*BERTHA

2/3/26 from Bertha's day hike foster: Bertha... she and I have formed a nice bond. The take-away with her is that trust is earned and it takes time and effort. Bertha is a sweet, chill, loving dog who would make a fantastic companion. We stopped off at the cafe and got coffee for me and a bowl of water for her. Then took a leisurely stroll to the Whitnall Highway North park and sat in the shade. She lounged in the cool grass and took a brief nap. This is the type of peaceful day her adopter could enjoy. Each day she's in the shelter is a day someone is missing out, big time. Bertha would do best as the only animal in the household, no other animals is a must!Bertha LOVES to play fetch! This girl could undoubtedly go for hours and she is an exceptional playmate. She will fetch her toy, drop it at your feet and never try to grab it back while you’re picking it up. She knows sit and lie down and seems to be very obedient and loving. She's super friendly, and we think she would be a wonderful companion for an active person who loves to play with their dog. We also think she would be great on hikes!From Bertha's Day Hike Volunteer:OK... Bertha. Noticeable improvement. We started on the side streets and worked our way back to the Chandler bike path. Bertha watches every dog, and if they bark, she'll bark. She will also occasionally bark if she doesn't like the look of a dog, but she mostly seems to be matching energy. I posted pics and a short video to IG and tagged the VBAS (link below). She is best described as Bertha: very important executive pup. She is highly focused, dedicated, passionate, and motivated. She is always on alert, ready to micromanage the most mundane task. But... after we walked off some of her energy (2%, tops), she was happy to sit under a shady tree in the cool dirt and just be in the moment. And she is a champ in the car. So great getting in and out, and an excellent traveller. Bertha, Bertha, Bertha. I have learned a lot from her. She's big, she's strong, and she's reactive to a lot of things. Therefore, I respect her needs and walk her on quiet side streets, keep other dogs 10 to 15 away, and avoid cyclists altogether. This strategy makes for a lovely, loose leash walking experience. She's happy, I'm happy, and the lovely folks we meet (sans dogs/bikes/scary things) are happy. We take our walks slowly, allowing her to sniff at her leisure. Most importantly, I have learned that you have to earn Bertha's love. Peyton mentioned that when she shows Bertha in the yard, she isn't interested in the humans (just throw the darn ball, already!). She's been at the shelter for 15 months, and humans are essentially part-time, temporary, and transactional. However, earn her trust, earn her love, and she'll open up and return that love. It's a wonderful experience.