CARRIE AND MARK GALLACHER, along with their children Annabelle and Emerson, have called Vinings Estates home for about 10 years now. Their most recent addition to the family is their five-month-old Bernedoodle, Birdie. For those of us not well-acquainted with this particular canine pedigree, a Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Standard Poodle. The result of this union makes for a very sweet, gentle pet that’s also hypoallergenic, a plus for her family which suffers from dog dander allergies. In fact, before Birdie, the Gallachers had one of the very first Bernedoodles bred in the U.S., which garnered a lot of attention from admiring neighbors inquiring about the breed. 

Carrie Gallacher could certainly steer you in the right direction if you’d be interested in a top quality Bernedoodle breeder, finding Birdie from Colorado-based Haystack Mountain Bernedoodles. She explains: “They were one of the few breeders that was willing to provide the puppy’s parents PennHip & Embark testing results. Most breeders say they pay for this testing but refuse to publish/share the results. Bernese Mountain dogs are highly susceptible to hip dysplasia so this is really important when getting this type of puppy.” Clearly, reputable dog breeding is serious business, but for Birdie (also nicknamed Birdie Boo), life’s a party. She likes to start the day with playful bites on everyone and everything. After her breakfast and vitamins, maybe it’s nap time - on her back, paws up. After her recharge, it’s zoomie-time around the house, and training on the basics like “sit”, “down” and “paw”. 

Apparently, she’s keen to help out with emptying the dishwasher as well, but so far she just ends up jumping in it (caught in the act in photo on page 18!). Outdoor adventures are always on the docket, with neighborhood walks for the chance to meet new friends. It’s always common to see residents walking their own dogs, so it’s a major social affair. Birdie came a long way, from Colorado to Georgia, but it sounds like she’s settling in just fine. Here’s hoping you get to see her around VE soon!