HISTORY
The distant origins of the Bernese Mountain Dog are not well documented. The breed apparently had its origins in the mastiff type dogs brought by the Romans when they came into Switzerland around two thousand years ago. The Roman dogs were used to guard and drive herds brought with the invaders. Over the centuries, since Roman times, these dogs remained as general-purpose farmers' dogs, but little attention was paid to preserving the type or developing the breed. Indeed, near the end of the 19th century, the breed was nearly extinct. Fortunately, around the turn of the century, several Swiss dog fanciers realized that ignoring the many good qualities of the old native breeds would be a mistake. These pioneers brought Bernese from various isolated valleys in their home canton of Bern. The breed was originally called the Schweizerische Dürrbach-Klub; after the name of the hamlet and of the inn of Dürrbach, Switzerland where the dog was first developed. In 1907 a few breeders of the region of Burgdorf decided to promote the pure breeding of this native dog by founding the "Schweizerische Dürrbach-Klub" and fixing the characteristic traits of the breed in a first standard.
Current records indicate that the first reported American imports were a pair brought to the United States in 1926 by Isaac Scheiss, a Kansas farmer. Mr. Scheiss failed in his attempt to register the pair with the American Kennel Club. Ten years later, Glen Shadow of Louisiana, imported another pair, Fridy v. Haslenbach and Quell v. Tiergarten. Through the efforts of Mr. Shadow and other fanciers, the AKC officially recognized the breed in 1937, with Fridy and Quell the first Bernese registered in the U.S. The breed increased only slightly in numbers in the United States before 1941, when World War II interrupted further importation. After 1945 importation and registration continued. In 1968, a few breeders and owners joined together to form the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America.
THE BERNER PERSONALITY
Berner's are affectionate, intelligent, and alert dogs. They are also gentle, calm, and tolerant. They like to be with their family and thrive when included in family activities. Their large size is one of their most notable features, and of course early training is essential to teach them how to behave properly in the house and with people. Slow to mature, they reach adult size long before reaching mental maturity.
The Berner is protective of their family, not usually aggressive. Can be aloof with strangers and generally a bit shy, so exposing your puppy to a wide variety of people, animals, and situations is important. Like every dog, the Berner needs early socialization — exposure to different people, sights, sounds, and experiences.
Berners are physically sturdy and appear square, weighing 75 to 140 pounds. The life span of the Bernese Mountain Dog is equal to other large breed dogs with most living between six and eight years, although a ten or twelve year old Berner is not uncommon.
The Bernese Mountain Dog's intelligence, eager desire to please and pleasant temperament make it a popular breed choice. They are often certified as therapy dogs. With their natural liking of children, Berners are found working as reading dogs and classroom companions. They have an easy going nature and socialize well with human and other companion animals. These characteristics also make the Berner a trustworthy family dog and gentle giant.
COAT, COLOR AND GROOMING
The Berner coat is gorgeous: a thick double coat with a longer outer coat and a woolly undercoat. Characteristically tricolor-ed, the majority of the Berners body is covered with jet-black hair with rich rust and bright white. There’s usually a white marking on the chest that looks like an inverted cross or a shield, a white blaze between the eyes, a white horseshoe around the muzzle/nose and white on the tip of his tail and feet.
Berners do shed moderately all year and heavily twice a year known as "blowing their coat" in the spring and fall. Brushing is so important to keep a tangle free and neat appearance but also to keep the hair problem down in your home. You also get to share some one on one time with your berner while brushing and can give them the once over checking for any skin problems, rashes, unusual growths or new bumps or lumps.
Brushing your dogs teeth everyday is recommended to cut down on tarter and gum disease. Starting early as a puppy will get your berner used to this.
Trim nails once a month if your dog doesn’t wear them down naturally to prevent painful splitting and other problems. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re probably too long. Dog toenails have blood vessels, a quick in them, and if you cut too far you can cause bleeding, and your dog won't be too keen on getting it's nails trimmed because it will associate it with pain. I make sure to have styptic powder near by when trimming nails just in case I draw blood but, if you’re not experienced trimming dog nails, ask a vet or groomer to do it for you and to show you how to for the next time.
Berners have floppy ears/folded ears which do get "funky" so check them weekly and clean with a dog ear wash or a Tea Tree Oil and water mixture and a cotton ball. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal, just gently wipe and clean the outer ear.
Dogs in general do not like their feet touched, touching and playing with their paws as a young pup will help with grooming and veterinary care in the future when your berner is a big adult weighing in at over 100+ pounds. Make grooming a positive experience with lots and lots of praise and reward, you'll be happier in the end and so will your dog.
