HEALTH DEFECTS

THE BERNESE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

established 1983

Easy direct access to UK Bernese help and advice

COMMON FAULTS AND DEVIATIONS

FROM THE BREED STANDARD

Some Bernese puppies do not conform exactly to the Bernese Breed Standard - they have faults or deviations from one or more of the 'ideal' listed breed points. Certain faults may dictate those dogs are sold as being unsuitable as show or breeding prospects, but those puppies may be quite suitable as pets and companions. It is usual for breeders to reduce the price of those dogs in direct proportion to the degree of the fault.

BLUE EYE. (Wall eye). A lack of pigment gives a bluish coloration rather than the brown eye colour as described in the breed standard. There is no detrimental effect on vision, it is purely a cosmetic fault (which also appears in other breeds), which will make the dog unsuitable for show or breeding purposes. Blue eyes sometimes occur on Bernese with excessive white facial markings, but can sometimes be seen on correctly marked Bernese.

MISMARKING. Excessive white markings on the head and neck, and perhaps extending up the legs are quite common, and breeders may describe these puppies as “overmarked”. A small amount, or even absence, of white on the head or chest or perhaps the feet would be regarded as “undermarked”. Severely mismarked Bernese would not be good show prospects, but, depending on the extent of the deviation from the Breed Standard, some mismarked Bernese have been used for breeding.

Undermarked puppy - same dog at 1 year old. Overmarked with blue eye. Overmarked brown eyes.

MONORCHID. A term commonly used by dog breeders to describe a male puppy which has only one of its two testicles descended into the scrotum. The correct term for this condition is Unilateral Chryptorchid: the term Monorchid refers to a male with a single testicle, which is a much rarer condition. The testicles of male Bernese puppies can usually be felt in the scrotum by 5 to 6 weeks old, but in some other breeds they may descend a little later. Veterinary surgeons usually advise castration of a dog which is not `entire`, as health problems may result if an undescended testicle is not removed.

OVERSHOT OR UNDERSHOT JAW. A Scissor Bite describes the desirable teeth placement with the upper teeth set square to the jaw and slightly overlapping the lower teeth. If the upper teeth project much farther forward than the lower, then this is called “Overshot”. If the lower teeth are placed much farther forward than the upper teeth then that would be described as “Undershot”. The teeth placement of Bernese puppies can alter drastically as the skull changes shape with growth and the final placement may not be known until perhaps a year old. Puppies with apparently correct teeth placement at 7 weeks old can develop an Undershot or Overshot jaw as they mature, and those puppies with incorrect teeth alignment can end up with a correct Scissor Bite.

It is not common for incorrect teeth alignment to cause any problems to the dog; some dogs may experience difficulty in picking up a very flat biscuit from the floor, or occasionally a misplaced canine tooth may press into the gum or roof of the mouth in which case canine dentistry may be advised. Those who wish to show their Bernese should choose a puppy with correct teeth alignment for the best chance of correct adult dentition.

UMBILICAL HERNIA. There is a natural opening in the abdominal wall which sometimes fails to close at birth. As the puppy grows, fatty tissue can protrude through the opening, appearing as a soft, rounded bulge under the skin. The abdominal wall will often close up by itself, usually by the time the puppy is three to four months old. Umbilical hernias are VERY common in Bernese puppies and adults, and if, at the time of sale (7 or 8 weeks old) a Bernese puppy has a hernia no larger than a walnut then it is unlikely to experience any problem. There is usually no reduction in purchase price for a Bernese puppy with an umbilical hernia.