GENERAL BREED INFORMATION

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of a group of four native Swiss working breeds, all of which have the same striking black, white and tan markings. The Bernese (Berner Sennenhund) is the second largest of the group, and is the only one with a long coat – the others, The Grosse Schweizer Sennenhund (Great Swiss Mountain Dog), Appenzeller and Entlebucher, are varied in size but all have the same close lying short hair. The Bernese is the only one of the group that is bred in Great Britain.

Bernese were, and still are, used as general purpose farm dogs. They do not have one single over riding instinct for a particular job, but were bred to be adaptable and biddable. The Bernese is an excellent watch dog, a strong draught dog very willing to pull small carts and wagons, a capable livestock drover, an attentive and loyal companion for the farmer when going about his chores and of course a fun-loving and trustworthy children’s playmate and pet.

The Bernese temperament is usually very good. They are friendly and tolerant of other dogs, livestock and children. They are not given to hysterical behaviour or unnecessary barking. They are intelligent and easy to train, and possess a most definite sense of humour. Bernese need to be around people and thrive on human company, bonding very closely with members of `their` family. It is ESSENTIAL that Bernese live inside the house within a family with someone at home most of the time – they are NOT suited to being left alone all day or kennel life.

Although named` Mountain Dog`, the Bernese is not a giant breed like a St. Bernard or Pyrenean. Bernese can be better described as a large breed with a similar outline to a Golden Retriever but bigger, much broader and heavier. Bernese are quick to grow but slow to mature, reaching their eventual height by about 15 months old, but not reaching full maturity until about three years for a bitch and four years for a male.

An adult Bernese male will measure between 64 and 70 cms (25 – 27.5 inches) at the shoulder and weigh between 36 to 55 kilos (approx. 80 - 120 lbs).

An adult Bernese bitch will measure between 58 and 66 cms (23 – 26 inches) at the shoulder and weigh between 34 to 46 kilos (approx. 75 – 100 lbs).

(For comparison, a German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) male should be 64 cms (25 inches) at the shoulder, and bitches 58 cms (23 inches) at the shoulder with a weight range of 35 – 40 kilos or 77 – 85 lbs.)

For their size, Bernese do not require a lot of exercise when compared with some working breeds, although adults should have the ability to work actively all day if required. When adult, Bernese will certainly enjoy a daily walk and free run and will most certainly want to join in the family activities and excursions. However, as a breed the Bernese does not have that `need`, an inbuilt `drive`, for marathon jaunts every day, and growing puppies need to be protected from the inevitable damage caused by over-exercise. Young Bernese under one year old should not be allowed to become overtired, and care should be taken to prevent accidents or behaviour which will cause distress and damage to the delicate yet fast growing skeleton of puppies.

Bernese are a hardy breed and like to spend time out of doors, provided they can see and hear what is going on inside – definitely a breed who do NOT want to miss out on what is happening around them. Bernese like to sit – just SIT – in the garden and look at the sky and watch the birds, but shut the door and they definitely want to be back on the INSIDE with you! Bernese do not seem to worry about cold weather conditions, but they should be protected from weather extremes and should not be allowed to lie outside in wet or frosty weather. Some young Bernese love play in mud and puddles, whilst some others are much more clean living! Even those who enjoy mud baths do not make good kennel dogs – far from it – a Bernese will be very miserable if left alone or away from the house and family. It is essential that your Bernese should live as part of your family if you are to enjoy the full character, intelligence and devotion so natural to this breed.

The cost of buying a Bernese may vary somewhat and the cost is not directly linked to quality. Most breeders sell all the puppies in their litter for the same price regardless of whether they are male or female or wanted as a pet or show/breeding dog. Sometimes a breeder may have a puppy that has a major fault or physical defect which is usually reflected in a reduced price. Do not assume a higher priced puppy is of higher quality - some puppy farmers and commercial dealers charge VERY high prices for VERY poor quality Bernese! The average UK price in 2009 for a Kennel Club Registered, purebred Bernese puppy from an established, experienced, reputable, specialist Bernese breeder is about £850 - £950. That price should include some initial insurance cover arranged by the breeder, plus a pedigree, diet and rearing advice, and the Kennel Club Registration Certificate which may be available at the time of collection or a written promise that it will be forwarded on. Purchasers are advised to budget for Canine Insurance cover for Loss, Veterinary Fees and Third Party Liability. Most caring breeders include and organise a few week's initial insurance cover in the purchase price of the puppy.

