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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
Bernese Mountain Dog's origin is unknown but they are known to be 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
This Breeds 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
The 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 Dog 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 breed, adoption after 18 months can
create a difficult adjustment for the dog.
Better suited to an indoor
or outdoor lifestyle?
This 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 this
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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