Bernese Mountain dog has a calm nature but won’t refuse a good romp with its owner. Here is everything you need to know before getting a Bernese Mountain Dog.
What’s a Bernese Mountain Dog?
This dog breed was developed to work hard and help people; they thrive in the cold weather and are very good at pulling carts, herd cattle, and excellent watchdogs.
They come from Switzerland, they are one of four Sennenhund type dogs, and they are the only Swiss mountain dogs that come as long-haired dogs.
They get their name by coming from the canton of Bern. This dog breed is very obedient, they follow their owner, and they are great companions.
This breed of dogs was originally established in 1912, they also have some traits of Roman Mastiffs, and they were usually used in the beginning as farm dogs, which help people pull milk and cheese carts, and the Bernese Mountain Dog was also known as the “Cheese Dog.”
What does Bernese Mountain Dog look like?
Like any other Sennenhund dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog is also big, heavy, and has a three-colored coat. Bernese Mountain dog’s coat is black with a white chest and rust-colored spots above its eyes, also on the sides of its mouth and on its paws.
As said previously, this is the only Sennenhund dog that has long fur. The ideal Bernese Mountain Dog will give an impression of having a white horseshoe on its nose. They are very beautiful and unique dogs.
Bernese Mountain Dog Temperament
The Bernese Mountain dogs are very good and obedient dogs by nature; they are always happy to learn new things and be next to their owner with their working background.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are very big and heavy, so it is of utmost importance to train the dog from a young age to make a good household dog when growing up.
They will be delighted to please their owners, and they will thrive as watchdogs and herd or draft dogs. They are excellent family dogs, and they will be happy to help with anything they can around the house.
Bernese Mountain dogs are the best dogs to have around the house if you don’t mind their height and weight. They are very calm dogs but are always up for an adventure, and they can be very energetic.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs?
As said earlier, Bernese Mountain dogs should be trained at a very young age if you intend to keep it as a family house dog because of their size.
However, they mature later than other dogs, and they have a very soft nature, so we don’t recommend using violence when training your dog.
They are a pleasure to have around; they enjoy spending time with their family. The Bernese Mountain Dogs will do best if they are kept in the comfort of your home, and if they are properly trained, they will get along with your kids just fine.
Bernese Mountain dogs should be taught how to socialize with other dogs because they can cause big problems once you take your huge Bernese Mountain dog for a walk if they are not.
They are supposed to get their daily exercise so that they will stay in shape. You will enjoy your morning and evening walk with your Bernese Mountain dog.
How big do Bernese Mountain Dog get?
As said many times before, Bernese Mountain dogs are large dogs. The male Bernese Mountain dog can reach a height of up to 25-27.5 in (64-70cm), while female Bernese Mountain dogs get a size of 23-26 in (58-66cm).
How much does Bernese Mountain Dog weigh?
Their weight will depend on the sex of the dog and how often you are feeding the dog, and if you are using all the proper food that the Bernese Mountain dog needs.
A male Bernese Mountain dog’s weight can be anywhere from 80-120 lb (35-55 kg), and a female Bernese Mountain dog weighs anywhere from 75 to 100 lb (35-45 kg).
Does Bernese Mountain Dog shed?
Our answer to this question is a big fat YES. Bernese Mountain dogs shed a lot; that is why grooming your Bernese Mountain dog regularly and properly is of utmost importance.
These dogs have a double coat, with the outer coat being longer and the inner being more wooly. As said earlier, they shed a good amount, and the shedding gets more intense during the shedding season.
That happens twice a year, and we recommend brushing your dog daily at these times of the year. When your Bernese Mountain dog is out of the shedding season, we recommend brushing its fur at least once per week.
Another important grooming detail that you should look after when having a Bernese Mountain dog is nail trimming; if it is not done regularly, it can cause pain and structural problems.
How often should you bathe a Bernese Mountain Dog?
When it comes to bathing your Bernese Mountain Dog, this should be done once per 2-3 months, as they naturally have oily and silky hair that doesn’t have an unpleasant odor, there is no need for a more frequent bath.
If your Berne is playful and likes to get into a muddy puddle and easily gets dirty, a more frequent bath is required. It is also essential that you clean your Berne’s ears whenever you bathe them.
When you bathe your Bernese Mountain Dog, the first bathe should remove the general dirt off of your dogs’ coat. The second one is meant to suit your dog’s needs; it is essential that if your dog is hypoallergenic or has any skin problems, that you use a proper shampoo for his skin type.
The last part of your dog’s bath should consist of putting on and washing off the conditioner, which is used to protect your Berne from the harsh weather conditions.
Make sure that once you’re done bathing your Bernese Mountain Dog, use a blow drier to dry their coat, but make sure to keep your blow drier at a low heat setting.
Apart from it helping you dry your Bernie’s coat, it also helps bring volume and shine to your dog’s hair. Do this while brushing its fur.
Does Bernese Mountain Dog bark a lot?
Yes, not all, but some Bernese Mountain dogs do bark a lot. Although it can be annoying in some cases, remember that not all dog barking should be stopped.
Your Berne might be barking to warn you about something. Your Bernie can also be trained not to bark, but you must teach your dog not to bark when it is not necessary from a young age.
The things that you should avoid when teaching your Bernie not to bark are violence because it can make things even worse, also avoid using shock collars since it can make your dog more aggressive, and even worse, it can injure your dog, and last, but not least we don’t recommend using a debarking surgery on your dog, since this will not stop them from barking, it will just change the sound that they make when barking, it is cruel.
