INTRODUCING

BEGAVILLE KAREENA

The Beginning. (This is my part of the story, the bit Gemma didn't know... The rest will be in her words.)

One day at the end of August 2004, I had a phone call which changed our lives.  Leslie Hudson, a breeder in Cumbria, Northern England, asked me if I'd be willing to give a home to a very special little girl; I had been ready to give a home to another dog ever since Annie crossed the Bridge nearly 2 years ago, so of course I said YES.  PLEASE!

Three days later Roxie & I were waiting at Ingleston show ground in Edinburgh while Leslie and her partner Russell finished showing their dogs at the Scottish Kennel Club show. It was a blustery day, threatening rain and gales, and the time seemed to crawl, but eventually I saw them coming and we hurried to their van eager to meet this special Bernese.  

I have to admit, it was love at first sight!  This wee dog was so confident, even though she was aware that something was up, she just took it all in her stride after the first hesitant meeting.  Leslie told me that Gemma would be 2 years old in October and although she had a temperament most Bernese owners would give their right arms for, she wasn't right for breeding - she was little (we measured her at home, she's just about 23 inches at the shoulder), and had a wonderfully gay and silly tail - I thought she looked more like a 10 month old puppy than a nearly 2 year old.  She and Roxie acted as if they'd known each other forever and I knew then that Gemma was going to fit into our lives just fine...

And here we are, after those long months, a four dog household again.  I can't begin to thank Leslie and Russell enough for entrusting us with their special little girl, she has brought fun and laughter with her and I hope this is just the beginning of a long and happy life for us all.

Click here to read Gemma's diary of her first month as one of the gang