All About Your Bernese Mountain

A great companion to the family and a great friend to children, not being too daring or even awkward when playing with them

The Bernese Mountain Dog has its name is due to the fact that it comes from the city of Bern, Switzerland. This breed draws attention mainly because of its coat that is very soft and for being a very calm and peaceful dog, despite all its size. It was created to shepherd and guard the properties of its owners and many of the characteristics of this dog remain until today.

He is a great companion to the family and a great friend to children, not being too daring or even awkward when playing with them.

Size

The height varies from

58 to 70 cm

Weight

Weight varies from

39 to 48 kg

Coat

Bernese’s coat is soft and thick, quite dense and its hair tends to fall out more frequently. The dogs of this breed are tricolor: black on the back, brown on the paws and may have a white belly, in addition to a very characteristic white mask.

Because it is a typical dog from cold regions, its fur can fall a lot when it lives in hot areas, especially in the summer and spring seasons, when it should be brushed at least every two days.

Health

As a large / giant dog, the Bernese dog has a high chance of presenting with hip dysplasia (a type of wrong hip joint fitting) or elbow dysplasia – conditions that cause a lot of pain, mobility problems and even difficulty to maintain standing alone. If he is not well fed as a puppy, with adequate food and the right nutrients, the risk of presenting this health problem grows considerably, but genetic issues are the most important in these cases.

In addition, this breed is also likely to have Von Willenbrande’s disease, which is a serious problem that can cause blood clotting disorders. Progressive retinal atrophy is also a frequently reported problem in dogs of this breed. The American Kennel Club also warns of other diseases that can affect the Bernese, even if less frequently.

Among them are: tumors, sub-aortic stenosis, disorders involving the thyroid, skin diseases and autoimmune diseases. Because of this great number of problems, it is necessary to pay close attention to the health of the Bernese and to take him regularly to the veterinarian. Talking to your puppy’s breeder to identify hereditary problems can be a good solution to prevent some of them.

Temperament

The Bernese is a family dog, very peaceful and kind. They have a balanced temperament and are very helpful and calm. Affectionate, the Bernese get along well with other dogs, different types of animals and even with children.

He is also a very quiet dog, who does not usually bark, unless something unusual happens. They are also very attached to their human parents and those with whom they usually live. With visits, you tend to be friendly and very receptive.

Intelligence

Due to their origins and the way in which the Bernese were bred previously, dogs of this breed have retained many original characteristics. One of the main points that have remained over time is obedience.

Bernese puppies are considered very obedient and disciplined, so they are examples of control among puppies. Many of them even participate in animal obedience contests. The fact that they are extremely disciplined dogs is good proof of their intelligence.

Because they are quiet dogs, they are not masters of the “catch the ball” commands, but they can learn many other things. Teaching tricks for dogs of this breed is an easy task. They are easily trained and like to interact with people.

In addition, they adapt easily to new places and new families, already easily perceiving their place, where they can or cannot stay, what they cannot do and other necessary things – something that helps the puppy to arrive at the house.

Life Expectancy

Because it is a giant-sized dog, the life expectancy of puppies of this breed is approximately eight years. This number, however, varies according to the type of life he leads and what diseases he develops. Remember that feeding him correctly as a puppy increases his life expectancy and decreases the chances of illness.

Care

Because of its dense coat, the bernese montain dog can have several skin problems, especially with regard to fungi. When poorly dried, your skin tends to attract parasites of different natures, causing problems that are sometimes difficult to detect at home due to its abundance of hair.

That is why it is necessary to brush these dogs quite regularly and make sure that they dry well after bathing. In addition, they like open spaces to exercise. Despite being a quiet dog, he is big and needs to exercise and strengthen his muscles.

Curiosities

There is a theory that says that Bernese dogs were used by the Roman army as guard dogs. Potted paintings show dogs very similar to this breed. In addition, around 1800, the dogs of the breed were almost extinct due to industrialization, but luckily saved and can be seen in various parts of the world even today.

In addition to being a herding dog, many specimens have already been used as draft dogs, pulling carts and small carts full of horticultural products.