Hidden Valley Legend of the Fall CGC, HIC

(Tristan)

09/96-04/01

April 16, 2001

Loving is easy, but losing is hard. No matter how much you try to prepare yourself for the inevitable, it never seems to get any easier. I suppose I'd worry if it did, as it would mean that I stopped caring. Today I said goodbye to a very special soul. Some of you knew him, some of you never got a chance to meet my boy, but he was special in every way.

In July 1997, I brought him home. A 1-½ old male Bernese Mountain Dog named Hidden Valley's Legend of the Fall ( Tristan). Now, I never saw this movie, but if the character my dog was named after was sweet, gentle, and devoted, he was aptly named. Although I had high hopes for us as an obedience team, we never got to compete. He only ever earned a CGC and an HIC, but that doesn’t change my love for him.

He loved playing with his Berner & doggie friends at club functions, chasing sheep, and learning obedience and tricks. He hated when I tried to slip him a raw vegetable when he thought it was meat. When he was well enough, he would come to work with me and get to demonstrate exercises for our students or take obedience classes in preparation for the next trial. As I would get ready for work in the morning, he would bounce around like a pogo stick in the anticipation of getting to "ride in the truck". He ate his food with reckless abandon, and thoroughly reveled in the wonders of what came out of the refrigerator, microwave, or oven.

Being groomed was his favorite pastime. I always joked that the breeder must have pulled him out of the womb and stuck him on a grooming table. Although bathing Tristan took longer than all my other animals combined, he was by far the most willing. The whole bathing and grooming process would take several hours and it was our special time together. This is my fondest memory of him.

When overwhelmed with excitement, this 100 pound gentle giant could bounce 3 feet straight up in the air while barking. The bark would cause his whole body to quiver and anyone within 20 feet temporary hearing loss.

Plagued with health problems- Demodectic mange, allergic reaction to his neutering, pulled cruciate, secondary bacterial infections, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and finally spinal cord degeneration, he never complained and was always willing to love. He enjoyed living and playing with his "sisters", Kharma and Khaos. He excitedly played with "grandma's" dogs Tash, Key, Khoda, Tessa, and until several months ago, Partner. He had a very special bond with his "grandma", "grandpa" and "Auntie Sondra".

A few months ago, he went to live with my parents and sister. He had been having problems controlling his bowels and was unable to travel to work with me everyday. This meant he was at home by himself, and Tristan was becoming more and more depressed. Living with my family meant that there was almost always someone around to pet him, and they were also able to take him for weekly visits to our vet for acupuncture and checkups. We even sent Khaos, his favorite sister, to stay with him for a few weeks to help ease his transition into his new home.

Yesterday afternoon, Kharma, Khaos, and I spent the afternoon at grandma's house for one last family reunion. It had been months since I had seen him because I did not want to upset his adjustment to living in a new home. All of our dogs played in the afternoon sun. Tristan received one final grooming, although it was short because he was having difficulty standing due to his illness and medication. He ate lots of dog cookies, and I got to see him one last time.

This morning Tristan, my 5 year 7 month and four days young Bernese Mountain Dog, tripped the light fandango. After a life of various illnesses, he now is at peace.

In lieu of condolences, I ask you to take a moment to pet, love, or hug your beloved pet.

Katrina