Origin: Switzerland
Height: 23-27.5 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 65-120 pounds
Exercise Needs: Low
Grooming Needs: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 7-10
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Medium
Difficulty
Common Misspellings:
Burmese Mountain Dog
Alternate Names:
Known for his calm, steady personality,
impressive size, and tri-colored coat, the
Bernese Mountain Dog is one of four different
types of Swiss Mountain Dogs. This beautiful
individual stands apart, however, in that he
possesses a longer, silky coat than that of his
other Swiss counterparts. Despite his long,
silky coat however, the Bernese Mountain Dog is
surprisingly easy to take care of and makes a
wonderful family dog for the right home.
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Many believe that it was the ancient Romans
who were first responsible for the creation of
the Swiss Mountain Dogs. Marching along with the
ancient Roman armies was a large breed of Asian
dog, known as the “Molosser.” This was an
impressive war beast, as well as a watch dog who
was capable of not only guarding the supplies
from enemy troops, but also staving off attacks
from the enemies, when they occurred. It is
believed that this massive fighting dog then
crossed with native Swiss dogs during the
various invasions.
The offspring of this unusual cross were large
and powerful animals, who were quickly put to
work in the Alpine dairies and farms. There,
they were employed as guard dogs, herders, and
often performed draft duties as well. The Swiss
Mountain Dogs came to be known by various names:
the Appenzeller Sennenhund, the Entlebucher
Sennenhund, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and
the Berner Sennenhund, as the Bernese is known
in his native land (though he is also known as
the Bouvier Bernois, the Bovaro Bernese, or the
Dürrbächler). Since the Roman armies invaded as
early as the first and second centuries A.D.,
these breeds have been well-established within
Switzerland for ages.
A powerful dog, the Bernese was a very popular
farm animal - capable of working as a drought
animal, as well as guarding the herds, his keen
intelligence and friendly disposition made him a
family favorite despite his large and somewhat
bulky frame. Even more endearing was the Bernese
Mountain Dog’s desire for human companionship -
nothing was better in the heart of the Bernese
than the chance to sit at his owner’s feet and
receive the occasional affectionate pat.
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The Bernese Mountain Dog, frequently referred
to as the “Berner,” is a large and powerful dog
that stands an average of 23 to 27.5 inches high
at the withers (58-70 cm). While there is no
specific weight limit for the breed, most
average somewhere between 65 and 120 pounds,
depending on the dog’s gender and bone mass. He
is one of four different Swiss Mountain Dogs who
are recognized for their beautiful tri-color
patterned coat, though the Bernese Mountain Dog
is the only one of the four that possesses a
long, silky coat.
The properly colored Berner should have a black
body, neck, legs, head and ears, with white
markings on his toes, chest, muzzle, blaze and
tail tip. Rust coloring is found on the Bernese
Mountain Dogs’ cheeks, on his stockings, and on
thumbprints over each eye. This pattern is well
established and varies little, save for the
amount of white found on some individuals. The
ideally-marked Bernese Mountain Dog has a flare
of white across his chest that will make him
appear as if he were wearing a white “Swiss
cross” across the front of his chest when seen
head on, while the dog is sitting.
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The Bernese Mountain Dog is a wonderful
family dog and, while he may be bred for an
outdoor life, they generally do very well in the
house as well. Provided they receive an adequate
amount of exercise (particularly as young dogs),
they are far less likely to adopt various vices
in the house like other breeds. In fact, so long
as the Berner can lay across your feet, chances
are that he’s very content.
This breed’s wonderful temperament is one of the
major selling points of the Bernese Mountain
Dogs. Usually friendly towards people and other
animals, alike, they are known to get along well
with cats, horses, sheep and even other dogs.
They are known to be very loyal, faithful and
affectionate and the Bernese Mountain Dog is a
highly intelligent breed that learns very
quickly. If treated with kindness and respect,
most Bernese Mountain Dogs learn very quickly
and make very willing pupils.
Contrary to what many might believe, just
because the Bernese Mountain Dog is large
doesn’t necessarily mean that he needs an
enormous amount of exercise. In fact, quite the
opposite is true - while he’s more than happy to
hike alongside his people or to run and race
around his yard, the Berner is generally a
well-behaved and laid back individual. Younger
individuals usually require more exercise than
older dogs but it’s still reasonable and, in
many cases, these big beauties do well either on
the end of a frequently-used leash or with a
couple of trips down to the local dog park each
week.
