Pampered Dog Blog

The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Switzerland, and is named after the Swiss capital city, Berne.

These were originally farm dogs, a task they were ideally suited to given that they are non-aggressive to other animals and excel at a number of tasks. They were often used to pull heavy carts, but were also effective at herding and guarding livestock. Surprisingly, given their friendly nature, the Romans also used them as dogs of war.

The Berner Sennehund, as it is known in its native land, first came to America in 1926 and achieved AKC status in 1937.

The Bernese is a striking dog with a distinctive tri-color coat, which is mainly black and has white and rust markings on the chest and the face. The lower legs are also rust in color, with white paws. As you’d expect from a dog bred to survive in the mountains, the coat is thick, and the fluffy tail and folded ears provide additional protection from the cold.

The Bernese makes a wonderful pet. He is devoted to his family and exceptionally gentle with children. In fact, the Bernese temperament is legendary. He is friendly to everyone, including other dogs, and even cats.

The Bernese is a very playful dog which makes him an excellent choice for a family with kids. They are also very adaptable, meaning they’ll fit in to most living arrangements, as long as they are close to their human family.

Grooming a Bernese is quite labor intensive. They shed all year round with particularly heavy shedding in spring. Daily brushing is required to keep the coat looking its best and to keep your home free of dog hair. You’ll also have to regularly inspect and clean the ears, as they are prone to infection.

Like most purebred dogs the Bernese suffers from a number of cognenital diseases. This breed is at particular risk from canine cancers and also suffers from musculoskeletal ailments, including hip dysplasia, arthritis, and cruciate ligament problems. Less serious health issues include ear and eye infections. The Bernese, unfortunately, has a short lifespan of only 6-8 years on average.

The Bernese does not have great endurance, and can be quite lazy if allowed to be. They do however need and enjoy regular exercise, and are particularly fond of walking with their owner. They can also easily be trained to pull a cart, as this taps into one of the jobs they were originally bred for.

The biggest joy of owning one of these gentle giants is their temperament. These loving, friendly, loyal and intelligent dogs absolutely love being around people and are exceptionally eager to please. They can be a challenge to train, though because they tend to regard everything as a game. Use that to your advantage by keeping training sessions short, positive, and most of all fun. As any Bernese owner will tell you, these delightful dogs, retain their puppy playfulness throughout their life.

If you’re looking for a name for your Bernese Mountain Dog, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of cool dog names.