"Three years a young dog, three years a good dog, three years an old dog, everything else is a gift from God."

Bernese Mountain Dog Breed Information
Brief Bernese Mountain Dog History
This breed is originally from Switzerland. They were bred to pull milk carts and to herd cattle. The name Bernese Mountain Dog is a roughBernese Mountain Dogs translation of the German "Berner Sennenhund," which literally means Bernese Alpine Herdsman's Dog. The breed's original name was Durrbachler, after an inn where these farm dogs were bought and sold. The modern breed was developed from dogs found in the countryside around Bern, Switzerland and is only one of several Swiss breeds. There are 4 breeds of a Swiss mountain dogs. All of these dogs have the same markings and colorings; the Bernese Mountain dog is however, the only one with long hair. The original Berner Sennenhund was an all-around farm dog, used to guard the farm, drive the cows to and from their mountain pastures, and pull carts loaded with milk cans to the dairy; modern Berners retain some, although not necessarily all, of these instincts. The breed was rescued from near extinction by Professor Albert Heim around the turn of the century and has developed slowly since then. In 1948 there was a significant out crossing to a Newfoundland dog, with a resulting improvement in temperament and increase in size.
Bernese Temperament
The Berner temperament is a strong point of the breed. Affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable and intelligent, Bernese Mountain Dogs make wonderful family pets. Berners and KidsThey are very trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in training; Berners need time to think things through. They are also very social dog and require being in a social structure and part of a family. Bernese need to be with people and not relegated to the backyard or kennel run. With training essential for ownership of a large working breed, Berners are generally gentle, easygoing and tolerant. They are also usually excellent with children. They are not prone to excessive barking unless left unattended for too long.

Behavior:
Children: Excellent with children.
Friendliness: Fairly friendly with strangers.
Trainability: Easy to train.
Independence: Needs people a lot.
Dominance: Low.
Other Pets: Generally good with other pets.
Combativeness: Friendly with other dogs.
Noise: Not a barker.
Bernese Mountain Dog Health Issues

Unfortunately, every dog breed can fall victim to a variety of health problems and the Bernese are no exception. The average life span of a Berner is slightly more than seven years. And while the majority of Bernese breeders are working hard to improve the health and longevity of the breed, puppy buyers need to do their research and become educated about the potential health problems that may arise in this breed of dog. The most commonly reported health issues effecting the Bernese Mountain Dog breed are:

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Cancer
  • Bloat
  • Sub-aorticstenosis
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Skin and coat problems
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Eye disorders




Berner Breed Stats
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Height:
Male: 25-27.5 inches tall
Females: 23-26 inches tall
Weight:
Male: 90-120 lb.,
Female: 70-100 lb.
Color: Black ground color with rust and white markings.
Kennel Club Classifications:
AKC - Working Group
FCI - Group 2 Section 3 #45
CKC - Group 3 - Working Dogs
UKC – Guardian Dogs