pull a cart since there were draft competitions available for Bernese. Max loved carting and quickly became adept at draft work. My goals were put on hold when Max needed surgery to remove a large lump from his leg. I wasn't sure if we would be able to compete again. Max surprised me once more as he fully recovered and went on to earn his CDX in both AKC and Canada with first or second place for each leg. He then earned his draft title in both countries as well, pulling 100 pounds in competition as though the surgery had never taken place.

"I added a new goal. If Max got his breed championship, then he would earn a Versatility Dog Award from the national breed club for having a championship, draft title, and obedience title. Another surprise—my scruffy obedience dog cleaned up nicely for the breed ring. Other Berner owners didn't recognize him because Max had always been 'that obedience dog.' Even though Max was older than most dogs starting out in conformation, he quickly learned that the breed ring was all about food and showing off. Max earned his AKC and Canadian Championships and became the first Bernese Mountain Dog with his Championship, CDX, and Draft Dog titles in both countries. I was VERY proud of my 'Dual Versatility Dog'!

"The one title that still eluded was Utility Dog. My non-retriever now had three opportunities to flunk a retrieve. Articles were our nemesis as Max would often stand over the pile and gaze at the audience before returning slowly with nothing. It was harder to tell who dreaded the exercise more, Max or me. Then I started training with a friend who also had Bernese who gave us new motivation in our retrieves. When Max got his first UD leg I was thrilled—I thought the next two legs were right behind! Sadly, our old patterns returned ad I experienced first hand the meaning of 'futility.' In the meantime, Max and I continued to do the things we both loved—hiking, skiing and backpacking in the mountains. It was hard to decide whether to go to a show or go to the mountains, but the lure of the Utility title would pull me away as I sent in another show entry. Surely THIS time we would pass! When we got our second leg I was so positive the title was ours that I entered every show I could. No more skiing and playing in the mountains until we finished that title, I thought. We showed and showed—and flunked and flunked. It seemed that the more of our friends were there to watch, the worse we did! After a particularly miserable failure at our national specialty with all the best trainers and obedience dogs in the breed in attendance, I knew it was time to re-evaluate my goals.

"I had a happy, healthy Bernese Mountain Dog who was eight years old—an age when most big dogs were past competing, and an age that many Berners never reach. Plus, Max was a joyful, athletic partner who loved life and loved to play with me in the mountains. He was my very best friend and constant companion. What did a few initials mean, anyway? I thought about how much joy this dog brought into my life, and stopped worrying bout passing 'one more time.' He had given me everything—wasn't that enough?

"A funny thing happened. Once I stopped obsessing about the title, Max started having fun in class again. The articles became a game instead of a chore. Max began barking at me with a smile on his face—this was a party! I laughed with him as we played instead of 'working.' I didn't think about passing any more, just having a good time with my best friend.

"I finally decided to enter an obedience-only show that was out of town. 'No pressure,' I told Max, 'just fun. We are going to have a good time because you are my best buddy ever!' I didn't think about anything except smiling at my dog—and he smiled back. He looked at me when he brought back the articles with a glint that said, 'See, I did it for you! Are you happy?' It was the biggest surprise of all to finally earn our UD. When the judge said 'Exercise finished' and told me we had passed after the last jump, Max started barking with glee. He KNEW he had done something special, and he knew that this was something that made me very happy indeed. No one we knew was there—except my non-dog show husband, who appreciated just how important this was for me. He gave me a big hug and Max jumped on both of us to celebrate.

"It was a fabulous moment to finally achieve something I had dreamed about for so long. However, it was all the more special because it wasn't easy, and because I learned along the way to appreciate how wonderful my dog is, titles or not. Thanks, Max for being such a great teacher! I wouldn't have missed the journey for anything. Max is now Am/Can/Int'l CH Schneehund Max von Mazama UD BMDCA DD NDD, CKC CDX DD. Without the titles he is still my best friend, Max."

Ruth, a successful lawyer practicing in Seattle, has another Champion Berner, "Winter" coming along in his training (a Canadian CD at this point) so there will likely be other success stories down the road. And then there's the Canadian UD title for Max, who needs two more qualifying scores before he can add that title to his name. Congratulations to Ruth and Ch. Max, Utility Dog!

ZenMaster Max and the Snow Bridge

We talk of the Rainbow Bridge, but for the ZenMaster, it is a Snow Bridge. When you climb, ski, and explore in the snow and ice of the mountains, a "snow bridge" is a literally a span of snow that allows you to cross a crevasse or a river by walking on that thin finger of snow. The bridge will melt, of course, but hopefully you will find the snow bridge when you need it to cross to the other side. ZenMaster Max, the true "mountain dog", has crossed many a snow bridge in our wilderness wanderings, always eager to reach the other side to explore what lies ahead.

Now—ZenMaster Max has finally crossed that last Snow Bridge without me. I stood on one side of the Bridge and watched him go, his spirit racing across the Bridge to the wide expanse of snow and mountains beyond, leaving behind just the shell had finally collapsed with cancer. He gave me everything—10 years and 8 months of amazing adventures, a list of titles, a constant companionship, a love of life, an entirely new way of viewing the world. In the end, I gave him peace and set his spirit free to be forever in the mountains he loves so much.

I had hoped to have him with me for Christmas, but I was afraid his race with cancer was almost over and this was not to be. I wished more than anything to have one last time with him in our mountain retreat in Mazama, but the long ten -twelve hour drive to our magic place made this dream unlikely as well. But small miracles do happen. The phone rang last Saturday and our friend Matt— who owns a private plane—asked if we wanted to fly to Mazama, just for the day—to ski and play in the snow. For Max, flying in Matt's small plane was just one more adventure to embrace. Suddenly—like the swish of a wand—we were there, in the place that Max loves the most. He came alive again with all the ice and snow, his head was up, his eyes were alive with pleasure, and his illness—just for a day—was forgotten by both of us. He trotted with me down the paths that we have hiked a hundred times. He sniffed the frozen trees, he breathed the cool air and wagged his tail with all the joy he had as an eight week old puppy when we went to Mazama together for the first time. That short time together was a special gift, a wish granted, a moment in time to share our best loved place side by side, one last time. We flew home in the sunset, and Max sat in the back of the plane, looking out the window with a smile on his face as his mountains faded below him.

ZenMaster Max is in those mountains now, forever. I know when I go back I will see his pawprints in the snow, always in front, always leading, always looking for the next adventure. Live on, Max, in the peaks, the glaciers, the high alpine meadows...and in my heart.

In Loving Memory of ZenMaster Max
May 1, 1994 ~ December 18, 2004
Am/Can/Int'l CH Schneehund Max von Mazama
UD DD BDD / Can CDX DD / Dual Versatility Dog
my best loved partner ~ Ruth Nielsen, Seattle, WA

Ruth with Winter and Max

~ two "blue" photos courtesy of Pat Long ~

updated December 23, 2004