The Berner Report: May 8 - May 15

I've seriously slacking in the Berner department this week. Trying to extricate myself from the food bank is proving challenging. MAYBE, it's all under control now and after another #$%^@&*!!! Sunday meeting I can be a regular volunteer one day a week. We'll see...

It's getting hot early, here, so any work with the Berner outside needs to be done early in the morning. It maybe 45 or 50 degrees when we get up in the morning but as soon as the sun is up the temperature starts rising. Even though the thermometer only says 70 if feels a lot hotter!

We have worked at getting him in the car, some, but we haven't been successful. That one day, last week when I was driving home and saw him in the road is the best we have done, so far.

He uses his kennel frequently, and I can close the door for up to a minute. I open it before he has a chance to freak and haven't pushed.

I have left him in the house with the door open and left for short periods. He's always gone when I come home.

He's really resisting learning to sit; and again, I don't push him. We try it a couple times a day, spaced far apart. He doesn't deal well with pressure.

I'm hoping with the extra time I will have at home by not having to be available for the food bank I can step up my game plan.

Saturday, May 8


The Berner takes his after breakfast nap in Stumpy's favorite shady spot in the doorway and she is not happy!


I have to make a quick trip to the library today. Hopefully the Berner will not go anywhere and I can leave him in the house, with the door open while I am gone.

I'm getting ready to go and it appears the Berner knows the signs and routine. It looks like he's hiding in the corner, since under the desk doesn't work.

Normally, he would be following me everywhere.

Stumpy blew my plan. She alerted to something outside and went running out the door to challenge whatever it was (nothing I could see). The Berner followed her out headed down the road.

He was back by the time we returned. It gets hot early, these days, and I don't think introducing him to a car when it's is going to help. Yeah, Red (my ol' trooper) has no AC. So, my plan, once again, went awry.

Mr.B watches some television.


Sunday, May 9
I'm a little sad.


Besides the Berner being in my chair


No one is feeling the need to make sure I am sleeping, safe and sound, in the bedroom. Hmph!

He had a pre-breakfast snooze on the deck while Stumpy and I played ball and watched the sunrise


I swear someone is leaking information to his guy. He took off again this morning. I had no place to go and nothing to do, ALL DAY,except to work with him. Grrrrrr!

He arrived back home after 2 and has been dead to the world ever since.


Monday, May 10


Alfy watches while Stumpy runs after the ball. Nothing much phases this guy.


Once again Mr.B foiled my plans! Home all day with plans of working on kenneling and riding and Berner Boy takes off. By the time he returns, he's too hot and tired to even think about stressing him further.

Here's where my serious slacking begins, so I'm just posting pictures and a couple videos.

Normally, when training the recall, it would be done on leash for a looooooong time. Basically, I am conditioning a response. I call you, you come, there is no other option. Alfy has leash issues so I don't call, "Alfy, come!" there is no command. Just that he is listening and eventually returning to me is good enough for now. Yeah, shoot me, I am using food. And Stumpy is a big help in his training.


Although I still have to bribe him to go in the kennel,I can shut the kennel door without him freaking.

He's not particularly happy or comfortable with the situation but manages pretty well. Again, I open the door before he has a chance to panic. He's up to about a minute and a half, with me standing right there and talking to him.

We see a lot of this...





Some of this...




a little of this



and Mr.B trying to squish himself in between the wall and Stumpy's chair.


it's one of his favorite places to nap

Constant thorn removal




He seems to ponder the benefits of staying or going each day



then something in the neighborhood catches his attention



and he's gone

Weirdly, I about never see Alfy out on the road, anymore, when he's left home. Yesterday, I left for a short while and left Alfy in the house with the door open. On my way home I looked in my rear view and there he was following me back to the house.

I stopped the car but he wouldn't approach until I got out of and stepped away from the car. He followed me home from there. I didn't envy him the trot home. It was in the 80's yesterday.

We also see quite a bit of this

That would be Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner breaking my heart everytime I leave. Seriously, the looks I get could make me never leave the house again, because I know it's breaking his heart, too. It the same old double standard. What's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander. he can come and go as he please, I should stay home waiting for him to get back.

