Bernese Mountain Dog: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Hypoallergenic: No
Lifespan: 6 – 8 years
Origin: Switzerland
Temperament: Affectionate, Loyal, Intelligent, Faithful
Weight: Male: 38–50 kg, Female: 36–48 kg
Height: Male: 64–70 cm, Female: 58–66 cm

Berner Sennenhunde are good-natured dogs with a balanced temperament, which prove to be very affectionate especially to familiar persons. They are considered vigilant, alert and fearless, but they are not slaps. Bernese Mountain Dogs behave peacefully and confidently towards strangers; In general, they are characterized by a good leadership. They can be well educated, especially in males should be consistent. 

Like their Swiss ancestors, Bernese Mountain Dogs still enjoy working and enjoy the sportive activity as well as training as a companion dog or track dog. Also, the wagon pulling and sports competitions like many Bernese mountain dogs very much. In addition to daily exercise, you also need the playful activity; moreover, they need close family ties and a lot of affection, so that they are not eligible for sole kennel husbandry.

The Bernese mountain dog is now valued above all as a family dog, thanks to his good-natured temperament and his attachment to children. In addition, the watchful and very adaptive animals are also used as a companion dog. His enjoyment of physical work also makes the Bernese Mountain Dog an ideal pull dog and tracker, providing valuable service above all as a rescue and disaster dog. In addition, animals of this breed also enjoy popular sports, but are due to their strong physique but less suitable for sports such as agility, which demand a high agility and maneuverability.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is originally from Switzerland, where he was mainly used as a watchdog and draft animal. His stocky physique and good-natured nature made him the ideal working dog, who rendered valuable services in the rural Alpine foothills and in the Swiss Mittelland. The Swiss Dürrbach Club was founded in 1907 and for the first time set up race characteristics for the Bernese Mountain Dog. The club owes its name to the original name for the breed, which was initially known as a Dürrbächler after a place in the canton of Bern. The Swiss Dürrbach Club began with the pure breeding of the Bernese Mountain Dog, which became increasingly popular in neighboring Germany.

The catch is medium long and strong. The Bernese Mountain Dog has dark brown almond-shaped eyes with attached eyelids. The high-set ears are medium in size, slightly rounded and lie flat when at rest. The straightening takes place at the back of the ear, while the front edge continues to rest. 

Bernese Mountain Dogs are long-haired with simple or slightly wavy hair. The deep black ground color is broken by a reddish brown fire in the area of cheeks, runs, chest and over the eyes. In addition, the breed shows white badges in the head area with double-sided Fangzeichnung, a continuous white chest and throat drawing and ideally white paws and a white rod tip.

In the body, the Bernese Mountain Dog is characterized by a strong bone structure with a firm and straight back. Chest and loin are wide with a slightly rising profile line from the chest area to the hindquarters. The croup is slightly rounded, the forelegs in the front view parallel with rather broad position. Bernese Mountain Dogs have a bushy tail with a minimum length to the hock, which hangs in peace and is in motion at about back height.