Bernese Mountain Dog

Other names: Bouvier de Berne, Dürrbächler, Bernese Mountain Dog, Berner Sennenhund

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Hair type	Long
Origin	Swiss
Template	Giant
Head shape	Long

Weight and size
Sex	Weight	Cut
Female	From 40 kg to 50 kg	From 60 cm to 66 cm
Male	From 50 kg to 60 kg	From 64 cm to 70 cm

History of the breed

In 1910, during an exhibition in Berthoud, farmers managed to present 107 subjects of this breed. From this event, the Bernese Mountain Dog gets its official name. Previously employed as a herd keeper in the Swiss mountain pastures, he is now used as a research dog in the mountains and as a companion dog.

Bernese Mountain Dog Pictures

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Physical features

His hair: is long, shiny and smooth or slightly wavy.
Its color: tricolor (black, white, red) with a black dress. The plastron is white in the shape of a Swiss cross. The tips of the legs are white and a white line crosses the forehead, passes between the eyes and over the muzzle. Reddish spots called lozenges are placed above the eyes and reddish brown appears on the paws and cheeks.
Its head: is short and massive, powerful, its nose is black and the skull is slightly rounded in profile.
Its ears: are drooping, triangular and rounded at the end.
His eyes: dark brown, almond shaped show a lively gaze.
His body: is powerful, harmonious and well proportioned. The members are powerful. It is more compact than elongated and longer than high.
Its tail: black, bushy, low in the resting position, must rise to the height of the back or just above.

Behavior and character

Behavior with others

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very kind and affectionate dog, especially towards his owners. He demonstrates unfailing loyalty and loyalty to them. In constant search of affection and presence, he is quite clingy. Thus, it is an ideal companion for children, as well as for the elderly. Not at all aggressive and barely barking , he is also intelligent. Very curious, but a little fearful, he does not have the instinct of predator and therefore is very kind to other pets.

It is also often taken as a guide for the blind or visually impaired as well as used in civil protection. His protective side makes him deeply endearing.

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Education

This intelligent dog has a good memory which facilitates his education. It is essential to use training based on positive reinforcement, firmness and softness. Indeed, very sensitive , he does not like all that is violent and brutal. Very eager to learn , he needs to be praised when he is successful. His teenage years are a bit trickier because he loses confidence and can become suspicious of strangers. He must be reassured.

Early obedience training and good socialization are recommended. You should know that it is a slow breed to mature either mentally or physically.

Living conditions

For the Bernese Mountain Dog, the important thing is to stay with his owners , wherever they live. He could therefore live in an apartment, but he prefers to live in accommodation with a garden available . He will be able to let off steam and have fun. He is a dog who has a hard time putting up with changes of owner. In a home, he tends to stay calm and relaxed .

Health

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a fairly robust dog. Like all large breeds, he is affected by the problems of hip dysplasia and the risk of stomach twisting . Thus, it is important not to make him exercise before and after meals.

In addition, he can be affected by hip-femoral dysplasia . He can also be affected by some genetic diseases because of the consanguinity that prevails on his breeding . It is therefore necessary to choose the breeding farm where it is purchased and to do the screening x-ray if the breeder has not done it himself beforehand.

The breed is also affected by malignant histiocytosis or histiocytic sarcoma. It is a very serious disease characterized by an abnormal proliferation of histiocytes, forming solid tumor masses. It causes the death of the animal quite quickly.

Finally, avoid running it when it comes to eating. He is not afraid of bad weather, but with his fur, he is sensitive to heatstroke.

To protect yourself from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets advises you to take out Bernese Mountain dog insurance .

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Life expectancy

Maintenance and hygiene

After a walk, it is not necessary to brush or wash it. The dirt on its hair will fall off on its own after a few minutes if the dog stays dry. The Bernese Mountain Dog moult is constant, but is accentuated in spring and autumn. During these periods, do not hesitate to increase the frequency of brushing

Brushing of the hair should be weekly. A minimum bath per year is sufficient for its maintenance and to preserve its magnificent coat. The passage to the bath can be more periodic (every 3 months or more), but the Bernese Mountain Dog   has the particularity of having a self-cleaning hair . Brush her teeth 2-3 times a week to prevent bad breath and tartar buildup, and trim her fingernails once a month . Since dogs’ nails contain blood vessels, it is best to seek advice from a vet if you have never done so.

Like all other dogs, care should be taken to clean their ears regularly to avoid any risk of infection.

Price and budget

Name ideas for a Bernese mountain dog

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Food

Physical activity

Famous Bernese Mountain Dogs

Luiggi and Luizia : these are the two Bernese Mountain Dogs of Dany Boon and his wife Yaël , who particularly appreciates this breed. The French actor adopted the dogs in 2015 from a breeding farm in the Dordogne, Haras de Lavergne.

Competitions

Others

We talk on the forum

Is your Bernese Mountain dog stubborn?

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Bernese mountain dog

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A name for a female Bernese Mountain dog puppy ???

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Which dog to choose between a Bernese Mountain Dog and an Australian Shepherd?

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Are Bernese Mountain Dogs a sociable dog?

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FCI Information