Saturday, May 15
Once again, Alfy left early this morning. Darn Dog! I swear he's got my number!


The Berner (now known as Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner)is/was a semi-feral dog trying to survive in the Mohave Desert. If you're a new visitor to our blog, the Berner's story can be read in the posts listed, in chronlogical order, below. Updates are posted on Saturday.
#1 Who's been sitting in my chair?
#2 Runnin' with the big dawgs
#3 There's a Berner in my living room!
#4 He's everywhere!
#5 He's gone
#6 The Berner: coming and going
#7 Berner News
#8 The Weekly Berner Report (March 28 - April 3)
#9 The Weekly Berner Report (April 3 - April 10)
#10 The Weekly Berner Report (April 10 - April 17);
#11 The Weekly Berner Report (April 17 - April 24)
#12 The Weekly Berner Report (April 24 - May 1)
#13 The Berner (aka Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner) Report: May 1 - May 8

She's ready!

7:05am
"It's time to go!"

7;12am
"We're going to be late!"

7:16am
"What's the hold up?"

7:22am
"C'mon! My fans are waiting!"

7:30am
"What if some other dog comes along and gets the attention and treats that are rightfully, mine! MINE! MINE!!!"

7:33am
"I shall open this door with the power of my mind!"

Recall

Since the Berner's been coming 'round, we've been slacking on a few things.

Stumpy's training for one.



She's as fast as ever, but over shot her target (me) For a small dog, she hits pretty hard when she's running at top speed!

Stumpy has another job

It was lonely at the top


But now she has help


As supervisors, sometime they must go out into the field


"C'mon! Get up here! We've gotta make sure the job meets quality control standards!"


The poop scooper better be doing a good job. Now she's got two bosses to answer to.

Canine wisdom

Tasty Treat Tuesday #3

Same old story
Stumpy sulks and glares at the Berner, sure I gave him the better treat


The Berner could care less


Maybe if she eats hers real fast, THEN she can get the Berner's


She stands over the Berner, in case he forgets he's chewing on something and she can grab it and make a run for it (it happens)

Sunday's snooze

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzz


Oops! Sorry Stumpy! I didn't mean to wake you up!


Jim, who shares his art at Draw the Dog has a special creation for shelters and rescues today.
"Open Your Heart..." was created for "dog shelters and rescues. Any such group can have this cartoon “draw itself” on your website, just like it does on ours! We hope this will turn your website into an even more engaging and eye-catching site. Just use this form to request the HTML code that makes this possible. You can also request a JPEG to put this cartoon on any product or promotional item (newsletter, poster, etc.) you like."

Thanks, Jim! You and your art are awesome! Thanks to Bruce, too, who handles all the details and logistics.

The Berner (aka Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner) Report

(May 1 - May 8)

I'd hazard a guess that the Berner is close to his ideal weight, at this point. We haven't progressed with regard to his kenneling or riding in the car.

He'd let me brush him 24/7, if I wanted.

He did display, what I consider to be, possibly unsafe behavior (with regard to children) at one point this week.

Saturday, May 1


I was gone most of the day, today. The Berner had gone for a stroll before I left.
He arrived back home shortly after me.

Later, he fell asleep in a corner, his new favorite corner.


Sunday, May 2


We usually get a break from the wind, at least for a couple hours in the morning. Not this morning, though. The wind started gusting around 5am and the dogs don't feel like dealing with it.
They're in the house and underfoot.

I had a BBQ to go to and had to throw the Berner out. I wish so badly he would learn to love his kennel. It breaks my heart to leave him and he's looking a little heart broken, too.


Mr. B was waiting for me when I got home.

Berner boy's favorite toy is a weird egg shaped thing, that Stumpy never liked. It's made to put treats in, but he doesn't care whether it's loaded or not.
Stumpy is busily removing bones from where the Berner is playing with his toy.



Stumpy oversees Mr. B with a bone that she wants (all of a sudden, in spite of the fact she hasn't looked at that bone for at least a year.)


Monday, May 3


A friend in need called and I had to leave. I tried to convince Mr.B to go for a ride with us. I thought for a minute he was going to! Instead of getting in the car he went under the deck :(

When I got home he was gone.

