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Bernese Mountain Dog: Origin, Personality, Training
(Mountain Dog, Berner)
Group: Working
Dogs.
AKC Ranking: 41
Also Known As:
Berner, Mountain Dog, Berner Sennenhund
About
Bernese Mountain Dog
History
of the Breed
The origin of the breed is
unknown but the Bernese Mountain Dog we know
today is a native Swiss breed from the Bernese
Alps. The “Bernese Alpine Herdsman’s
dog” or Berner Sennenhund, was used
for driving livestock, draft work and as a
general farm guardian to warn the family.
A General Appearance
of the Dog
Bernese Mountain Dogs are
large, heavy, sturdy dogs with a full heavy
coat. The Berner is a tri-colored dog with
the base of black with markings of rust or
tan and white. The head is broad with dark
eyes. The tail is long and bushy.
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The Berner looks like an intelligent,
gentle giant. The deep bark of warning is often
accompanied by a wagging tail saying, “do
you want to be my friend?”
Coat Color
Bernese Mountain Dogs are tri-colored
with a base of black with pure white chest, feet
and blaze. There will be highlights of rust or tan
as well. The rust areas should be symmetrical and
include two highlights over the eyes.
Coat Type
Berners have a full, long, heavy
coat and bushy tail. The coat is slightly wavy but
may also be straight.
Height
Male: 24 to 28 inches
Female: 23 to 27 inches
Weight
Male: 85 to 110 lbs
Female: 80 to 105 lbs
Personality
Temperament of the Dog
The Berner is a gentle, happy
breed which makes a great family companion. They
are gentle and cheerful. Berners love children.
Their instincts provide a natural watchdog warning
of anything or anyone approaching, but they are
not aggressive. They are a “couch potato”
but are capable of high energy when motivated. Due
to the very loyal nature of the Bernese Mountain
dog, adoption after 18 months can create a difficult
adjustment for the dog.
Better suited to an indoor
or outdoor lifestyle?
Bernese Mountain Dogs love the
outdoors but they need time inside with their family.
Because of their thick coats, they prefer cool climates.
Are they suited to homes
with kids?
Berners love children. Their gentle,
cheerful attitude makes them a wonderful family
pet. They can be boisterous when young and, because
of their size, can knock youngsters down, but they
would never hurt a family member or friend.
Activity
Level
How Active is the Breed?
Bernese Mountain Dogs are an active
breed. They need daily exercise, long walks, runs
in an open area. They do best with a large fenced
yard. Berners are slow to mature and can remain
boisterous and puppy-like for quite awhile. Inside,
unless excited, Berners are calm, couch potatoes.
If they do not see a need to expend energy, they
will often be happy just laying down.
As adults, they do fine in an
apartment setting as long as they get a long walk
each day and a run in a dog park several times a
week.
How Much Exercise Does
the Dog Need at every stage of its Life?
Berners are large active dogs,
and need regular exercise like long daily walks
and extended play time in an area where they can
run free.
Grooming
The Berner’s long thick coat needs daily
to weekly brushing. Additional brushing can be required
when shedding. Berners are a seasonal heavy shedder.
Health
and Care
Genetic Problems
In general the
Bernese Mountain dog is a hardy breed. They can
be prone to cancer and hip and elbow dysplasia.
Litter Size: 1
to 14, with an average of 8
Life Span: 6 to 8 years
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National Breed Clubs
British – Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Great
Britain – www.bernese.co.uk
US – Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America,
Inc. - www.bmdca.org
Other Recognition: CKC,
FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, ANKC,
APRI, ACR
Rescue Link: www.bmdca.org/pages/Rescue.php
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