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Bernese Mountain Dog
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The Bernese Mountain Dog, called in Swiss the Berner
Sennenhund, is a large breed of dog, one of the four breeds of
Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. The name
Sennenhund refers to people called Senn, herders in the Swiss
Alps. Berner (or Bernese in English) refers to the area of the
breed's origin, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. Originally
kept as general farm dogs, large Sennenhunds in the past were
also used as draft animals, pulling carts.
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Description
Appearance
Like the other Sennenhunds, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large,
heavy dog with a distinctive tricolored coat, black with white chest
and tan (or rust) colored markings above eyes, sides of mouth,
front of legs, and a small amount around the white chest. An ideal
of a perfectly-marked individual gives the impression of a white
horse shoe shape around the nose and a white “Swiss cross” on
the chest, when viewed from the front. Both males and females
have a broad head with smallish, v-shaped drooping ears. Height
at the withers is 23–27.5 in and weight is 65–120 lb. Females are
slightly smaller than males. The breed standard lists, as
disqualifications, a distinctly curly coat, along with wry mouth and
wall eye. Exact color and pattern of the coat are also described as
important.
Temperament
The breed standard for the Bernese Mountain Dog states that
dogs should not be "aggressive, anxious or distinctly shy," but
rather should be "good natured," "self-assured," "placid towards
strangers," and "docile." Temperament of individual dogs may
vary, and not all examples of the breed have been carefully bred to
follow the Standard. All large dogs should be well socialized when
young, and given regular training and activities throughout their
lives.
Bernese are outdoor dogs at heart, though well-behaved in the
house; they need activity and exercise, but do not have a great
deal of endurance. They can move with amazing bursts of speed
for their size when motivated. If they are sound (no problems with
their hips, elbows, or other joints) they enjoy hiking and generally
stick close to their people.
The Bernese temperament is a strong point of the breed. They are
affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable, intelligent, but sometimes shy.
The majority of Bernese are friendly to people, and other dogs.
They often get along well with other pets such as cats, horses, etc.
They are trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in
training; Bernese need time to think things through. They do not
respond well to harsh treatment, however Berners are willing and
eager to please their master. Bernese love to be encouraged with
praise and treats. The breed is sweet and good with children,
despite their great size. Overall, they are stable in temperament,
patient, and loving.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are quirky, loving dogs, craving love and
affection. They love to lean against people, sit on their feet, or lie
down under their legs while people sit.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are slow to mature, and can display
puppy-like tendencies up to 2 1/2 years of age.
Health
Mortality
Health surveys of Bernese Mountain Dogs in Denmark, the UK,
and USA/Canada all show that this breed is very short-lived
compared to breeds of similar size and purebred dogs in general.
Berners have a median longevity of 7 years in USA/Canada and
Denmark surveys and 8 years in UK surveys. By comparison, most
other breeds of similar size have median longevities of 10 to 11
years. The longest lived of 394 deceased Berners in a 2004 UK
survey died at 15.2 years.
Cancer is the leading cause of death for dogs in general, but
Berners have a much higher rate of fatal cancer than other
breeds. In both USA/Canada and UK surveys, nearly half of
Berners died of cancer, compared to about 27% of all dogs.
Berners are killed by a multitude of different types of cancer,
including malignant histiocytosis, mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma,
fibrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma.
Berners also have an unusually high mortality due to
musculoskeletal causes. Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and cruciate
ligament rupture were reported as the cause of death in 6% of
Berners in the UK study; for comparison, mortality due to
musculoskeletal ailments was reported to be less than 2% for
purebred dogs in general.
Mobility
Owners of Berners are nearly three times as likely as owners of
other breeds to report musculoskeletal problems in their dogs. The
most commonly reported musculoskeletal issues are cruciate
ligament rupture, arthritis (especially in shoulders and elbows), hip
dysplasia, and osteochondritis. The age at onset for
musculoskeletal problems is also unusually low. For example, in
the USA/Canada study, 11% of living dogs had arthritis at an
average age of 4.3 years. Most other common, non-
musculoskeletal morbidity issues strike Berners at rates similar to
other breeds.
In short, prospective Berner owners should be prepared to cope
with a large dog that may have mobility problems at a young age.
Options to help mobility-impaired dogs may include ramps for car
or house access. Comfortable bedding may help alleviate joint pain.
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Bermese Mountain Dog
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Country of origin
Switzerland
Weight
65-120 lb
Height
23-28 in
Coat
Medium, dense
undercoat
Color
Black, white with tan
markings
Life span
7-9 years
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