"PORTER" a.k.a. "Porter Man"
AM/CAN/INT CH Ebnet's Pint of Porter CD NA DD BDD CGC - Can CD DD BDD June 3rd 2007 - Oregon City OR/ BNDD X 5 Sept 15th 2007 - Graham WA/ BDD X 3 Oct 13th 2007 - Nampa Idaho/ BDD X 4 Oct 19th 2007 - Pleasanton CA / BDD X 5 BMDCA Versatility and Working Dog / BMDCC Versatility Dog
(Coming soon .... click HERE to see all of Porter's Titles)
DOB: 10-27-1999 AKC #: WP96946804 Berner-Garde #: 35604 OFA Info
Sire: Swiss Star Raider of the Last Bark Dam: Ebnet's Halogen
Porter, our second berner, reminded us about what we already learned about second children ... they are NEVER the same personality as the first! This is true of dogs too!! Porter was a challenge from the beginning, even before he came to us at 8 weeks. When he arrived he was very sweet, but all he needed was a few days to adjust and than he attempted his take over. He tried to boss Tank around and Tom & I too. Not knowing where to turn I entered him in the same dog training class I had used for Tank.
At this time, we did not know about the differences between corrective training methods and positive training. We soon found out that corrective training wasn’t going to work for him. Porter was asked to leave class since he was too disruptive but the instructors promised that we could bring him back when he was older. When we did so, we were once again asked to not attend as Porter was still too disruptive and unruly. It sunk-in that this training method was not going to work for Porter. I started looking for other training methods.
I learned about clicker training and positive reinforcement. This technique, as well as using “time outs” with him allowed us to cope with his behavior and allowed him to develop into a confident dog. He was still a handful, but most of the time we had the tools to deal with him. Porter learned new tricks like "sit" and "shake" and also was given lots of jobs. This was a huge improvement over the out-of-control, constant barker. He didn't, however, really like to "stay", "wait", "quiet" or anything else.
All these titles make him a BMDCA Versatility Dog, a CKC Versatility Dog and a BMDCA Working dog. In 2004 he was awarded the Top Novice Agility dog in the BMDCA and got three pages in the National Club’s Yearbook and three plaques. We’re anxiously awaiting our award from Canada. Porter is a "girl’s dog" and was thrilled when we brought Calli home to live with us. He would play for hours with her and she was a great outlet for some of his extra energy. Porter is very bonded to me and worships the ground I walk on. He sleeps with clothing of mine he takes from wherever he can find it and he’s happiest when he gets to go places alone with me. Still competing in agility and draft at seven and a half, he has slowed downed a bit but still has to have timeouts and occasional boot camp refresher courses. 
By now Porter was six months old and it felt like we’d had him for years. I was concerned about the time it took away from Tank and decided it was time for boot camp! (Boot camp is where a plan is drawn up and followed exactly and calmly.) Porter was given positive reinforcement for being quiet and keeping his feet on the ground. We taught him to take a toy and played tuggy with him as a greeting, which stopped the barking and jumping on me. We ignored anything that wasn’t dangerous and used time outs if he was out of control. 
At the same time, I introduced him to carting. He loved it! He started out with a medium sized Red Flyer wagon and PVC shafts. It was noisy and rattled behind him and the best part was that it really could fly! Porter would go so fast that the cart would lift off the ground. He would take it anywhere, no fear of the cart, things touching him or shafts poking into his shoulders on the turns. Still too young to pull weight Porter found that the cart could go up stairs, into the woods and occupied him enough that he didn’t feel the need to bark. Porter is a legend in his own time with the cart, having taken it over beds in a hotel room, up flights of stairs, up a tree during a test and other escapades.
During Porter’s first year I did manage to teach him to stay and stand and started him in the Conformation ring. He finished his AKC Championship and went on to compete in Canada too. Once he had his Canadian Championship, I neutered him and he went on to compete in Obedience, Draft and Agility. Porter also has all the available Draft titles in the states and all but one in Canada, obedience titles in both AKC and Canadian Kennel Club venues and agility titles in AKC. 
