"AlpenSchatz " translates from German to english as "Alpine Treasure"
- That's what Bernese Mountain Dogs are to us!
Zorro & Faith 2009
Bernese Mountain Dogs originated as a specific breed on the alpine farms in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. They are all-purpose farm dogs. I spent happy times in that area while I lived in Europe for many years.
My name is Claire Coppola & my involvement in dogs began in childhood with fun-loving terriers and early morning dog walks with my grandfather through country fields & woods.
While in college, I lived in the Alsace region of France along the Rhine River for a year and traveled often to visit Swiss friends, enjoying hiking in the high Alpine farm pastures. After starting a family Stateside, a beautiful Bernese puppy joined us in 1994. We researched many different breeds before deciding that a Bernese was a good choice for our outdoor-loving, active family with children after having also made the regular acquaintance of a lovely Berner boy, belonging to our friends, who always greeted us with the "Berner lean". Puppy kindergarten class led to basic obedience, then formal competitive obedience, conformation shows, carting, herding, agility, rally obedience, the occasional litter and even a career as a pet-care provider and occasional dog trainer.
The saying in the Bernese world is "Betcha can't have just one!" so, more Berners were welcomed into our home..., every one unique, special, and very much loved.
Please browse these pages for the rest of the story!
My name is Claire Coppola & my involvement in dogs began in childhood with fun-loving terriers and early morning dog walks with my grandfather through country fields & woods.
While in college, I lived in the Alsace region of France along the Rhine River for a year and traveled often to visit Swiss friends, enjoying hiking in the high Alpine farm pastures. After starting a family Stateside, a beautiful Bernese puppy joined us in 1994. We researched many different breeds before deciding that a Bernese was a good choice for our outdoor-loving, active family with children after having also made the regular acquaintance of a lovely Berner boy, belonging to our friends, who always greeted us with the "Berner lean". Puppy kindergarten class led to basic obedience, then formal competitive obedience, conformation shows, carting, herding, agility, rally obedience, the occasional litter and even a career as a pet-care provider and occasional dog trainer.
The saying in the Bernese world is "Betcha can't have just one!" so, more Berners were welcomed into our home..., every one unique, special, and very much loved.
Please browse these pages for the rest of the story!
All information and photos of AlpenSchatz Bernese Mountain Dogs and their families on this website are property of Claire & Megan Coppola, and/or are used with permission of owners, and may not be used on any other website or in any way without our written permission.
