Starbourne Bernese Mtn Dogs ~Performance Activities and working with our dogs is a major source of pleasure and pride. Our Bernese have excelled in obedience, tracking, and herding. Several have done therapy dog work and carting. Four have enjoyed the sport of agility. Three are Champions, who have hip, elbow, and eye clearances. We feel that the working instincts and abilities of a dog are important to their mental and physical well being. Soundness, health, longevity, and beauty are our goal.

Starbourne is home of Ch Swiss Star’s Nitro Whatagas, UD, TDX, DD, HCT, U-CDX, and BMDCA Versatility Dog , TDI certificate, CGC, VCCX. ~DOB:  6/16/90.  (OFA hip/elbow, CERF @ 9 yrs)   "Nitro" was HIT winner at the 1992 National Specialty in Colorado. He was also Hi-Combined Obedience winner at the 1995 National in Atlanta, Georgia and the 1997 National in Estes Park, Colorado. Nitro has 4 UDX legs.  At close to 9 years of age, Nitro competed in Utility B and Open B at the Specialty in Tucson, AZ.  He qualified in Open B, but missed a hand signal in Utility.  He hadn't forgotten his love for Utility and he really enjoyed himself.  April is thankful for the good fortune she has had with this dog on all counts.  Sunrise, Sunset.....  life has been marvelous with Nitro.  He is now 12 years, 2 months.

Ch Swiss Star’s As You Like It, UD, TDX, NA, JHD, TDI certificate, CGC. ~DOB: 9/4/93.  (GDC hip/elbow,eye, & CERF).    "Lika" tied for HIT at the 1997 National Specialty in Estes Park, Colorado.   She has earned the AHBA JHD (Junior Herding Dog) title.  Aspirations are to finish her UD by December 2001!

In BOB at the Specialty in 1997, Lika made two cuts, owner handled,and having been retired from the conformation ring for over a year and a half.  IN BOB at the Specialty in 1999, Lika made one cut, owner handled after not being shown in conformation since the '97 Specialty.  Lika has beautiful movement thanks to excellent structure and soundness.  

On March 28, 1999 Lika and her teammate, April, earned the very special TDX title.  Lika did an A+ job capping the tracking training she has enjoyed since puppyhood.  She never left the track.   Her nose just zipped around those turns and over those obstacles and crosstracks for over 1/2 mile. 

To keep Lika in good shape, Utility play-training began in January 2001.  She finished her UD title in January 2002 with a wonderful performance.  It is such a great feeling when training culminates in an achievement.  Lika had trouble with hand signals in that she was not about to "drop" in the ring with a judge standing behind her and the ring surrounded by all kinds of distractions.  To see her gain confidence and skill in her utility work was a joy. We became a true team, and working together we were able to earn her AKC Utility Dog title.

Am/Can Ch Swiss Stars Spangled Banner, CD, TD, CGC ~DOB 2/18/91. "Banner" was BOW at the 1993 National Specialty in Kansas City. (GDC hip/elbow/shoulder,eye). Banner took 3rd place in Veterans Sweeps, 6-8 year old class (16 entered in the class) at the 1997 Specialty in Estes Park.  He and Nitro were 1st place in Brace obedience at that show.  At the 2001 Specialty in Spokane, Banner placed second in a large class of Veteran Sweeps, 9-11 yr. and second in the regular Veterans class 9-11 yr.  At 10 1/3 yrs., he looked and moved like a much younger dog.  He is doing well mentally and physically at 11 1/2 years of age.

This is Swiss Star's As Good As It Gets, CD, TD, JHD, CGC~DOB: 11/9/97, call name "Getty." (GDC eye, hips excellent, elbows 1/1). Both her sire and dam are Swiss imports.   She is an excellent tracker and earned her TD on March 6, 1999.   This season she will be working on TDX. She earned the Junior Herding Dog title in November, 2000 impressing judges with her drive and ability. She weighs 86# and stands 24" tall. 

Getty attended her first Specialty show in Tucson Arizona in March 1999.  She was second place in her Sweeps class and helped her sire, Karo VD Hausmatt, win fourth place in the Stud Dog class.  At the 2001 Specialty in Spokane, she placed second in American Bred.  She is pointed.

Living up to her name is Haibek's Some Like It Hot, TD ~DOB: 9/19/98, call name "Dynamite." (GDC eye, hips good, elbows 1/1, shoulder clear, hocks clear.)  Dyna is a daughter of Nitro and Ch Haibek's Bek N Call, NDD. She is very active, full of mischief, and extremely social, especially with people. She has been introduced to agility, and owns the teeter totter.  She has done well in tracking and earned two TD's in 2000.  She is working towards a TDX.  Dyna is 3 years old and is 24.5" and weighs 95#.  Dyna qualified for the first leg of the HCT (Herding Capability Tested) title.

Our first Bernese Mountain Dog, Bernfield’s Astrea V Car Mar, UDT, ~DOB: 12/22/77. "Heidi" was a companion for our family that lead to our involvement in the breed today. She introduced us to conformation, obedience, tracking, carting, and many gatherings of Bernese fanciers.

Heidi was the third Berner in the U.S. to earn a Utility Dog title. She also had to jump 1½ her height, as was required in obedience by AKC prior to June 1985. Heidi also won HIT at three Bernese National Specialties, 1980, 1983, and 1986. This enabled her, at over 8 years of age, to retire the BMDCA challenge obedience trophy from the Utility class at the San Francisco Specialty. Ten years later, at the San Mateo Specialty in 1996, this very special obedience award was donated by us back to the BMDCA to once again be awarded to HIT National Specialty winners in Heidi’s memory.

Heidi earned a Tracking Dog title (TD