Just three weeks before our Bernese Mountain Dog Pinja would have had her 6th birthday we had to finally give up. We have had to fight against arthritis, spondylosis and - since last September - lymphoma and as one might have suspected the last one became the last battle. The treatments were going fine until she had a endometritis (ie. womb inflammation) that provoked the cancer cells again. A bit too much for one dog, eh?
Fast forward 2-3 weeks and she started having pain on her leg (the one with the re-swollen lymph node). We had to make the painful decision and asked a (familiar) vet to come and give the final needle after the weekend. Luckily the weekend was without any (physical) pain and we (me, wife & dog) had the opportunity to enjoy final last days together doing things Pinja loved.
So it all came to the end on February 3rd and we're still missing her every day. What has helped us both is that we've (fortunately!) recorded lots of videos of her. I used to laugh how we had way too many ("useless") videos of her but now I feel quite the opposite. 350 videos (4 hours) isn't enough after all. I wish we had more...
I initially thought it would be too painful to watch those videos but luckily I was wrong. Every time we watch those videos the good memories pop up and we start smiling. Therefore I decided to buy a 10" tablet and placed it on the wall with videos playing in random order. Once you press the power button, the videos start to play. I was planning to make it motion detecting so that motion would be enough to turn off the screen lock and the videos would start to play but I don't think if that's needed after all. You only need to press the power button once and touch the screen and that's it. Not that hard, eh?
So, on with it... I spent a few nights editing a "best of" video from the 4h footage. Most of the footage was filmed with E-M5. The rest were with smart phones, Lumix GM1 and GX800 and a couple even with the E-M5III. The document turned out to be 45 minutes long and since no one (else) would be interested in watching that I made a shorter version too. After a lot of work I managed to squeeze it just under 15 minutes and I had to leave out lots of great videos. But I feel I managed to portray her happy, joyful and intelligent character well. Also her out-of-this-world, wicked sense of humor comes out well. ? (FYI, I think my favourite part of the video starts at 2:45. So if you only want to watch one scene, I suggest that one. It sums up her personality pretty nicely.)
As this a photography forum after all I decided to edit this topic to include photos as well.
EM511916 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The day we first met. She was only 2 weeks old. It was love at first sight.
EM513390 (2014/04) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The day Pinja come to our home. She already showed her "hate" for the environment (she loved destroying trees/plants etc.)
EM513865 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
This was before we found out about her faulty elbows. Carefree times that didn't last too long.
EM517742 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Unlike almost all of our other Berners, Pinja didn't care much for hugging/cuddling. But she did enjoy sleeping on the sofa using our feet as a pillow.
EM521295-2 (2014/12) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
A winter portait before she turned one.
EM524684 (2015/04) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Because of the faulty elbows, we had to work hard to keep her muscles in good shape. That meant exercising 5-7 days a week (we would have preferred more day offs but she "demanded" her workout every day). We were lucky that she had good appetite and was easy to motivate to do things with treats. She also turned random things into patterns. After the second time we went swimming in the dog swimming hall we bought her a cow's ear. The next time we were leaving the hall she was sooooo disappointed because she didn't get her "traditional" cow's ear so every time after that she got her ear after each swim. She was good at inventing new traditions. And she never forgot about those! One or two times qualified as a tradition and those were to be respected.
We went swimming in the hall once or twice a month and during the summertime we took advantage of the many lakes in our area and went swimming 3-6 times per week.
EM524930 (2015/04) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
My parents have had a kennel for ~30 years and have many Berners there. In this picture Pinja is with Ami who is ~6 months younger and has been here easing our pain for the last 1,5 weeks now. Hate to say it but this happened too soon and we're taking her back to my parents next weekend. We're still not ready to move on yet. But she'll probably come back here during the summer to fill the void (until we get our own puppy at some point).
P1000363 (2015/06) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Here's Pinja swimming with one of her best friends: Paavo the Pyrenean Mastiff.
P1010690 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
And here they are after swimming lessons in the summer.
EM545849 (2016/01) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
One of many winter portraits. January 2016. Before turning two.
EM546679 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
And one from the following summer. May 2016.
EM552928 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Don't you just love her winter portraits? I know I do. The colors of a Berner are perfect for the snowy scenes. December 2016.
EM552987 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
She loooooved jumping into the pool. I don't think (well... I'm sure of it actually) it was good for her elbows but it was hard to prevent her from jumping. January 2017.
026-P1030411 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
We rented a cabin 200-300 km away from our home and spent a weekend there. Just miles before we arrived to the cabin our car broke down. Luckily my wife's friend (who lived in that village) was a life saver and loaned her car for the weekend while ours was in the repairs. It was a close call but they did manage to get it repaired in time and we were able to pick it up on the day we were supposed to head back home. A vacation that could have been a total disaster turned out fine. Also got this (intentionally "overprocessed") photo of Pinja there that I love. 2017/10.
