Bernese Mountain Dog Breeders Are Committed Professionals

By Allyson Whitley


Bernese Mountain Dog breeders are dedicated to these beautiful breed. They are professionals who work hard to preserve lines and produce healthy, quality animals whether intended for work, show or family pet. Finding a reputable breeder is task one when pursuing the adoption of one of these animals.

In 1937, the American Kennel Club recognized the breed as a member of its Working Group. The dog is quite large. It originated in the Alps of Switzerland as a farm dog helping herders and dairy workers. It's size and strength meant that it could do heavy work such as cart pulling.

This dog is one of four related breeds of Sennehund. The name comes from the German words for alpine pasture and dog. The other three include Greater Swiss Moutain Dog, Appenzeller, and Entlebucher Mountain Dog.

The coat is tricolored with a mix of black, white and rust fur. Specific marking designs are required if planning to show the dog. Height ranges from 24-28 inches and weight ranges from 85-110 pounds with males being larger than females. Other distinctive physical traits include a flat topped head and teeth with a scissors type bite.

When bred correctly, these dogs are gentle and playful as opposed to aggressive. They can be happy indoors but love to be outside. Regular exercise will help avoid any problems with excessive barking. They enjoy being around adults and children. These characteristics are dependent upon a good breeder and proper socialization as puppies.

They are easy to train but quite sensitive so the manner should be firm but have a level of gentility as well. They need a lot of structure. The human trainer or owner needs to be a=the clear alpha. They do make good watchdogs but are not especially dominant in general. They love to play and will do so like a puppy longer than many other types of dogs.

As with all breeds, there are specific health issues specific to the Bernese Mountain Dog. They are more prone to certain types of cancer than other dogs. Those types include fibrosacoma, osteosarcoma and lymohosarcoma. They also can have issues with their musculoskeletal system such as arthritis and hip dysplasia.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is well represented in films, television and literature. The memoir by Martin Kihn entitled, Bad Dog: A Love Story is this kind of dog. The lead and title character of Hannah in two children's books by Linda Petrie Bunch is one. Films such as Good Boy, made in 2003 feature the dog as does the popular television program, The New Normal. In that show the characters David and Bryn have one as their pet.

Bernese Mountain Dog breeders must know as much as possible about the breed. They not only facilitate the birth of puppies but also seek to find suitable homes and and provide guidance for the puppies' new families.




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