Hello

For the past 35 years, I have dedicated myself to studying and breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs. I reside in the Northern Neck, a historic and rural area of Virginia, for most of the year. Our waterfront property provides acres of space where our dogs can grow, play and train alongside us.

​

I grew up surrounded by dogs and various other animals. As an adult, my first dog was a German Shepherd, who accompanied me through graduate school where I earned my doctorate in Immunogenetics. She was one of the smartest and most beloved companions in my life. Just before she passed away, we welcomed our first Berner, Juno. In the short time that they were together, our German Shepherd taught Juno the manners and rules of the household, and it was amazing to witness. Losing her was hard, but I realized that Juno had become the perfect puppy, thanks to our German Shepherd. Soon, Berners healed my broken heart, and today, I cannot imagine a day without them. Words cannot describe what it is like to be owned by a Bernese Mountain Dog.

​

I owe my passion for breeding Berners to my precocious son, who, at the age of two, came to me with a picture book describing every type of dog breed imaginable. He convinced me that because I had a German Shepherd, he should be allowed to have a dog of his own. We researched Bernese Mountain Dogs and fell in love with them. We visited breeders and waited two years before getting our first one.

​

Queenstown Fine Bernese began with our first girl, Juno, almost 35 years ago. She came from a long-established Swiss line where dogs lived to be twelve years or older. Throughout the years, I have carefully introduced other dogs that complement and augment the genetics and phenotypes of our line, focusing on longevity, temperament, type, and intelligence.

​

Breeding Berners is not my profession but my passion. I hope to give back a small amount of what my Berners have given me. They have taught me so much about life and unconditional love. Our Berners will always be a part of our family, and when we find forever homes for them, we consider their new family to be an extension of our own.