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Despite his long silky coat, the Bernese
Mountain Dog actually requires a surprisingly
low amount of effort to groom. Usually very
happy with one or two brushings per week, his
coat generally stays fairly tangle-free and
maintains a ruffled elegance with only the
occasional bath. Be forewarned, however, that
this breed does shed year-round, and it’s not
uncommon for it to come out in tufts.
Attention should also be paid to the Berner’s
ears. Seeing as how he is a fold-eared dog, it’s
very common for them to get dirt and a build up
of wax within the ear. This can be cleaned out,
using a Q-tip to clean just the outer shell of
your dog’s ear (never insert the Q-tip down into
the ear canal as this can be very painful to
your dog and can damage his hearing). If
excessive dirt is evident, discuss an ear wash
with your veterinarian.
Despite his large size and intimidating
appearance, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a very
intelligent animal and, if treated with kindness
and respect, is a very quick and capable
learner. Obedience training is a must for young
dogs and the earlier this can be started, the
better - the Bernese Mountain Dog grows at a
very quick rate but tends to be rather slow to
mature. If not properly trained, you could
easily end up with a 90 pound rebellious puppy
on the end of your leash.
Berners do not react well to physical
punishment, yelling, or harsh words. The best
method to use, when training these lovely dogs,
is through reward and positive reinforcement.
You can never give out too many pettings and
praises, so don’t be afraid. You can only
encourage this magnificent breed to work harder.
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Like any breed of dog, the Bernese Mountain
Dog is subject to a variety of health concerns.
Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, check around with
several breeders and ask about the various
health issues that can affect these beautiful
little dogs. A reputable breeder should be
well-versed in the health concerns and should be
able to give you more details, as well as
showing you the sire and dam of your potential
puppy. Some of the health problems that can
affect Bernese Mountain Dogs include:
- Subject to arthritis
- Hip dysplasia
- Bloat
- Congenital heart defects
- Cruciate ligament ruptures
- High susceptibility to various cancers
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Additional Reading About Bernese
Mountain Dogs
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Riverstead reg. Bernese
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The Bernese Mountain Dog is a wonderful and
noble animal but, while he is usually very
well-behaved and gentle, such a large canine is
not for everyone. While they will not “eat you
out of house and home,” as many people commonly
believe, they are still large dogs and can make
for a crowded house if you don’t have ample
room. Additionally, like any dog, the Bernese
should be carefully supervised with children and
other animals; even the kindest and gentlest of
dogs can accidentally knock a child down by
bumping them or may snap if his tail is pulled.
If you don’t mind a large dog and can give him
the time and love he requires, the Bernese
Mountain Dog may make an excellent addition to
your family!
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Bernese Mountain Dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Bernese Mountain Dog information sites to assist you in quickly
locating quality information about the Bernese Mountain Dog breed,
while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Bernese Mountain Dog information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the Bernese Mountain Dog
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
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Bernese Mountain Dogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking
at Bernese Mountain Dog pictures, you can usually gain more insight
into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can
help you decide if you really want to become a Bernese Mountain Dog
owner. The following sites below offer pictures of Bernese Mountain
Dog dogs, Bernese Mountain Dog puppy photos, funny Bernese Mountain
Dog photos and more. Enjoy!
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Now that you have decided that the Bernese Mountain Dog is the
right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Bernese Mountain Dog breeder from which to buy a
healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there
are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the
first Bernese Mountain Dog puppy you find at the cheapest price
available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Bernese Mountain Dog
breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional
money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste
from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
Bernese Mountain Dog breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Bernese Mountain Dog breed and is in it for the love of the breed,
rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Bernese
Mountain Dog puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many,
many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca
for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer
clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective
in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
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Bernese Mountain Dog clubs and rescues web sites can help you
learn even more about the Bernese Mountain Dog dog breed, help you
locate a responsible Bernese Mountain Dog breeder, or help you find
a Bernese Mountain Dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a
loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of Bernese
Mountain Dog clubs and Bernese Mountain Dog rescues web sites for
your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Bernese Mountain Dog puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Bernese Mountain Dog. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new
Bernese Mountain Dog puppy over the first days or weeks, you should
at least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There
are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some
are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately,
are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in
on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. These sites offer
inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that
have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the
right name for their new baby!
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