BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
APPEARANCE
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, well built, and sturdy dog, with a keen, alert expression, and a striking and distinct appearance. Their head is broad and flat, with a gentle furrow and distinct stop, and a muzzle that is straight and long. Gently oval shaped eyes are brown in color. The ears are triangular, medium in size, set close to the head with softly rounded ends. They have a distinctive tri-color coat, a stocky, muscular form, and a blazing white cross of fur on their breast. The weight of the Bernese Mountain Dog is around 65-120 pounds, and the height of these dogs is around 23-28 inches.
PERSONALITY
Berense Mountain Dogs are gentle and loyal dogs above all. They are loyal and tend to stay that way for life, which is why they should be brought into a home as puppies and ownership should not be changed after the age of 18 months if at all possible. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a responsive animal, and is very sensitive and sweet. Some can be a little on the dominant side when it comes to male Bernese Mountain Dogs.
TRAINING
Berense Mountain Dog is an intelligent dog that is easy to train - he does well at obedience training. Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely sensitive and will not respond to harsh or heavy-handed training methods. All training should be done with positive techniques such as respect, reward, love, fairness, and consistency. It’s important to avoid tricks until your dog is at least two years old, so that an early-life injury doesn’t permanently hamper the growth and abilities of your Bernese Mountain Dog.
EXERCISE
Due to the breed’s heavy bone structure and propensity for joint problems, the Bernese Mountain Dog tends to be active and energetic for only short bursts of time every day. A lot of care needs to be taken care of during the first six months of the Bernese mountain dog, though; exercise should be restricted to the yard and garden.
SOCIALIZATION
The Bernese Mountain Dog is typically excellent with children. However, since they are a large breed, they should never be left unsupervised with small children or children unknown to the dog. Some Bernese Mountain Dogs can be aloof with strangers whereas others can be friendly depending on the personality of the individual dog. These dogs are also good around other animals, and therefore are well suited to households with other pets.
LIVING CONDITIONS
They are not recommended for apartment dwelling, as they need a securely fenced large yard to run and play. This is a dog that thrives in colder climates but does not fare well in warmer weather. He loves the snow.
GROOMING
Bernese Mountain Dogs shed year-round, and shed heavily. Because of this, you’ll need to take care to brush and shampoo the dogs whenever they’re shedding the most heavily in order to keep their fur healthy. Although brushing and combing should be done on a regular basis, trimming and clipping should be reserved for only the most severely matted or tangled fur. most importantly, you’ll need to trim or remove any dewclaws that your dog may have.
HEALTH ISSUES
The Bernese Mountain Dog has a life expectancy of around 8-10 years. The Bernese Mountain Dog is susceptible to canine hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, mast cell tumor, entropion, ectropion, cataracts and subvalvular aortic stenosis. Take care that your dog does not get overheated on hot days.
HISTORY
The Bernese Mountain Dog originates from Switzerland, and their ancestry dates back over two thousand years to the time when Romans invaded Switzerland. They were bred in the canton of Berne as a farm dogs. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1937.
