Tutu Tuesdays — How It All Started 🐻

If you follow us on social media, you already know that every Tuesday something special happens in our Bear Territory. The tutus come out, the bows go on, and Norah and Lilah become the most fashionable Bernese Mountain Dogs in all of SW Missouri, USA.

But it didn't start as a Tuesday tradition. And it definitely didn't start because I sat down one day and thought "you know what the internet needs? Bears in tutus." It just...evolved. The way the best things always do. 🐾

🐾 It Started With a Dream

When Norah first came home, I had a vision for her future. My goal was for her to be a therapy dog — visiting people who needed comfort, love and the kind of healing that only a big fluffy Berner can provide. And if she was going to visit people, I thought 'Make it fun. Make it special. Make people smile the moment she walked through the door'. So, I started getting her used to wearing headbands and bows early on. And she was completely and utterly unbothered by any of it. (This is very on brand for Norah.) And somewhere along the way, the bows and headbands morphed into tutus. Because — of course they did. 🤭

(For the record, I am not even a girly girl — I despise dresses and only get dressed up when I have to. I have never even liked the colors pink or red (possibly because my birthday is just before Valentine's Day, which inevitably always meant that I would receive some Valentine themed birthday presents — no offense to anyone that ever thought they were being sweet for giving me such gifts!)) And now, I own 2 pink shirts and a pair of pink flip flops..

🐾 The First Tutu

Norah and Lilah wore their very first tutus for their first birthday in 2023. 🎂 It was light purple with pompom balls tucked inside the skirt layers — fluffy and festive and absolutely perfect. They both wore the tutus and were, as expected, completely nonchalant about the whole thing. Not bothered. Not fazed. Just two bears in tutus going about their birthday celebrations like it was the most normal thing in the world. 🐻🐻 Which honestly? In this Bear Den, it is. 

After that first birthday, tutus became an occasional thing — holidays, birthdays, special occasions, moments that called for a little extra flair. But a weekly tradition? That came later.

🐾 How Tutu Tuesday Was Born

Here's a little behind the scenes truth for you — I was never a fan of Tongue Out Tuesday. You know the one. It's everywhere. And while I have nothing against tongues (our bears have very fine tongues, thank you very much 🤭) I wanted to do something different. Something that felt more like us.

So in July 2024, Tutu Tuesday was officially born. Every Tuesday, the tutus come out and the bows go on (because bows complete the outfit, and they are just SO cute!). Then, we head outside for our weekly fashion moment — a semi choreographed dance between the bears, Momma and treats falling from the sky. 🤭

The response from our community has been great. Bear Pack members have started telling us that they look forward to Tuesdays. That it's their favorite day of the week. That it's the highlight of their week. And honestly? Same. 🥰

🐾 The Art and Science of Tutu Tuesday

But what looks effortless on camera involves more behind the scenes strategy than you might expect. 

First — the tutus themselves. I like them FLUFFY. We're talking 5 layer tutus worn underneath the typical 1-3 layer tutus. Maximum fluff. Always.

At this point, I have purchased nearly every tutu I can find within my budget and storing them has become a genuine logistical challenge. I don't purchase new tutus very often anymore — mostly because I have so many and also because I think I have essentially exhausted the available options I have.

In 2024, I made all of their fall tutus myself — from scratch —  because I couldn't find ones that I loved within my budget. It was an endeavor that I am very proud of and have absolutely vowed to never repeat. Ever. 🤣

The fall themed tutus hold a deep, abiding and respectful place in my heart — they are probably my favorites. I consider one of my finest achievements to be their gold and brown fall tutu that does double duty as their Christmas reindeer tutu — I just swap the colorful fall leaves for white felt dots and voilà. Two holidays. One tutu. 🦌🍂 (Bonus: it does not add to the logistical storage problem.)

Second — lighting. Anyone in the digital world of marketing all things digital knows that lighting is key to an eye catching visual so I am mostly dependent on the weather and sun positioning. Not too bright. Not too cloudy. Not too close to sunset. Not in the middle of the afternoon in the summer. (Black bears can't tolerate heat well and their black coats just become radiating furnaces.) Editing can't fix everything. And I do not have a lot of free time or patience for complicated editing.

Third — the bears have to be in exactly the right mood. Not too soon after eating — food coma bears are unmotivated bears. Not too tired — tired bears just want to lay down and ignore everything going on around them. Not too hungry — overly eager bears will be all up in my personal space and completely ignore directions in favor of awaiting falling treats. 

Fourth — and this is important — the yard must be properly prepared. You know what I mean. Nobody wants to see that in the background. Nobody. 

🐾 Behind the Camera

The bears actually get visibly excited when they see me bringing out the tutus. They know what's coming. They are ready. In their own chaotic, grass-rolling, chase-me-around-while-dressing-me kind of way — they absolutely look forward to it. 🥰

Norah is the cooperative one. She stands still, looks gorgeous, and understands the assignment completely. 🌟

Lilah? I have to chase her around just to get the tutu ON her. Not because she doesn't want to participate — quite the opposite. She gets SO excited when the tutus come out that standing still during the dressing process becomes physically impossible. Once it's on though? She's completely fine. A perfect lady. It's just the getting there that's the adventure. 🤣

And Norah — my beautiful, free spirit Norah — is often so overcome with joy once the treats start falling that she always rolls in the grass at least once. Every single time. It wasn't a planned part of Tutu Tuesday. It just became her thing. And it's too adorable. Occasionally, Lilah joins in because if Norah is doing something, it must be worth doing. And joy IS contagious — right? 🐻🐻

🐾 Favorite Tutu Tuesday Moment

My all time favorite Tutu Tuesday was during a snowstorm in February 2025. 🌨️ Two bears in tutus, too excited about the frigid temperatures, playing, running and sending snow dust and snowflakes flying. Special and magical doesn't even begin to cover it.

🐾 The Bottom Line

Tutu Tuesday started with a dream of a therapy dog who would make people smile walking through the door (more on that derailed dream at another time). Then, it grew into a birthday tradition. And then, it became a weekly social media celebration that people tell us is the highlight of their week. And somehow along the way, it perfectly became everything The Bernie Bears is all about — spreading joy, sharing love and proving that the world is genuinely better with bears wearing tutus in it.

See you next Tuesday. 🐻🥰

Remember to share your hugs — they have the power to save a life! 🐾

Bear hugs from us to you,

Momma🐻, Norah🐻 & Lilah🐻