EM5B7447 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
I previously said I love the colors of a Berner in snow scenes. Well... I love 'em in the autumn time too. 2018/10
Pinja in studio (EM574194-2) by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
I decided to learn how to use flashes better for portrait work and Pinja was my favorite model. 2019/01
Pinja - EM502050 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
One of the last (hundreds) photos. Treatment for the lymphoma was approaching the halfway and we knew we might have weeks or months left. We took a lot of photos during the last months. 2019/12
Pinja - EM100005 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Just got my new E-M10II and who else to use as the test subject for the camera but our precious little beauty? 2019/12
Pinja - EM502658 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Another new camera and another set of test photos. This time with the E-M5III. (2020/01)
.
.
Fast forward 2-3 weeks and she started having pain on her leg (the one with the re-swollen lymph node). We had to make the painful decision and asked a (familiar) vet to come and give the final needle after the weekend. Luckily the weekend was without any (physical) pain and we (me, wife & dog) had the opportunity to enjoy final last days together doing things Pinja loved.
So it all came to the end on February 3rd and we're still missing her every day. What has helped us both is that we've (fortunately!) recorded lots of videos of her. I used to laugh how we had way too many ("useless") videos of her but now I feel quite the opposite. 350 videos (4 hours) isn't enough after all. I wish we had more...
I initially thought it would be too painful to watch those videos but luckily I was wrong. Every time we watch those videos the good memories pop up and we start smiling. Therefore I decided to buy a 10" tablet and placed it on the wall with videos playing in random order. Once you press the power button, the videos start to play. I was planning to make it motion detecting so that motion would be enough to turn off the screen lock and the videos would start to play but I don't think if that's needed after all. You only need to press the power button once and touch the screen and that's it. Not that hard, eh?
So, on with it... I spent a few nights editing a "best of" video from the 4h footage. Most of the footage was filmed with E-M5. The rest were with smart phones, Lumix GM1 and GX800 and a couple even with the E-M5III. The document turned out to be 45 minutes long and since no one (else) would be interested in watching that I made a shorter version too. After a lot of work I managed to squeeze it just under 15 minutes and I had to leave out lots of great videos. But I feel I managed to portray her happy, joyful and intelligent character well. Also her out-of-this-world, wicked sense of humor comes out well. ? (FYI, I think my favourite part of the video starts at 2:45. So if you only want to watch one scene, I suggest that one. It sums up her personality pretty nicely.)
As this a photography forum after all I decided to edit this topic to include photos as well.
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The day we first met. She was only 2 weeks old. It was love at first sight.
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The day Pinja come to our home. She already showed her "hate" for the environment (she loved destroying trees/plants etc.)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
This was before we found out about her faulty elbows. Carefree times that didn't last too long.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Unlike almost all of our other Berners, Pinja didn't care much for hugging/cuddling. But she did enjoy sleeping on the sofa using our feet as a pillow.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
A winter portait before she turned one.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Because of the faulty elbows, we had to work hard to keep her muscles in good shape. That meant exercising 5-7 days a week (we would have preferred more day offs but she "demanded" her workout every day). We were lucky that she had good appetite and was easy to motivate to do things with treats. She also turned random things into patterns. After the second time we went swimming in the dog swimming hall we bought her a cow's ear. The next time we were leaving the hall she was sooooo disappointed because she didn't get her "traditional" cow's ear so every time after that she got her ear after each swim. She was good at inventing new traditions. And she never forgot about those! One or two times qualified as a tradition and those were to be respected.
We went swimming in the hall once or twice a month and during the summertime we took advantage of the many lakes in our area and went swimming 3-6 times per week.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
My parents have had a kennel for ~30 years and have many Berners there. In this picture Pinja is with Ami who is ~6 months younger and has been here easing our pain for the last 1,5 weeks now. Hate to say it but this happened too soon and we're taking her back to my parents next weekend. We're still not ready to move on yet. But she'll probably come back here during the summer to fill the void (until we get our own puppy at some point).
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Here's Pinja swimming with one of her best friends: Paavo the Pyrenean Mastiff.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
And here they are after swimming lessons in the summer.
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One of many winter portraits. January 2016. Before turning two.
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And one from the following summer. May 2016.
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Don't you just love her winter portraits? I know I do. The colors of a Berner are perfect for the snowy scenes. December 2016.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
She loooooved jumping into the pool. I don't think (well... I'm sure of it actually) it was good for her elbows but it was hard to prevent her from jumping. January 2017.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
We rented a cabin 200-300 km away from our home and spent a weekend there. Just miles before we arrived to the cabin our car broke down. Luckily my wife's friend (who lived in that village) was a life saver and loaned her car for the weekend while ours was in the repairs. It was a close call but they did manage to get it repaired in time and we were able to pick it up on the day we were supposed to head back home. A vacation that could have been a total disaster turned out fine. Also got this (intentionally "overprocessed") photo of Pinja there that I love. 2017/10.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I previously said I love the colors of a Berner in snow scenes. Well... I love 'em in the autumn time too.
2018/10
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I decided to learn how to use flashes better for portrait work and Pinja was my favorite model. 2019/01
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
One of the last (hundreds) photos. Treatment for the lymphoma was approaching the halfway and we knew we might have weeks or months left. We took a lot of photos during the last months. 2019/12
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Just got my new E-M10II and who else to use as the test subject for the camera but our precious little beauty? 2019/12
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Another new camera and another set of test photos. This time with the E-M5III. (2020/01)
.
.
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