 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bernese Mountain Dog
Description:
The Bernese Mountain Dog or ‘Berner’ is a very handsome large dog which became one of the more popular dog breeds in the last few decades. The Bernese is instantly recognizable by its distinctive tri-colour double coat of black, white and tan or rust. The Berner’s body, neck, head and legs are black; the cheeks, stockings and eyespots are tan or rust; and the feet chest, muzzle and tail tip are white. The outer coat is long shiny and waterproof while the Berner’s undercoat is quite dense. These Swiss mountain dogs are fairly large with male dogs standing about 25 to 28 inches and females about 23 to 26 inches at shoulder height. Berners can weigh from 70 to 110 pounds.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are members of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Working Dog Group.
Bernese Mountain Dog Pictures:
Click On Image To Enlarge
History:
Some experts claim that the Bernese ancestry can be traced aback to the Roman invasion of Switzerland over 2,000 years ago. We do know that 18th century paintings show Bernese-type dogs as farm dogs. However by the end of the 19th century the breed was threatened by extinction and considerable effort was made to preserve this native Swiss breed. The Bernese name is taken from the canton of Bern where the sturdy mountain dog was used for herding cattle, pulling farm carts and guarding sheep. Berners are used as guard dogs, watchdogs, farm dogs, search and rescue dogs and companion dogs. The Bernese was prominently featured in a dog food advertising campaign in the l970’s and this started a dog breeding boom. The Berner was ranked 47th out of 154 dog breeds registered by the AKC in 2005.
Temperament:
Berners are outdoors dogs that thrive in cold weather. These mountain dogs are outgoing, intelligent and affectionate and make terrific family pets. The Berners love children but should be supervised with young children because they are large and can knock the toddlers over. Berners should be socialized early with small children and animals when they are puppies. These Bernese are intelligent and very trainable and make good dogs for competitive obedience trials. Berners are fairly tolerant with strangers but still make excellent watch dogs and guard dogs. These mountain dogs should not be trained to be aggressive guard dogs as they are fearsome enough already. First time dog owners can manage very well with this dog breed. Potential owners should only buy Berner puppies from long-established breeders who have broadened the genetic base.
Exercise:
Bernese need a moderate amount of exercise. Although they can move very quickly for a large dog, they lack endurance and don’t need long runs. Berners should not be kept in an apartment as they love to be outside in a large, fenced yard. Because this breed’s coat is so heavy, Berners prefer cooler weather.
Grooming:
The Bernese need only weekly brushing except when they are blowing their coats. Then they should be brushed daily.
Health Issues:
The Berner’s life expectancy has been dropping from 10 to 12 years down to 7 or 8 years in recent times. This shortened lifespan is largely due to a restricted gene pool and inherited genetic diseases. These diseases include cancer (particularly histiocytosis) and auto-immune diseases, familial kidney disease, epilepsy, eye disorders such as progressive retinal atrophy and entropion, orthopedic disorders such as elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia and aortic stenosis. Cancer seems to be the most common cause of early deaths. Information on these genetic diseases can be found in our article Hereditary Diseases in Dogs. Prospective buyers should ask for the breeding parents Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) test results for hip dysplasia and also the Canine Eye Registry (CERF) recent ophthalmologists report for eye disorders.
If this article interested you, check out our article on
Pet Allergies
Do you run a site that should be listed here? Link to this site and then tell us about it.
Articles
Choosing the Dog Breed For You
You should decide what kind of dog will best meet your requirements. You may want to choose a cross-breed, designer or pure-bred dog...
Hereditary Diseases in Dogs
An article on hereditary dog diseases that lists common health problems and the breeds that commonly inherit them.
Top 10 Toy Dog Breeds
The Toy Group includes most of the very small and miniature lap dogs and apartment-sized companion dog breeds. Toy dogs play a critical role in the lives of people that live alone and their presence can have beneficial effects on the health of the sick, the elderly and the housebound. Toys are popular companion dogs for people living in cities and adapt well to apartment life.
Top 10 Terrier Dog Breeds
The Terrier Group includes those small but lively terrier breeds that were developed (mainly in Great Britain) to hunt small burrowing animals such as badgers, foxes, otters, rabbits and rats.
Top 10 Hound Dog Breeds
The Hound Group includes dog breeds with a wonderful sense of smell and/or great athleticism. These breeds were developed to follow game either by sight or by smell.
How Dogs Can Help Teach Your Children Responsibility
Owning a dog is a great way to engage your kids in the process of responsibility. Teaching your children to be responsible is probably one of the most important aspects of being a parent. And why not have a little help in this department with the assistance of a brand-new puppy?
Making A long Road Trip More Comfortable For Your Dog
If your road trip is going to be a long one then you need to take a few extra steps to plan accordingly and ensure that you and your puppy get to your destination safe and happy. Here are a few suggestions that can help...
Xoloitzcuintli Dog Breed
The Xolo is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds. Statues and effigies dating back more than 3,000 years have been found in Mayan tombs. Xolos were valued for their loyalty, companionship and intelligence as well as their curative and mystical powers.
Our List of Dog Breeds
A list of over 110 Dog breeds and growing.
Additional Content
If you have a picture of your dog that you would like us to use either in a 'dog photo needed' spot or in our up coming dog breeds photo gallery, you can e-mail us the picture at dogphotos@Dog-Breed-Facts.com
All submissions become the sole property of Dog-Breed-Facts.comRead our term of use and privacy statements.
For quick browsing of our site visit our site map.
