The Bernese Mountain Dog is a highly adaptable working dog from Switzerland's farmlands. They were created to herd livestock, pull carts, and serve as devoted companions and watchdogs. They're one of four different varieties of Swiss Mountain Dogs, and they're the only ones with long hair.

The Bernese Mountain Dog gets its name from the canton of Bern. They're a huge and robust canine breed with a kind and calm demeanour who excels in conformation, obedience, tracking, herding, and carting contests.

The amiable personality, intellect, and highly trainable character of this breed may appeal to a new dog parent. First-timers, on the other hand, should be cautious. Because of its size and strong activity level, the Bernese Mountain Dog can be challenging to handle. As a result, they despise being cooped up in apartments all day. They slobber a lot and need to have the drool cleaned off their faces every now and again.

This breed makes excellent watchdogs, but it also means they have a proclivity for barking – a lot. Even though they are extremely gentle when completely adult and properly taught, they may like to pursue smaller animals and play rough.

This breed will demonstrate unconditional love and dedication to an experienced pet parent who can match the Bernese's enthusiasm, give ample space, keep up with grooming, and devote time and effort to training. A well-trained Bernese Mountain Dog is a wonderful companion that will adore the entire family. They adore children and will even cheerfully welcome newcomers to the family if they've had proper socialisation training.

There aren't many breeds that have a higher proclivity towards friendliness. As a result, if you're up for the task, a Bernese Mountain Dog is a great choice.

Bernese Mountain Dog Highlights
Breed Size	Large
Nature	Gentle, Willful, Aloof, Friendly
Energy Level	Cool
Intelligence	High
Barking Level	When Necessary
Coat Length	Long, Medium
Breed Group	Working
Droll Amount	Medium
Good with	Seniors, Cats, Dogs, Children, Familes
Feed Level	Medium, High
Colour Type	Black,brown / chocolate / liver,white
Other Facts	Easy to train,requires lots of grooming,prone to health issues,cold weather tolerant,good for first-time pet owners.

Dog History

The Molosser, an ancient breed, stands out as one of the most adaptable, well-traveled, and influential in the creation of several Mastiff-type dogs, including Berners.

The four Swiss Sennenhund breeds (Appenzeller Sennenhund, Entlebucher Sennenhund, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and Berner Sennenhund) are thought to have evolved from crosses between Swiss farm dogs and the Molosser or Mastiff-type dogs brought with the Romans when they invaded the Alps in the first century B.C.

The Berner has most certainly been pulling carts, escorting cattle, keeping watch, and giving owners with devoted companionship on Swiss farms for more than 2,000 years, discreetly tucked away on modest estates in the Alps.

By 1888, just 36% of the Swiss population worked in agriculture, and the demand for a robust dog capable of herding cattle and pulling a cart loaded with merchandise had declined. The Swiss, on the other hand, got concerned in protecting their national breeds in 1899, and created the Berna dog club. Breeders of a variety of purebred dogs were among the group's members.

The Swiss Dog Club hosted a show in Ostermundigen in 1902 to raise awareness of Swiss mountain breeds. Two years later, the breeds made significant progress as a result of numerous events: The Swiss dog club sponsored a class for Swiss "shepherd dogs," which included Mountain dogs, at an international dog show in Bern. This was also the first year that the breed was dubbed "Bernese." The Bernese Mountain Dog was officially recognised as a breed by the Swiss Kennel Club in the same year.

During World War I, dog exhibitions and breeding were put on hold in order to focus on the war effort. However, following the war, the first Bernese Mountain Dogs were shipped, first to Holland and subsequently to the United States—despite the fact that the breed was not recognised in the United States.

The first litter of Berner puppies was born in England in 1936, when two British breeders began importing Berners. A female and a male Berner from Switzerland were also imported by the Glen Shadow kennel in Louisiana in 1936. Glen Shadow received a letter from the AKC in early 1937 informing him that the Bernese Mountain Dog had been recognised as a new breed in the Working Class.

World War II halted the breed's expansion outside of its home area once more, although importation and registration resumed in the United States after 1945.

With 62 members and 43 registered Berners, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America was created in 1968. Three years later, the group had grown to over 100 members. Meanwhile, the breed was resurrected in the United Kingdom after becoming extinct in England during World War II.

In 1981, the AKC accepted the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America as a member club. The American Kennel Club (AKC) approved the current Bernese Mountain Dog standard in 1990.

Health and Care

Due to reckless breeding, Berners might have health problems. Although not all Berners will contract any or all of these illnesses, it's vital to be aware of them if you're thinking about getting one.

Checking for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's disease in Berners should be discussed with your veterinarian. Here's some more information on a few ailments to keep an eye out for.

• Cancer
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
• Von Willebrand's Disease

Care

Berners are not well adapted to living in an apartment or a condo. The greatest option is a house with a large, securely fenced yard. Berners have a lot of energy since they are working dogs. They require a minimum of 30 minutes of rigorous exercise every day in addition to yard play; three times that amount keeps this tough dog in peak shape.