It should not even be taken as an option. When training your dog, it is essential to stay consistent and make it a pleasurable teaching experience for you and your dog.
Is Bernese Mountain Dog hypoallergenic?
Unfortunately, for all of our Bernie lovers with dog allergies, we have to disappoint you and say that Bernese Mountain Dogs are defiantly not hypoallergenic since they have a double-layered coat, and they do have shedding seasons twice a year.
Is Socializing Important for Bernese Mountain Dogs?
Yes, socializing your Bernie is very important. For the simple fact that if they are don’t socialized at a very young age, they can become very aggressive towards other dogs and people.
When your Bernie doesn’t learn how to socialize, it can become timid. And you defiantly don’t want that with a dog as big as a Bernese Mountain dog.
One way of socializing your Bernie is to take him to a puppy kindergarten, where puppies learn lots of new things while interacting with each other.
Is Bernese Mountain Dog easy to train?
Yes, Bernese Mountain dogs are easy to train. They are known as very obedient dogs, and they are very soft and gentle. That is why the training should not be violent by any means because their feelings can easily get hurt when doing it.
Because of their size, training should be done since a very young age, as said before, so that when your Bernie grows up, you have a well-behaved dog.
They are known as very good work dogs, so they can be very helpful around the house if they are adequately trained.
Housebreaking With Bernese Mountain Dogs
You must plan on keeping your Berne in the house to potty-train him/her. Potty training needs to be done when you just get the puppy.
You must take your Bernese Mountain Dog for a walk whenever you feel like he needs one and look for signals he gives you when he needs to do “the deed.”
Some dog owners even choose to give their Bernie a treat once he does what he needs to out of the house. But one of the essential things when potty training your Bernie is being consistent and looking at your dog’s body language.
Bernese Mountain Dog behavior problems
Some of the main behavior problems that Bernese Mountain dogs have is that they have separation anxiety, especially at a young age and when they are not used to being alone.
When your Bernese Mountain dog is small and left alone, he could make some mess around the house. They also tend to be timid if they are not socialized enough and if they are not around people and other animals from a young age.
That is why socializing your Bernie from a young age is important, as said above. Another behavior problem that a Bernie can have, especially young males, is stubbornness and dominance.
They also tend to drool a whole lot, so if you get grossed out easily, this might not be the right dog for you. Also, they are pronto developing some annoying behavior problems like digging, barking, and chewing.
That is why training your Bernese Mountain dog plays a big role. If you are ready to make an effort in training your dog, you can forget about all of these behavior problems because your Bernie is going to be a sweetheart if appropriately trained.
Some Bernese Mountain dogs are also known to have a big prey drive, which can be good for people who are planning to keep it as a guard dog, but it can be tricky if your yard doesn’t have a fence.
That is why we don’t recommend getting a Bernie if you plan to keep the dog in a fenceless yard or any place where the dog is not secured.
Bernese Mountain Dogs Health Problems and Lifespan
If you are not ready for losing your dog a bit too soon, then Bernese Mountain dog might not be the right dog for you, their lifespan is only from five to seven years, and they have lots of health issues.
Some of the health issues your Bernie can have are hip and elbow dysplasia or succumb to inherited cancers, heart disease, or epilepsy.
They are wonderful dogs, yes, they are beautiful, but the drawback with this breed would be all the health problems they can have.
Just like with any other dog breed, Bernie’s ears, too, should often be checked for any infections. Also, remember to brush your dog’s teeth regularly with toothpaste designed for dogs.
When getting a Bernie, you should also know that all large dogs are in danger of bloat, a stomach condition that can be life-threatening for them.
That is why it is important to notice any change in your dog’s behavior by visiting the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Nutrition for your Bernese Mountain Dog
The most important thing is that your Bernese Mountain dog gets good and healthy food. There are many dog food brands on the market, and we do recommend researching before choosing the right dog food for your Bernie.
Look out for your dog’s allergies if he has any when buying the food. It is important to dose the amount of food you give to your dog because too much of it can lead to obesity, which will not be good for your dog.
Although treats can be good when used for training, don’t exaggerate since that can also lead to obesity. Your Bernese Mountain dog must have clean and fresh water available to drink at all times.
How much does Bernese Mountain Dog cost?
When planning to buy a Bernese Mountain dog from a good breeder, you must be ready to spend your coins. On average, their price will differ anywhere from $800-$2000.
Whereas if you decide to go with a good breeder, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2000 to even $10 000. They are on the more expensive side when it comes to buying a puppy.
Still, you also have the cheaper option where you can adopt a Bernese Mountain dog from your local shelters for a price from $330 to $550, and in that price, shelters include vaccinations and registrations of the dog or puppy.
In this case, also, you are saving up some money while providing a home to a dog that needs one, so in our opinion, this is a win-win option.
Where to buy/adopt Bernese Mountain Dog?
Buying or adopting your Bernese Mountain dog will be easy in the US since they are among the most common dog breeds.
There are plenty of options that you can choose from when getting the perfect Bernie for yourself. You can choose to adopt a dog from a dog rescuing organization, which is, as we said above, a win-win option since you will be helping the dog and yourself.
The second option you can choose from is adopting your Bernie from local animal shelters and humane societies, which is another great option when wanting to help and save up some money.
And last but not least, if you are ready to spend some more money, we recommend getting your dog from a dog breeder, and when you do so, look out what is available on the market and find the best breeder out there, because if you are spending a lot of money, you want to make sure that you are getting a healthy and good puppy for your home.
