The family dog

April

April was given to us: she was born in May 2025 in a private home, to a Malinois mum and a Bernese Mountain Dog dad, and her litter was looking for families. That pedigree-free cross is exactly what we love about her. From her mother she takes the liveliness and intelligence of the Belgian Shepherd; from her father, the calm and steadiness of the Bernese. Her coat tells the same mixed story: the charcoaled fawn of the Malinois, lifted by the white chest and tricolour markings of the Bernese. The result is a dog who keeps up effortlessly on walks and settles down happily at home — neither a live wire nor a couch potato.

Female dogMalinois × Bernese crossRaised with cats

BornMay 2025
SireBernese Mountain Dog
DamBelgian Shepherd (Malinois)
CharacterLively outside, calm inside 🐾

Her origins

We do not have photos of her parents. The two pictures below are breed illustration photos from the French Centrale Canine — clicking them opens the corresponding pages.

Malinois, short-haired Belgian Shepherd — breed illustration photo

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Dam’s side — a Malinois

The Malinois is one of the four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd: a working dog renowned for its energy, its intelligence and its need for activity. It is from her mother that April takes her athletic build, her dark mask and her enthusiasm on walks.

Illustration photo — Centrale Canine ↗

Bernese Mountain Dog — breed illustration photo

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Sire’s side — a Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large Swiss mountain dog, placid, patient and deeply attached to its family. It is from her father that April takes her calm at home and her gentleness with the cats.

Illustration photo — Centrale Canine ↗

❄ A dog in a cattery ❄

April is obviously not part of the breeding programme — for good reason. Her role lies elsewhere: she grew up surrounded by cats, and our Ragdolls share her daily life. Behaving well with cats and with people is something that is learnt and maintained: her education is everyday work, and it is what gives us such a well-balanced dog.

She also happens to be Brontë’s favourite nap partner — the photos below show it better than any long speech.