About SageKeep

About SageKeep

is owned and operated by Esther Wilson.

I've been involved with dogs my whole life. In addition to living with my own dogs, I've helped in rescue to rehabilitate abused and abandoned animals. I've been a foster mom, a whelping mom and I've helped with animal placements.

Esther Wilson My heart has always been focused on large breed dogs, although I have a lot of experience with dogs of many sizes and shapes.

About 1997, I fell in love with the Bernese Mountain Dog breed. I chose to invest myself and protect, provide for and better this lovely dog breed.

Some key methods I value and employ are:

Responsible Dog Ownership: I take great care of my dogs and train them to be acceptable in society.
Actively Showing My Breeding Stock to PROVE CONFORMATION to breed type.
Pursuing Health Clearances on all breeding stock AND showing those documents to buyers and fellow breeders I work with.
Researching pedigrees prior to breeding.
Participating in BernerGarde.org.
Membership in various Berner and All-Breed Dog Clubs to whom I am held accountable.
Networking with other ethical breeders (Berners and Other Breeds).
Volunteering to help novice people learn important facets about the world of Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Responsible dog/puppy placements with long-term follow-up (and rescue, when needed).

However, I'm just a 'hobby breeder'. I'm content to produce only one (1) litter per year (sometimes, two (2)).

Breeding is not my way to make an income. Rather, breeding Bernese dogs is an expensive hobby for me.

My dogs are considered a vitally important part of my life. They usually go where I go and sleep where I sleep. I can't imagine my life without them.

Note: If you're impressed with MY resume here, please know that I am only one of a group of Bernese breeders who share the same philosophy. Most of us participate in the BMDCA. IF you know of no ethical Bernese breeders in your area, contact me and I'll do my best to connect you locally with another good Berner breeder.

I am a member of several dog clubs:

	BMDCA: Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (Breed Steward): http://www.bmdca.org.
	INWBMDC: Inland Northwest Bernese Mountain Dog Club (Webmaster): http://www.nwbernese.com/

	Palouse Hills Dog Fanciers (Webmaster and Member): http://www.phdf.net
	American Kennel Club: http://www.akc.org

Also, I volunteer my time and skills for several Bernese efforts - JUST TO NAME A FEW:

	Berner Garde Database (Data Operator and Photo Manager): http://www.bernergarde.org.
	Berner-L Moderator (one of several!! usually, I cover for people who need time off): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Berner-l/
	BMDCA Breed Steward (educator, breeder referral, help w/Bernese related issues): http://www.bmdca.org.
	INWBMDC Webmaster : http://www.inwbmdc.com
	Alpenhorn Index (Data Entry - IF WE EVER GET GOING ON THIS!!!!)
	And more besides....

I like to participate in work toward the betterment of the Bernese Mountain Dog breed. And I feel that any 'good breeder' should feel this way about their breed.

I'm semi-retired and my children are all grown with kids of their own. My love and experience with dogs, combined with available time and means, allows me to focus on investing myself in Bernese Mountain Dogs on a hobby basis.

My breeding goal is to assist in bettering the Bernese Mountain Dog breed by being a conscientious, caring and discriminating breeder, owner and educator. I will never be a large kennel and I am content to produce a very limited number of Berner litters. Simply put, my goal is NOT to provide the public with BMDs but rather to occasionally breed two quality BMDs who I am convinced compliment each other and will improve the BMD gene pool. Pet Berners for others is a nice by-product of breeding for myself.

If you'd like to learn more about my dogs, please choose one of the following: