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The pretty long coat, the good-natured charisma, and the friendly character make the Bernese Mountain Dog one of the most popular family dogs in the world. You can find out everything you need to know about the origin, nature, and attitude of the breed here in the profile.
History of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is an original farm dog from the foothills of the Alps around the Swiss capital of Bern. He was kept by the farmers there as a guard, draft, and driving dog. Since the long-haired, three-colored farm dog was particularly common in the village of Dürrbach, the Swiss initially called it “Dürrbächler”.
In November 1907, some dog breeders got together and founded the “Swiss Dürrbach Club”. From then on, the breed became more and more popular and on the advice of the geologist and cynologist Professor, Dr. Heim officially called the Bernese Mountain Dog (“Senn” – Swiss German for Alpine shepherd). Today, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a popular family pet around the world thanks to its handsome looks and lovable nature. Internationally, he is counted in the FCI Group 2 Section 3, Swiss Mountain Dogs.
Traits and Character Traits
A fearless and alert dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog is always friendly and outgoing. He feels most comfortable with his family and has no problem with other pets. The patient mountain dog is very loyal to its family and needs constant contact with people. Raising the breed is fairly easy with enough consistency. He has little hunting instinct and a low threshold, making him a perfect family pet. They don’t do well as guard dogs, as they are never aggressive towards strangers. The Bernese Mountain Dog has a rather easygoing nature and tends to greet “intruders” with a wag of its tail.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog right for me?
If you want to get a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, you should be absolutely sure that the breed suits you. After all, with a life expectancy of up to 9 years, the dog will be part of your everyday life for a long time. The first question you have to ask yourself is whether you have enough space for such a large dog. After all, the four-legged friend weighs up to 50 kg and reaches a height of up to 70 cm. A large garden in which the dog can let off steam and keep watch is ideal. A small city apartment is absolutely not suitable. You should also have enough time to keep the big dog busy and cared for. A full-time job in the office often does not go so well with the training and occupation of a large dog.
If you are absolutely sure that you want to adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog, you must first find a reputable and registered breeder. For a healthy puppy, you can expect prices from 1000 euros. But you will always find mountain dogs or mixed breeds in the animal shelter that are looking for a new home. The animals are usually very grateful and happy about any kind of affection. Here, however, you need to be careful and find out if the dog’s history matches your skills as a dog owner. Abused dogs are sometimes emotionally distressed or traumatized and need special treatment.
How Do I Keep a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Puppy education and development
Due to its enormous size and strength alone, representatives of the dog breed need consistent training from a young age. What the young dog has not learned is difficult to catch up in adulthood. It is best to take your puppy to a puppy school, where it can learn its first commands in a playful way and socialize with other dogs.
In the first few months, the little dog learns very quickly and should have many positive experiences. Raising this good-natured breed tends to go smoothly, and you don’t have to be prepared for any major setbacks. From time to time, however, the puppy can react a little stubbornly if it doesn’t understand something or just doesn’t feel like it. Despite the good-natured character, you should remain consistent and always motivate your four-legged friend.
A key aspect of raising the puppy is also that the bones and joints can develop healthily. So don’t overwhelm the young dog and don’t let it climb stairs or romp around too much at the beginning. Then there is a good chance that an adult dog, despite its size, will be less prone to joint problems.
How much exercise does the Bernese Mountain Dog need?
Even if the Bernese Mountain Dog looks rather clumsy and sluggish at first glance, it is very fond of running and needs exercise. You make him very happy with regular walks in nature and little intelligence games. For active dog sports such as agility, you should not use the big dog or only use it to a limited extent. He likes working as a train or rescue dog much better. Especially in summer, you have to be careful that the dog with the dense fur does not overheat and that you do not put too much strain on him. In snow and cold, on the other hand, the Berner is in top form and can hardly be stopped.