The distant origins of the Bernese Mountain Dog are not well documented. The breed apparently had its origins in the mastiff type dogs brought by the Romans when they came into Switzerland around two thousand years ago. The Roman dogs were used to guard and drive herds brought with the invaders. Over the centuries, since Roman times, these dogs remained as general-purpose farmers' dogs, but little attention was paid to preserving the type or developing the breed. Indeed, near the end of the 19th century, the breed was nearly extinct. Fortunately, around the turn of the century, several Swiss dog fanciers realized that ignoring the many good qualities of the old native breeds would be a mistake. These pioneers brought Bernese from various isolated valleys in their home canton of Bern. The breed was originally called the Schweizerische Dürrbach-Klub; after the name of the hamlet and of the inn of Dürrbach, Switzerland where the dog was first developed. In 1907 a few breeders of the region of Burgdorf decided to promote the pure breeding of this native dog by founding the "Schweizerische Dürrbach-Klub" and fixing the characteristic traits of the breed in a first standard.
Current records indicate that the first reported American imports were a pair brought to the United States in 1926 by Isaac Scheiss, a Kansas farmer. Mr. Scheiss failed in his attempt to register the pair with the American Kennel Club. Ten years later, Glen Shadow of Louisiana, imported another pair, Fridy v. Haslenbach and Quell v. Tiergarten. Through the efforts of Mr. Shadow and other fanciers, the AKC officially recognized the breed in 1937, with Fridy and Quell the first Bernese registered in the U.S. The breed increased only slightly in numbers in the United States before 1941, when World War II interrupted further importation. After 1945 importation and registration continued. In 1968, a few breeders and owners joined together to form the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America.
THE BERNER PERSONALITY
Berner's are affectionate, intelligent, and alert dogs. They are also gentle, calm, and tolerant. They like to be with their family and thrive when included in family activities. Their large size is one of their most notable features, and of course early training is essential to teach them how to behave properly in the house and with people. Slow to mature, they reach adult size long before reaching mental maturity.
The Berner is protective of their family, not usually aggressive. Can be aloof with strangers and generally a bit shy, so exposing your puppy to a wide variety of people, animals, and situations is important. Like every dog, the Berner needs early socialization — exposure to different people, sights, sounds, and experiences.
Berners are physically sturdy and appear square, weighing 75 to 140 pounds. The life span of the Bernese Mountain Dog is equal to other large breed dogs with most living between six and eight years, although a ten or twelve year old Berner is not uncommon.
The Bernese Mountain Dog's intelligence, eager desire to please and pleasant temperament make it a popular breed choice. They are often certified as therapy dogs. With their natural liking of children, Berners are found working as reading dogs and classroom companions. They have an easy going nature and socialize well with human and other companion animals. These characteristics also make the Berner a trustworthy family dog and gentle giant.
COAT, COLOR AND GROOMING
The Berner coat is gorgeous: a thick double coat with a longer outer coat and a woolly undercoat. Characteristically tricolor-ed, the majority of the Berners body is covered with jet-black hair with rich rust and bright white. There’s usually a white marking on the chest that looks like an inverted cross or a shield, a white blaze between the eyes, a white horseshoe around the muzzle/nose and white on the tip of his tail and feet.
Berners do shed moderately all year and heavily twice a year known as "blowing their coat" in the spring and fall. Brushing is so important to keep a tangle free and neat appearance but also to keep the hair problem down in your home. You also get to share some one on one time with your berner while brushing and can give them the once over checking for any skin problems, rashes, unusual growths or new bumps or lumps.
Brushing your dogs teeth everyday is recommended to cut down on tarter and gum disease. Starting early as a puppy will get your berner used to this.
Trim nails once a month if your dog doesn’t wear them down naturally to prevent painful splitting and other problems. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re probably too long. Dog toenails have blood vessels, a quick in them, and if you cut too far you can cause bleeding, and your dog won't be too keen on getting it's nails trimmed because it will associate it with pain. I make sure to have styptic powder near by when trimming nails just in case I draw blood but, if you’re not experienced trimming dog nails, ask a vet or groomer to do it for you and to show you how to for the next time.
Berners have floppy ears/folded ears which do get "funky" so check them weekly and clean with a dog ear wash or a Tea Tree Oil and water mixture and a cotton ball. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal, just gently wipe and clean the outer ear.
Dogs in general do not like their feet touched, touching and playing with their paws as a young pup will help with grooming and veterinary care in the future when your berner is a big adult weighing in at over 100+ pounds. Make grooming a positive experience with lots and lots of praise and reward, you'll be happier in the end and so will your dog.