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Brief History of the Bernese Mountain Dog Breed:
The Bernese Mountain Dog, also known as the Berner Sennenhund, is one of four varieties of Swiss mountain dogs. The other three are the Appenzeller Sennenhund, the Entlebucher Sennenhund, and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Of the four breeds, the Bernese is the second largest (the Greater Swiss Mountaind Dog being the largest) and the only one to have a long coat. Their ancestors were Mastiffs that were brought into Switzerland more than 2,000 years ago. Inter-breeding with local farm dogs created a somewhat smaller but equally trustworthy dog. Originally, the Bernese was used to drive livestock and to pull carts of produce, primarily in Berne, Switzerland where he is known as Berner Sennenhund. The breed was brought to North America in the mid-1920's. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937 and the United Kennel Club in 1948.
Additional Information on the History of the Breed:
Breed Profile:
The Bernese Mountain Dog has a wonderful temperament. He is dependable, consistent, has a strong desire to please, and always appears to be in command of a situation. The Bernese is an excellent family companion. He is devoted, faithful, and affectionate to his family and requires plenty of human companionship. This is not a dog to be left outdoors but, rather, he must be made a full member of the family. He has a calm and gentle disposition which makes him very good with children and other animals. He may appear to be aloof or suspicious of strangers but is never aggressive or timid. The Bernese, however, is not a guard dog. While he may bark and appear intimidating, in general, the Bernese has a very friendly nature.
A very versatile breed, the Berner is seen competing in several areas, such as conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, herding, and carting. He is also quite often seen working as a Therapy Dog.
The Bernese is slow to mature physically and can take up to three years to reach full growth. Daily exercise is required to keep the adult dog fit and, like most large breeds, care must be taken to not over-exercise the young dog during the growing phase.
In appearance, the Bernese Mountain Dog is large, sturdy, strong, agile and well-balanced. The males appear distinctly masculine while the females are distinctly feminine. The tri-coloured, heavy, double coat has distinctive markings — The ground colour is jet-black with rich russet markings on the cheeks, a spot over each eye, a patch above the forelegs, and on all four legs between the black of the upper leg and the white of the feet. White markings are found on the chest to under the chin as well as a blaze extending into the muzzle band, white feet and a white tip of the tail. The coat is weather resistant and of moderate length with a natural sheen.
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The Bernese Mountain Dog - A Dog of Destiny
by Bernd Guenter
Written and photographed by an internationally acclaimed authority, this book is a must-have for the Berner fancier!
— Available from Dogwise.com and Amazon.ca.
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For additional books, gifts & merchandise, CLICK HERE
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Health Issues:
Unfortunately, the Bernese Mountain dog has a relatively short life expectancy with the average being 7 to 8 years. However, there are some who live 10 years or longer. The Swiss say: "Three years a young dog, three years a good dog, and three years an old dog...all else, a gift from God." [Quoted from the BMDCSEW Puppy Buyer's Guide.] Some of the health issues affecting this breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, cancer, bloat, sub-aortic stenosis, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, eye diseases, and skin and coat problems. See the Bernese Mountain Dog Health document for further details.
If you are considering the adoption of a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. This should include, among others, hip and elbow x-rays to exclude hip and elbow dysplasia and eyes should be checked to see that they are normal and PRA clear. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Am/Can Ch Rumcay's Edwardii Brunus, TT
Photo courtesy of Best Beau
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AKC Bernese Mountain Dog Video
18 min. Video Edition, Published by the American Kennel Club
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
— Available from Dogwise.com |
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Grooming:
Grooming requirements for the Bernese Mountain Dog include the occasional bath and frequent brushing to maintain a neat appearance. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a double coated breed who goes through seasonal shedding of the undercoat, known as "blowing coat" as well as daily shedding of the longer guard hairs from the top coat.
- Grooming — See this growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website for grooming information, tips and techniques, along with listings of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training Resources:
The Bernese Mountain Dog is eager to please, intelligent and sensitive. Training should always be done using positive training methods and consistency. Training should start from a young age and continue throughout the dog's life.
- Training — For information on training your Bernese Mountain Dog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
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