| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
The Bernese Mountain Dog, Berner for short, comes from Switzerland. It is very affectionate and it could be defined as the perfect friend.
One detail that we definitely cannot fail to mention is that this breed is loving. The Bernese Mountain Dog is affectionate, calm, and protects the little ones at home with great responsibility, which is why many people call this giant the “babysitting dog”, a faithful bodyguard for life who will fill your days with great joy.
Bernese need an active owner, who is also a good person and affectionate. It is important that the owner is present and trains it without aggressiveness. Bernese are intelligent dogs as they learn quickly. However, they have some habits that are not easy to give up, such as eating everything they find.
It is a dynamic dog that needs space and exercise. It is not suitable for apartment life, but this does not mean that it cannot adapt to living in one. Keep in mind that daily walks will be more than one and mandatory.
Bernese Mountain Puppies are special: They sleep a lot and it is better not to wake them up, because sleep is essential for their growth. On the other hand, when they are awake, they explore the world, they play and they are very cute and funny.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large-sized dog. It comes from the Swiss meadows and it was originally used as a guard dog, sled dog and sheepdog. Today, it is well known all over the world and it is mainly used as a companion or utility dog.
The Bernese is considered by our readers as one of the most beautiful dogs in the world. It belongs to the Swiss Cattle breeds. It originates from the central campaigns of Switzerland and the Pre-Alps of Bern.
This breed was used as a guard dog, sled dog and as a herding dog in the canton of Bern. Among the names by which this breed is known, we find: “stable dog”, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bouvier de Berne, Berner Sennenhund, or Bouvier Bernois.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Origins
Bernese are believed to have existed in Roman times; in fact, vases have been found depicting a dog that looks pretty similar to this breed in shape and color. They are also believed to be the ancestors of the Saint Bernard and other Molossers, like the Rottweiler.
Crossbreeding of the breed began in 1907, thanks to some breeders from the Burgdorf region. In 1910, these breeders managed to exhibit up to 107 specimens at a dog show. From then on, the breed took the name of Bernese Mountain Dog.
Thanks to a study of crossbreeding with the Newfoundland in the mid-20th, the Bernese Mountain Dog became what it is today. Today, this breed is popular and loved all around the world.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Temperament
It is an affectionate, docile, and very intelligent dog. We could call it the “big teddy bear.” It is fond of children. Not only does it love them, but also it plays with them in harmony. Besides, it has a strong protective instinct towards them. Bernese are loyal to their family. They are excellent guard dogs, which will protect their family and territory without being intimidated by anything or anyone.
Usually, it identifies two people as masters to whom it will be faithful and obedient for life. It is a balanced, calm, and brave dog. It faces every situation without fear. Although it is a peaceful dog, it may become aggressive if provoked. However, it is not a common occurrence.
Endowed with considerable intelligence, the Bernese Mountain Dog needs non-rigid training. Berners need a loving and present handler who trains it with firm discipline, especially for male dogs.
Generally, it keeps its distance from strangers. However, it takes very little to gain its trust. Once it lets you pet it, its kisses are guaranteed.
As for its relationship with other dogs, the Bernese Mountain dog is friendly but introverted. It prefers to be alone. It can be said that this breed is not very sociable. It behaves the same way with cats. Actually, Berners prefers to be pampered by humans.
The Bernese Mountain Dog learns commands and understands instructions quickly. However, its temperament plays a fundamental role in its training. There are things that they just don’t seem to be able to learn, such as eating everything they find.
As it is a big and lively dog, it needs large spaces to run. If it adapts to living in an apartment, daily walks will be a must.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Physical Characteristics
This is a well-proportioned and harmonious dog. Although its large, solid, and robust body, it is really agile.
- Male Bernese Mountain Dogs stand 25 to 27 inches (64-70 cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 110 lb (50 kg).
- Female Bernese Mountain Dogs stand 23 to 26 (58 to 66 cm) inches tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 88 lb (40 kg).
It has a large head that is proportional to the rest of its body. The skull is flat aon top and broad, with a slight furrow and a well-defined, but not exaggerated stop. The muzzle is strong and of medium length. The nose is always black.
