Bernese Mountain Dog Facts
The Bernese Mountain Dog, or the "Berner", as they
are affectionately nicknamed originated in Switzerland
as a breed of farm dog. Because of their heavy, long
coat, they were able to carry out duties and endure
in environments that were cold or in snow covered mountainous
areas. Their strong frame which is sturdy by most stands,
also helped them to brave any winter elements.
This large "Berner" stands anywhere from twenty-three
to twenty seven and a half inches. This large breed
can weigh anywhere from seventy to one hundred pounds.
Perhaps the most recognizable because of its very unique
color pattern, the appendages, ears and head are a straight
black; the cheeks, stockings and ghost eyes are tan
or rust and the rest of him is usually white. The pattern
is pretty common to all Berners and if there are any
variations, it is usually in the amount of white. They
are also known for their deep brown expressive eyes.
Their beautiful coat needs to be brush on a regular
basis to keep it glossy and wavy.
Bernese do not have a lot of endurance, but they are
inherently outdoor dogs who need a lot of exercise and
varied activities of a physical nature. As long as they
are healthy and have no problems in any of their joints,
they like to hike close to their owners. The seek attention
and are known for their need for affection, thus, leaning
against anyone (even a stranger) or forgetting their
size and sitting on their feet. .
This breed's strongest point is their temperament and
they are known to be very stable and intelligent. They
are also loyal and affectionate and this causes them
to somewhat protective of their owners, however not
quite watchdog quality, although they are loyal. They
are generally outgoing and friendly with people and
also other dogs. As long as their trainer is consistent
and trains in a way that is routine, this breed responds
to training very well. The owner must be very patient
because Bernese are thinkers and slowly absorb what
is being said or trained. Even though these dogs are
big in size, they handle children very well and are
very sweet and gentle with them. Generally this breed
tends to have a lot of stability in attitude and are
very patient dogs.
If you have ever seen this breed in a parade as part
of a children's wagon ride, they perform the task with
patience and gentleness. Because they are calm most
of the time, they first starting pulling wagons for
children in Switzerland as a form of entertainment.
It is best to feed this breed anywhere from one and
a half to two and a half cans of a high-quality meaty
product with a equal amount of a biscuit or if they
prefer, they can have five cups of a dry dog food that
is complete with vitamins and minerals.
The Bernese Mountain Dog would do best at a house that
has a fenced yard. The leader must be patient and strong
and able to handle the early training. They also must
be able to handle this breed and socialize them at a
young age. This breed would not be well-suited for families
with children, as well as with anyone who is controlling,
or timid. This breed would also be too much for the
disabled and/or the elderly to handle.
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