Bernese Mountain Dog
A big, tricolour Swiss farm dog with a gentle, good-natured temperament and a strong wish to be near its people.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 64–70 cm · Females 58–66 cm
- Weight
- Males 38–50 kg · Females 36–45 kg
- Life expectancy
- 7–10 years
- Exercise
- 45–60 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, long
- Colours
- Tricolour
- Bred for
- Draught work, Guarding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 45 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
- Kennel Alpebakken (Horsens, Østjylland)
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 5/5 – Very high |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a gentle, family-oriented large dog
- live in a cool climate
- enjoy relaxed hikes
Think twice if you …
- dislike shedding
- live in a hot climate
- are not ready for a breed with a short average lifespan
Care
Temperament
Calm, affectionate and good-natured. It is usually friendly with people and other animals, sometimes a little reserved with strangers. It is sensitive and does poorly with harsh handling.
Exercise
Daily walks of about an hour suit an adult, with care in hot weather. Cart pulling, hiking and tracking are good activities.
Grooming
Brush the long coat a few times a week and daily during the seasonal moult. Shedding is heavy.
Training
Willing and responsive, but it matures slowly. Positive, consistent training and early lead manners matter because of its size.
Health
The breed has a relatively short lifespan, with a high rate of cancers, especially histiocytic sarcoma, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow, heart, eye and DNA results, and about the ages reached by relatives.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Heart
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- DM (SOD1)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Bernese Mountain Dog comes from the canton of Bern, where farm dogs guarded the yard, moved cattle and pulled carts of milk and cheese to market. Around 1900, breeders began standardising the type, then known as the Dürrbächler.
Today it is valued for its friendly, calm nature and striking coat. It is devoted to its family, usually good with children and other pets, and happiest in cool weather. Its size, heavy shedding and sadly short average lifespan are important things to consider. It matures slowly and needs gentle exercise as a puppy.
Did you know?
The breed was first called the Dürrbächler, after a village inn area near Bern where many of the dogs were found.