Bernese Mountain Dog Breed Information

General Information

Physical And Size

Ranking

Characterisitics

Friendliness

Bernese Mountain Dog, nicknamed as Berner is an extremely versatile working dog hails from the farmland of Switzerland. They were developed to herd cattle, pull carts and be watchdogs.

Berner is an extremely affectionate and loyal-natured dog who falls in one of the most intelligent dogs in the world. Because they are working dogs, they need a lot of exercise to keep their body fit and also for mental stimulation.

Origin and History

The Bernese Mountain Dog breed was officially established in 1907 and was recognized by American Kennel Club in 1937. It is one of the second biggest of the four breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps.

They were bred as a working dog for all-purpose work like herding the cattle, pulling carts, delivering the farm animals and dairy products to the locals and guarding properties.

In the 20th century, Professor Albert Heim, who was very fond of this dogs preserved this breed from its near existence. Therefore, he developed the breed by crossing with Newfoundland and improved its size and temperament.

Are They Child-Friendly?

Bernese Mountain Dog is very tolerant, patient and kind with children. They don’t mind children climbing their backs, pulling their hair, so we can say that they get along with children very well.

One thing is they are big and can sometimes knock over small children while playing, therefore close supervision of parents is needed.

Behavior, Temperament and Personality

The Bernese Mountain dog is a highly alert, intelligent, loving and affectionate dog. Coming from a working background, they very much enjoy working and helping with household works. Therefore, they should be kept busy and working as they require a lot of exercises and mental stimulation.

Bernese Mountain Dog is an excellent watchdog which is highly alert and is quick to warn their owner if they see something unusual going on the surrounding. They are as well quick to settle down as soon as they find out everything is well unlike most of the dogs who keeps on barking continuously.

Trainability

The Bernese Mountain Dog is highly trainable dogs. They are slow learners but easy to train. With some patient, you can make your Berner, a well-trained dog. They can be aloof of strangers and a bit shy, so early socialization and training are necessary to overcome their shyness.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are big with high energy and can be very difficult to handle for first-time dog owners. But for an experienced owner who matches with their high energy, can provide them with good training, open space and can dedicate their time and effort in training, this breed will show unconditional love and loyalty.

Facts

• Berners got their name from the area they were bred: Bern canton, the central region of Switzerland.
• Berners are very strong dogs. They can carry up to 1000 pounds, 10 times their own weight.
• Berner dogs mature a bit slower than other dogs, so patient training is required.
• Bernese Mountain Dogs have a good sense of humor. If they find their owner laughing at their action, they are sure to repeat them.

Health Issues

The average life expectancy of Bernese Mountain Dog is between 7-8 years. They sometimes have health issues due to irresponsible breeding and due to genetic health problems. All breeds are prone to some health disease, so is Berner. Some of the diseases that your Berner might suffer are:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Gastric torsion

Since the Bernese Mountain Dog is working dogs, they should be exercised a lot which helps in preventing many diseases, keeping their body fit and mind stimulated.

Colors

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a good-looking dog with its lovely tricolor coat: black with tan markings with white.

Puppies

All Bernese Mountain Dog puppies are incredibly cute. It is easier to make a well-trained adult Berner if you start to train them from the day you bring them home. The puppy training session should be kept fun and short to keep them focused.

Cost

The cost of a Bernese Mountain Dog depends on the location and breed. The average cost is between $800 to $2000. A high-quality Bernese Mountain Dog cost from $2500 and can go as high as $10,000. However, adopting a Berner cost much lesser usually ranges from $300-$550.

Size

The average height of the male Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 cm and the female is 63 cm. The weight of the male is 40-54 kg and female is 31-45 kg.

Dogs Similar to Bernese Mountain Dog

• Great Swiss Mountain Dog
• Estrela Mountain Dog
• Appenzeller Sennenhund
• Entlebucher Mountain Dog
• Great Pyrenees

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