Sage

My name is Sage. I’m a 5-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, and until recently, my world was very small. I lived my life in kennels with two different breeders. I had puppies… but my last litter didn’t survive, and after that, I no longer had a purpose there. My future was uncertain… maybe auction, maybe another kennel. But instead, AGA said yes to me.

Now I’m in a quiet foster home and everything here is new. Floors feel strange under my paws. Decks are confusing. Leashes are unfamiliar. I’m learning what it means to sleep in a bed instead of a kennel. No one ever taught me how to live inside a home. I’m not housebroken yet. I had never walked on a leash. I didn’t even know how to eat from a bowl.

But here’s what I do know, I am very sweet. You can touch me, pet me, and love on me. I don’t mind the other dogs, and the cat doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just… scared. The world feels big right now. Each day, I make a little progress. A step forward. A softer look. A longer pause before I retreat. My foster family says they can’t wait for the day my tail starts to wag freely, and I think that day will come.

I weigh about 89 pounds, and my heart is just as big. I will need a patient, experienced home, and one that can give me time, kindness, and gentle guidance as I learn how to simply be a dog. I will also need a secure fenced yard, another dog in the home to help show me the ropes, and someone who is home more often than not.

I’ve never known affection the way family dogs do. But I’m ready to learn. Quietly hopeful, Sage