The eyes are dark brown and slightly oval in shape. It has a very sweet look. The ears are triangular and slightly rounded at the tip. They are medium in size and set high. The neck is muscular and of medium length.
The back is straight, while the hindquarters are slightly rounded. The thorax is broad and descends with a developed chest. The tail is thick and set low. The forelegs of the Bernese Mountain Dog are straight and parallel, while the hind legs have a long, muscular thigh.
The coat is shiny, long, and smooth. There are areas, however, where they have a bit of wavy hair.
The coat is black with spots ranging from red to brown. These spots are present on the cheeks, eyes, limbs, and chest. White spots are located on the head, muzzle, neck and chest. White feet of the Bernese Mountain Dog are highly sought after, as is the white tip on the tail.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Health
The Bernese Mountain Dog has a flexible gait with loose steps. When trotting, the limbs move in a perfect straight line.
It is a dynamic dog, therefore it is not very suitable for living in an apartment. If kept in excellent condition, it has an average lifespan of about 9 years. This breed is prone to suffer from the following diseases: entropy and the third eyelid (which can be treated with surgical procedures). Bernese are generally healthy and robust dogs.
Unfortunately, being a highly sought after breed, inexperienced and malicious sellers have improvised themselves into breeders and they don’t take the necessary care of stallions. For this reason, you have to go to serious and registered breeding establishments to find a well-selected Bernese Mountain Dog.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Puppies
It is essential to prepare at least three meals a day for a Bernese Mountain puppy. When it grows up, two meals will be enough. We recommend not feeding it out of the meal times and limiting snacking.
When still a puppy, it needs a special amount of food. It would be ideal to take it to the vet to control its weight periodically. The weight gain should be approximately 2,2 lb (1 kg) per week.
What and how much does a Bernese Mountain Dog eat? It is a large dog that has a robust body but it is still agile. In addition, Bernese are believed to be one of the progenitors of the Saint Bernard.
What will a dog of this size eat? It is not a mathematical matter that a large dog should eat large amounts of food and that a puppy small doses. However, small dogs sometimes eat more than large ones.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Puppies sleep a lot!
The little ones deserve a special mention. The Bernese Mountain puppy sleeps most of the day and spends waking hours exploring the environment, defecating, and playing.
Puppies get tired quickly. A few minutes of play may be enough for these little one to give in to sleep.
Avoid disturbing or waking them when they sleep, because during their sleeping hours they strengthen their defenses, grow, adn recover a lot of energy. They are quite funny and sweet when they are exploring the world.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Feeding
It is recommended to feed your pet with food packaged and designed for it. This food should be specific for its growth and for large dogs.
If you have done your homework well by feeding your puppy a good diet as advised by its veterinarian, it will reach the recommended weight at 7 to 8 months of age. Remember that for regular growth, your Bernese Mountain Dog should gain between 800-950 grams per week: keep it under control and weigh it every week because these dogs tend to grow very fast.
Females are lighter than males: the ideal weight for males is about 110 lb, while for females it is 88 lb. Avoid overfeeding your dog with snacks, as they can only cause physical problems, such as dysplasias or diabetes.
Food should always be administered twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, to avoid the dog running the risk of gastric torsion by eating an excessive amount of food that will then ferment in his digestive system.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Breeders, Price and Puppies for Sale
There are breeding establishments In the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. You can also find your Bernese Mountain Dog puppy in Australia, New Zealand, India, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa. Keep in mind that not all comply with sanitary authorizations, and they often do not guarantee the seriousness and due passion of the breeders.
There are establishments where each puppy is born and groomed in a healthy and stimulating environment. In these breeding establishments, matings are done in a way to maintain the best European bloodlines.
A Bernese Mountain Dog puppy does not cost less than 1200 dollars, about 1000 English pounds. Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:
- Pug
- Doberman Pinscher
- Pekingese
- Siberian Husky
- Rough Collie
- Bull Terrier
- German Shepherd Dog
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
- Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)