He didn't come back until late, after 10pm. Stumpy and I worried all day. Stumpy kept look out, looking very irritated with his absence.

(You saw the picture earlier this week, so there's your answer. Truthfully, though, if could have been any one of the answers or "D" all of the above. I know I was irritated that we weren't/couldn't get to the lake.

Stumpy opens a can of whoop-ass on Alfy, giving him whatfor due to his prolonged absence?


Tuesday, May 4
Hey! That's not the Berner!



There he is!


Today I had to lure him out of the house, in order to leave for work. It's not the first time, and now he's on to me. He wasn't budging for cheese! Finally, I had to use Stumpy.
I actually thought about leaving my house open so he could leave if he wanted. But, I really don’t want to deal with any other desert critters, including tweekers, feral cats, rattlesnakes, scorpions, pack rats or feral dogs, that might take advantage of an open door. Until I can kennel him, I really don't have a choice. We're getting there.

On my way home from work I saw the Berner walking up my street, in the opposite direction of the house. I stopped the car and called to him. He approached me warily. When He got close enough for a wiff he got all excited and happy to see me. I tried to convince him to get in the car, but he wasn't falling for it. He was willing to put his front paws in my lap while I sat in the car, but that's as far as he would go. When I started the car he backed out and followed me home.

I can't find my camera :(

Wednesday, May 5
The Berner spent the night, but I still havent found my camera. To make matters worse, I don't have to work today and the Berner left around 7am. Darn that dog! I don't have to go to work and I had big plans to work on kenneling and car rides, with Stumpy's help. Sheeesh!

He returned home around 2. And he's gimpy again. He let me look at his paw and I can't see anything; must be a thorn in there. I have one in my foot, too. a stupid little microscopic-sized thing that REALLY hurts! grrrrr! desert and all things thorny!

He and Stumpy enjoyed their bones. I don't know what the Berner was thinking moving this close to Stumpy.



Thursday, May 6


Yes, I found my camera; the third time I looked in my car.

Something has peaked his interest in the desert behind us.


Berner boy didn't want to move today when it was time for me to go to work.

I'm calling to him in this picture. I have waved cheese and multiple other treats under his nose. I am pretty sure he is on to me.

I poked and prodded


Finally, I was forced to pull on his collar and he screeched in protest(note: not accptable kid safe behavior), but forgave me, with kisses, immediately. I thought I would try his kennel. I convinced him to go in and closed the door behind him. He went into panic mode and out the door when I opened the kennel.

He was in MY chair on the deck, when I got home.

Stumpy's chair is in the sun,until a little later in the day.

Napping on the deck


Friday, May 7

He seems to be ok with his kennel, in spite of yesterday's failed attempt to kennel him.

Mr. Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner arrived back at the house around 2pm.
He gnaws a bone


and then has a nap


Saturday, May 8

It appears stumpy may have reclaimed one of her chairs.

I get to stay home today. Will the Berner stay or will he go?

I tendered my resignation at the food bank/emergency services/thrift store a few weeks back. I am still volunteering, but on a more limited basis. With my plans to return east, for an extended stay, I felt it was necessary for the organization to find someone that could be there to take responsibility in my absence.

I've never made it a secret that I prefer working with animals as opposed to people. With more time at home, I hope to step up the Berner's rehab. I'm also hoping, with a new car in my future that when I return from the east coast to get more involved in rescue and rehab. (Man that's some ugly grammar!)


The Berner is/was a semi-feral dog trying to survive in the Mohave Desert. If you're a new visitor to our blog, the Berner's story can be read in the posts listed, in chronlogical order, below.
#1 Who's been sitting in my chair?
#2 Runnin' with the big dawgs
#3 There's a Berner in my living room!
#4 He's everywhere!
#5 He's gone
#6 The Berner: coming and going
#7 Berner News
#8 The Weekly Berner Report (March 28 - April 3)
#9 The Weekly Berner Report (April 3 - April 10)
#10 The Weekly Berner Report (April 10 - April 17);
#11 The Weekly Berner Report (April 17 - April 24)
#12 The Weekly Berner Report (April 24 - May 1)