Markings and quality will have some bearing on the price of a Bernese puppy. A knowledgeable, dedicated and caring breeder will want to know as much about you and your family and circumstances, as you will need to know about the breeder and the Bernese puppies and their parents. Beware of breeders who offer joint ownership deals, or breeding-terms agreements as this will affect your everyday ownership rights. Also, beware of breeders who charge more than the average price – they may imply their dogs are superior, but that is rarely the case. There should be no difference in price between male and female puppies. It is common practice amongst UK Bernese breeders to place non-breeding endorsements (restrictions) on puppies sold as family pets and companions, and for both seller and buyer to sign an agreement confirming that understanding.

Always visit the breeder of any puppies you may be interested in at their HOME to be sure that the parents are exactly what you would hope for. On their home ground, Bernese should greet visitors eagerly and in an obviously friendly fashion. Any Bernese who adopt or continue a threatening posture even after their owner has greeted you and allowed you entry should be viewed with not only extreme caution, but their suitability as breeding stock has to be in question.

Be sure to buy a Bernese puppy ONLY from a breeder who enjoys the company of their own dogs as members of their family within their home, and their Bernese litters are reared within the household, not relegated to a kennel or shed away from the house. A litter of puppies does indeed generate a lot of mess, but house reared puppies are much better socialised and well handled and therefore adapt to their new homes and owners more quickly and with no obvious trauma. Kennel reared puppies inevitably suffer stress when taken away and faced with household noises and activity.

Be sure to inspect the parents of ANY puppy you may be interested in, or at least the mother, BEFORE paying a deposit and ensure the terms of the deposit are put in writing. Also, to avoid disappointment, it is wise to confirm WHEN you will be able to make your choice, and how many puppies will be available to choose from. It is most unwise to select your puppy before 4 or ideally 5 weeks old, and at that stage most breeders will supply you with a diet sheet and information to help you prepare for the arrival of your new puppy. Before that age, any assessment or selection from the litter will be made on size and markings, and both those qualities will change drastically in coming weeks. Sensible breeders will expect you, as a potential puppy purchaser, to make a provisional booking to confirm a definite interest, but then everything is put on hold until the puppies are big enough to view and all parties can meet each other. By 5 weeks old, it is easier to determine the character and temperament of the litter, and the physical differences and breed specific qualities of the puppies will be much more obvious.

NEVER, NEVER BUY A BERNESE FROM ANY BREEDER WHO SUGGESTS THEY MEET YOU TO VIEW THEIR PUPS AWAY FROM THEIR PREMISES - AT MOTORWAY SERVICES OR SIMILAR.

The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is a point of concern among breeders, owners and those who may be interested in owning the breed. In common with some other large breeds, it would seem that many Bernese deaths occur at about seven or eight years old and sometimes younger. It is true that some Bernese breeders rarely report Bernese they have bred reaching beyond that age, whilst other breeders consistently have Bernese which reach twelve years and beyond. There would appear to be familial tendencies of expected lifespan. Some breeders are convinced that feeding, exercise etc. and general management routines may also have in influence on longevity. An experienced breeder will advise on the best rearing practices to follow for dogs of their specific bloodlines.

Most breeds of pedigree dogs, including Bernese Mountain Dogs, can be affected by abnormalities known to occur in the breed. These problems should not be exaggerated, but purchasers should be aware of potential defects and enquire as to the soundness of a breeder’s stock. Some diseases or defects are inherited, whilst some are more complex involving many factors. Large breeds such as Bernese Mountain Dogs grow extremely fast and sometimes go through very uneven growth stages which inevitably puts great stress on immature skeletons. Rearing a large breed puppy to adult soundness takes great care, time, effort and the addition of some luck.

Many people finally decide that a Bernese Mountain Dog is the correct breed for them after reading a general description and learning about the characteristics expected for the breed. Many Bernese ARE indeed typical of the breed. BUT, do be aware that some are not.

There can be HUGE variations within the breed. Physical differences are fairly obvious – even to the untrained eye; some Bernese are heavy set and stocky whilst others can be lighter in build and more `racy`. The most important variations to take into account are those of temperament. Some families (bloodlines) of Bernese are much more active and highly strung than is generally desired, and some are also more independent and consequently less biddable and difficult to manage.

When visiting a breeder to view their Bernese, be sure that you like EVERYTHING about the parents and other family members of any puppies you may be interested in – their temperament, character, activity level and how well they interact with people. If there is anything at all that makes you unsure, then DON’T BUY!