The Bernese Mountain Dog or Bernese Mountain Dog is a very popular dog today as it is an excellent family dog that also performs very well in some tasks such as search and rescue and therapy support for adults and kids. He is undoubtedly an excellent dog in many ways.
In addition to being a very calm dog, this dog has a very docile and sociable character and is also very intelligent. If you are thinking of adopting a Bernese Mountain Dog, you should know that it is a dog with a large size but also with a big heart. Of course, it is not recommended to adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog if you are a sedentary family since it needs high doses of physical activity
To keep up to date with its care, characteristics and character, we recommend that you take a look at this breed file that we present on our site so that you have all the necessary information about the Bernese Mountain Dog:
Origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a ancient farm dog that inhabited the pre-alpine zone and part of the plain of the near Bern, Switzerland. In that region it was commonly used as a guard dog, cattle dog and draft dog (pulling small carts with products for trade, mainly milk and its derivatives).
At first these dogs were known as Dürrbächler. According to the FCI breed standard, this was because they were often seen at an inn by the name of Dürrbach de Riggisberg in the canton of Bern. Over time, the Bernese Mountain Dog gained popularity as a family, show, and multi-tasking dog, due to its good nature and remarkable beauty. In 1910 the name was changed to the breed and it began to be called the Bernese Mountain Dog. Today this breed is the most popular of all the Swiss Mountain Dogs and has fans in different parts of the world.
Physical Characteristics of the Bernese Mountain Dog
Because of his tricolor coat, long hair, and above average size, this dog is simply a beauty. Its head is large but it is in excellent proportion to the rest of the body. Naso-frontal depression (stop) is noticeable but not very marked. The nose is black. The eyes are brown and almond-shaped. The ears are medium, set high, triangular and with a slightly rounded end.
The body of the Bernese Mountain Dog is slightly longer than it is tall The topline slopes gently from the neck to the withers and then it becomes horizontal to the rump. The chest is wide, deep and long. The belly rises slightly. The tail is long and hangs down when the dog is at rest. When the dog is in action, it carries its tail at or slightly above back level.
The coat is one of the most noticeable characteristics of the breed. It is long, shiny and straight or slightly wavy. The base color is jet black and features reddish-brown markings and white spots in a particular distribution. The Bernese Mountain Dog has a height at the withers of between 64 and 70 cm and a weight of around 50 kg.
Character of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is an excellent dog for all types of families as long as they have an active and stimulated lifestyle that encourage this dog to develop all its capabilities, both physical and mental. He is a calm dog indoors (after adolescence), independent, secure, docile and peaceful
It is perfect for adult families but also for families with children The Bernese Mountain Dog will enjoy playing with the little ones on his visits to the pipi -can or to the mountain but you will also know how to relax when you arrive home. On the other hand, it is a dog that can interact perfectly with other animals if we provide it with good socialization, a stage that we will talk about next and that is essential to achieve a happy and sociable adult dog.
Care of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The coat of the Bernese Mountain Dog should be brushed three times a weekHowever, in times of shedding, the ideal is to brush it every day to prevent our home from being filled with hair and excessive dirt. On the other hand, it is advisable to bathe him when he is really dirty but otherwise the ideal is to bathe him approximately every two months. This type of dog, due to its large size, should go to the dog groomer if we do not have a large bathtub at home.
Although they have a calm temperament, these dogs do not adapt well to a sedentary life as they have great needs for exercise. It is basic that they can take 3 daily walks combined with physical exercise. For this reason, life in a house with a garden can be much more appropriate for them to exercise beyond daily walks.
We must not forget that the Bernese Mountain Dog is a dog that needs company and affection: he is a very sociable dog. It will be ideal for you to spend most of your time with us and to interact with other people, dogs and environments.
Education of the Bernese Mountain Dog
As with any dog, it is important to socialize him as a puppy, but his socialization is usually easy due to his calm and predisposed temperament. Although he is usually reserved with strangers, he can quickly get along if he is treated in a positive way.
Training is easy with this breed if positive reinforcement is used. These dogs can learn endless commands and skills, as they are very intelligent, so it is advisable to add intelligence games and activities to their education and daily stimulation variety to help you stay mentally active. The main behavior problem that this breed can suffer from is destructiveness. Bernese Mountain Dogs can be very destructive dogs if they don't get enough exercise and company. It is essential to understand this point if we are going to adopt one.
In addition to these details we must not forget that the herdsman will greatly enjoy his basic obedience sessions. Teaching him the basic orders of obedience will be fun for us and for him, who will feel valued, stimulated and mentally active. Let's not forget that he is a very large dog and that the lack of education and training can turn against us if we have not worked hard enough on it. In addition, the regular practice of obedience and education will improve the human-dog relationship considerably and will help us to understand and guide you.
He alth of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is susceptible to disease like any other dog. For this reason, it is vitally important to visit the veterinarian regularly, every 6 months is ideal, to rule out the appearance of any he alth problem. The most common he alth problems in the Bernese Mountain Dog are the following:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Histiocytosis
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Gastric torsion
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Thermal shock is also very common due to the thick fur, so extreme precautions must be taken to avoid it if you live in a temperate or hot place. Let's not forget other details related to your he alth such as the internal and external deworming as well as the follow-up of the vaccination schedule. All of these details will help you keep your Bernese Mountain Dog in proper he alth.
The life expectancy of the Bernese Mountain Dog is around 8 to 9 years old.
