Bernese Mountain Dog

This dog is gentle and cheerful, making it a wonderful companion for families with children. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a natural watch dog. And, although aloof, they generally do okay with strangers. Most accommodate other pets.

This intelligent and independent dog is easy to train, although they are slow to mature. As they are somewhat sensitive, they require a master that is willing to guide them with gentle training. This breed needs to be socialized early, and thrives when surrounded by people.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is not recommended for apartment living, needing a fairly large fenced-in yard to assure the proper amount of exercise. They adjust better to cooler climates because of their thick coats and are not well-suited for warmer temperatures; a fact that prospective owners need to consider when looking at the Bernese as a pet.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is sturdy and agile, generally standing between 23 and 28 inches tall and weighing between 80 and 110 pounds. Their striking tri-color coat is weather resistant, appearing jet black with rust & tan markings. This double coated dog is seasonally a heavy shedder, and requires weekly brushing for proper coat maintenance.

Unfortunately, the life span of this breed is quite short, with most living between 6 and 8 years. Originally this breed lived to be much older, but their tendency to develop some cancers has lowered their life expectancy considerably. They are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia as well as bloat.

Most females have an average of 8 puppies, although there have been reports of litters with as little as 1 pup or as many as 14.