Bernice is more than an easy-going farm dog from Shelby County. She serves as a reading dog, too, helping children gain confidence and literacy skills in the classroom.
“Children will read to a dog more easily than they will to an adult,” says Sandy Brix, who along with her husband, John, works with Bernice around the farm. “I kind of sit in the background, and they read to Bernice. If they get stuck, they’ll hold up the book like, ‘OK, what’s that word?'”
“They usually always turn the book so she can see, too, in case she wants to read along and see the pictures,” says John about the school children they visit twice a month.
Known as a “Bernedoodle,” the mix of Bernese mountain dog and poodle, made the list of finalists in the American Farm Bureau Federation‘s “People’s Choice Pup” contest.
Her owners described her as “very easy going” and “good with other dogs and lots of people.”
Now retired, the Brixes started an animal veterinary practice in 1980, transforming an old Shelbyville bait shop. It grew into a 5,400-square-foot practice that employs three vets, a certified veterinary technician, 10 assistants and receptionists.
The two met while studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They’ve raised about eight farm dogs through the years and rank Bernice near the top.
“A lot of it is companionship,” said John. “She’s always willing to go with you and interact with things. She helps some on the cattle, but probably the biggest part of it is loyalty and companionship.”
The Brixes enrolled Bernice in basic dog obedience training as well as Pet Partners, a national organization that implements a pet therapy certification program. The certified dogs can help in schools, with seniors or veterans, and in other situations that improve human health and well-being through human-animal bonding.
The “People’s Choice Pup” contest serves as a component of AFBF’s Farm Dog of the Year competition. Farm Bureau members with outstanding farm dogs can apply to compete.
“We have selected five dogs who have interesting stories but they didn’t quite bubble up to the top of the contest,” says Cyndie Shearing, an AFBF director of communications. “Those are the contenders for this year’s People’s Choice Pup.”
To see all of the “People’s Choice” dogs, including Bernice, along with an opportunity to vote for your favorite, go to this link.
AFBF has also started rolling out short videos on its Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages.