The Berner is a natural choice for chilly areas because to its thick, beautiful coat. They like having fun in the snow. They're prone to heat stroke because of his black coat and enormous stature. Allowing children to exercise vigorously when it is really hot is not a good idea; instead, confine activity to the early mornings or nights when it is cooler. Keep them cool during the day if possible.

If you're raising a Berner puppy, you'll need to be extra careful. Berners, like many large-breed dogs, develop quickly between the ages of four and seven months, putting them at risk for bone problems and damage. They thrive on a high-quality, low-calorie diet that restricts their growth.

Additionally, wait until the Berner puppy is at least two years old and their joints are completely grown before allowing them to run and play on hard surfaces (such as pavement), leap excessively, or pull big objects. Normal grassy play, as well as puppy agility lessons with their one-inch leaps, are OK.

Dog Breed Care Tips and Important Instructions

"If you're getting a Bernese mountain dog puppy, you should also acquire a Roomba," Derse advises. "Because they sweat profusely. There will be a lot of grooming. There was also a lot of vacuuming." Brushing every couple of days and comprehensive grooming every four to eight weeks is required for a Berner's smooth double-layer coat.

Training and socialisation should begin at a young age, with a focus on positive reinforcement rather than severe punishment. Berners are sensitive dogs that like making their people happy, so positive reinforcement works well for them. Simply put, don't let a Berner alone for too long, or they'll get into mischief.

Dog food prepared from high-quality components should be fed to your Bernese mountain dog. Berners may eat a lot, so keeping track of their food and exercise is a vital aspect of their care. A trip to the veterinarian can help you figure out how much and how often you should feed your dog.

Feeding

A Bernese Mountain Dog diet should be designed for a big breed that requires a lot of energy and exercise. For suggestions on what to feed your Bernese Mountain Dog and the proper portion amounts, ask your veterinarian or a professional nutritionist. As they go from puppyhood through adulthood and senior years, their food requirements will alter. Keep track of these dietary needs.

Fun Facts

• This type is incredibly powerful, capable of pulling up to ten times its own weight, or approximately 1,000 pounds!
• Bernese mountain dogs were previously used as delivery dogs, pulling carts stocked with dairy goods, bread, and other commodities from farm to farm, thanks to their cart-pulling talents. Today, they may be more inclined to use their abilities for the benefit of their owners, such as hauling youngsters in carts for entertainment.
• Only the Bernese mountain dog has long hair among the four Sennenhund breeds, often known as Swiss mountain dogs or Swiss cattle dogs. The Greater Swiss mountain dog, Appenzeller mountain dog, and Entlebucher mountain dog are the other non-furry breeds in this category.
• Berners are commonly referred to as vieräugler ("four eyes") dogs because of the little rust-colored marks over their eyes.
• Luna the Berner has almost 100,000 Instagram followers who follow her exploits.

Home Training Tips and General Information

• Love is all a dog requires.
• One of the most prevalent dog claims I hear as a canine behavioural consultant is that all a dog requires is love. Is that correct or incorrect? You might be surprised by my response!
• There are four things you must do correctly.
• It doesn't have to be difficult to train your Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. You can influence your puppy's behaviour and make training easier right now by doing four simple things.
• What Should You Teach? (and When)
• Dog training begins the minute your puppy arrives at your home. If you utilise the incorrect training approach, your puppy will begin to make decisions about how he wants you to fit into his life, which will lead to conflict and behavioural issues. You must respond appropriately to anything your puppy does, or he will learn the incorrect things. Here is my suggested training schedule (what to teach and when to teach it) for your Bernese puppy.
• Teach Your Bernese Mountain Dog To Be Respectful Of You
• I utilise and suggest "Respect Training" as a dog training strategy for Bernese Mountain Dogs. When you say "No," a dog who respects you will stop what he's doing and do what you say. Teach your dog to respect you means interacting with him in different ways.
• Teach The Correct Words In The Correct Context
• My training approach for Bernese Mountain Dogs include teaching certain phrases in precise ways so that your dog not only learns the words but also develops the respectful attitude that makes him want to obey you. Teach your dog to comprehend what you're saying by teaching him words. Teach those terms in the proper context, and he will follow your instructions.
• Housebreaking Your Bernese Mountain Dog
• There are two essentials to breaking into a house. There are only two, but you must get them both correct. And I don't mean 50 percent correct; I mean 100 percent correct. Otherwise, you'll wind up with a dog that is only 50% toilet trained, which no one wants. So there you have it — your two housebreaking keys.
• Socializing Your Bernese Mountain Dog
• Socialization refers to teaching your Bernese Mountain Dog to interact with strangers and other animals in a pleasant manner.

FAQS

Bernese Mountain Dog Unique Name

Male Name	Female Name
Brody	Beau
Chico	Carly
Flash	Daphne
Gordie	Gia
Huck	Hailey
Joey	Hannah
Lewis	Kayla
Noah	Leia
Mimi	Maddie
Quincy	Madison
Romeo	Mattie
Sawyer	Maya
Spike	Mocha
Taco	Precious
Tank	Raven
Tesla	Sally
Yogi	Suki
Bear	Brindle
T-bird	Cisco
Whiz	Onie