Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese mountain dogs are hardworking and loyal dogs with solid and sturdy body structures. They make excellent family dogs as they are great with children and other pets. A Bernese is devoted to its family and is protective and loyal towards its family.
Origin
The Bernese mountain dog, also known as ‘Berner’ or ‘Bernese Cattle Dog,’ originated in Switzerland. It is one of the four types of Swiss mountain dogs and the only one out of four with long hair. They were bred to work in farms, and their job was to herd cattle, pull carts, and be watchdogs. The Bernese was brought to America in the 1920s and got recognized by AKC in the year 1937.
Size
Male Bernese dogs have a shoulder height of 25-28 inches, whereas females stand 23-26 inches tall at the shoulder. Their weight ranges from 80-110 pounds. It is slightly longer than tall. Male Bernese is more prominent than females. They have a strong body with a flat skull, triangular ears, scissors bite, deep chest, and round feet.
Coat
Its tricolor pattern recognizes a Bernese mountain dog. It comes with a thick double that has a longer outer coat and a wooly inner coat. They shed moderately throughout the year and heavily during the spring and fall seasons of the year. Berner’s body is covered with solid black with a white marking on the chest and tan-colored cheeks and calves. They have a weather-resistant coat to protect them from extreme hot and cold climates.
Temperament
A Bernese mountain dog makes excellent companion dogs as they are loyal, attentive, and calm. They can be aggressive and suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for a longer period. As they are large dogs with intelligent personalities, they make good watchdogs. Early socialization is required with them so that they grow as well-mannered dogs. They can develop a nasty barking habit if they are left unsupervised or untrained.
Care
A Bernese mountain dog is not suitable for apartment living. They were initially bred to work all day, so they have high energy requirements. A long walk twice a day or 30 minutes of exercise and playtimes twice or thrice a day will keep your pet healthy. As they are mountain dogs, they love to play in the snow. Please don’t leave them outside at hot temperatures as they are prone to heat strokes due to their black coat. Brushing their coat daily is required to keep their coat healthy and prevent matting and tangles from forming. Bathing them once a month is necessary to keep them clean and odor-free. Brush their teeth twice or thrice a week and trim their nails when necessary.
Health
Berner is a breed that is prone to a lot of diseases due to irresponsible breeding. Cancer, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Portosystemic shunt (PSS), Von Willebrand’s Disease, Gastric Torsion, and Panosteitis are some of the diseases that are commonly seen in a Bernese Mountain Dog. Other than these, Allergies, Eye infection, ear infection, and obesity are some minor diseases found in a Berner. Make sure to get a health clearance when you think of getting a Berner home.
