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P eople ask us all the time, how did you get in St. Bernards? Seems like we have always been owned & loved by this breed, but actually it was our two sons, Quentin Lee and Darren that insisted on a Saint Bernard puppy. Quentin, had been owned and loved by Collies on his family farm growing up and I had been madly in love with an English Shepherd that was my best pal and constant companion growing up. Mitzi, was brought to me by a Pilot friend of my Dad's from Ireland. I had her, from the time I was in the 2nd grade until I was a Senior in High School. My Dad also raised/trained and participated in field trials with his beautiful English Setters. We had a small breeding/hunting kennel that I grew up in. Quentin, and I purchased a German Shepherd (Chief), when we first married but he was old by the time the kids were up old enough to enjoy a dog, when he passed on our little boys were old enough by then, they geared up quickly for a new puppy and a Saint puppy was at the top of their list of breeds they wanted. We had seen the breed and thought like everyone that sees the breed initially, 'THEY SURE ARE BIG", but we had a big farm and decided to purchase the puppy that our sons ask for. We made a trip to Lexington, Kentucky where there was a big litter advertised, where we actually did everything wrong in selecting this new puppy that would be our new pet. We allowed the puppy to pick us out. One big ruff male kept coming over to the boys chewing on their shoe strings and sticking his head thru my pocketbook handle, so he was the one that wanted us so he came home with us. As they say the rest is history. Amber, was our little boys constant companion on the farm when they were growing up, he made every step that they did, thru the fields & streams on our property - he knew well every fishing hole the boys frequented. He was never in a kennel run or tied up, he ran free on our farm and was our kids protector & very best friend. He slept many nights in-between their twin beds, when he was suppose to be outside on watch. We always laughed and said....'Amber, would hold the flash light for a burglar'. He was very gentle and kind & put up with everything two little boys and all their friends could dish out, from being dressed up like a pumpkin to being used as kitty bait to catch feral kittens. He had a good long life here with us, he lived one month short of 14 years, and when he passed - it was the first time I had seen my sons cry as young adults. We buried Amber, on the hill that over looked the farm he loved & settled down to live without the breed we came to adore. As they say....the rest is history!