Origin

The origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog has been a real secret from past times. It is said that the Bernese Mountain Dog evolved from the mountains of Switzerland. They were used for pulling carts, looking after livestock, searching, tracking etc. Over the years they have proved to be great companions of human beings. Numerous breeds were brought to Switzerland from foreign countries and there were chances of the Bernese Mountain Dog getting lost. Breeders saved this breed by careful breeding. The breed is very intelligent, obedient and competitive by nature.

General Description

The Bernese Mountain Dog is very large in size and has a stout and stocky figure. They have a muscular body and a wide chest touching their shoulders. The breed has long fur almost reaching the length of elbows. They have a wide round shaped head and their ears are triangular in shape which stand straight on their head. The Bernese Mountain Dog has black round eyes and its teeth is sharp enough for a scissor bite. Their tail is long almost reaching the ground. They have a double coat which helps them from the cold weather. They are found mainly in three colours. Mostly it is found in black and white combination. Biscuit coloured patches are also found on their feet.

Character

The Bernese Mountain Dog is very well behaved and gentle by nature. They have great strength and are very intelligent. They have a cheerful expression on their face. The Bernese Mountain Dog are very much devoted and loyal to their family and love to stay attached with their master. The breed prove to be great companions. They are excellent to kids and are great learners. This is the reason it is to train the Bernese Mountain Dogs. They prove to be great watch dogs. They are very alert by nature and do not like strangers. They should be trained and socialized properly from early age because if they are not socialized within time they may have a problem to adjust with their owners. The breed should not be left alone for long time.

Temperament

This breed is very intelligent, cheerful, loving and sensitive by nature. Due to their alertness they prove to be excellent guard dogs. Generally they are great to kids but due to their large size and eye should be kept on them when they are with kids. The breed is very fond of human companionship and you should not leave them alone for a long time otherwise they can become destructive. The Bernese Mountain Dogs are very much protective of their family and do not mix well with strangers but at the same time they are not aggressive. I can say that this is breed with good temperament and they are also good to other animals. Should be trained from an early age and otherwise they can have problems in adjusting with the family members.

Training

Early socialization and training classes should be provided. They are intelligent and so they can be trained easily. Harsh and rough methods of training are not recommended as they are timid in nature. Training should be done with softness and love.

Health

The Bernese mountain dogs can be affected by cancer, hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Their average life span is 6-8 years and average litter rate is 8.