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Bernese Mountain Dog
| Other Names | Berner Sennenhund, Berner Sennen, Bernese Cattle Dog |
| Nicknames | Berner |
| Country of Origin | Switzerland |
| Weight | Males: 85 - 110 lbs. (38 – 50 kg) Females: 80 - 105 lbs. (36 – 48 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 24 - 28 in. (61 – 71 cm) Females: 23 - 27 in. (58 – 69 cm) |
| Coat | The weather-resistant coat is moderately long, thick and slightly wavy or straight. |
| Colour | Like the other Sennenhunde, the Bernese mountain dog is a large, heavy dog with a distinctive tri-coloured coat, black with white chest and rust coloured 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 horseshoe shape around the nose and a white “Swiss cross” on the chest, when viewed from the front. A “Swiss kiss” is a white mark located typically behind the neck, but may be a part of the neck. A full ring would not meet type standard. The AKC breed standard lists, as disqualifications, blue eye colour, and any ground colour other than black |
| Litter Size | 1 - 14 puppies, average 8 |
| Life Span | 7-8 years |
| Origin & History | It is difficult to decipher the true origins of the Bernese Mountain Dog as this is an old breed that was developed in a time well before written records of dog breeding were kept. Adding further complexity to compiling and accurate history is that this breed in particular was the working dog of farmers in geographically isolated areas. However, some of the breed’s ancestry can be extrapolated. It is known that this breed was created in Switzerland, primarily in the area around Durrbach and Bern and that it is most likely descended from the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. The Bernese Mountain Dog is closely related to three other Swiss breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. These four breeds are collectively known as either the Sennenhunds or the Swiss Mountain Dogs. Sometimes the closely related Saint Bernard is also included in the family as well. There is substantial disagreement among dog experts as to which breeds the Sennenhunds are most closely related. Some place them in the Mastiff/Molosser family, others in the Lupomolossoid family, and still others in the Pinscher/Schnauzer family. In actuality, these breeds likely share a relationship with all three families. Although the exact details are highly disputed, the domestication of the dog was probably complete by 14,000 years ago, making the dog the first species ever domesticated by man. These first dogs, probably very similar to the Dingo, were used as hunting aides and camp guardians. As the agricultural life replaced that of a hunter gatherer, humans in the Middle East would begin to domesticate other animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. These herds would need protection from predators such as wolves and bears. In response to this need, dogs would also be adapted into very large livestock guardian breeds. It is thought that these original herding or livestock protection dogs were primarily white in color. As the centuries progressed agriculture would spread from the Fertile Crescent into the whole of Europe and Asia and with it, so did livestock guarding breeds. These dogs would spread across Europe where their descendents likely became the primary protectors of livestock until Roman times. The Romans would introduce new breeds such as the Molossus which would largely replace, but not eliminate these older breeds, as many would survive in remote areas, remaining unchanged for centuries. These dogs have been called Lupomolossoids to distinguish them from Mastiff-type dogs. Those breeds most commonly classified as Lupomolossoids include the Great Pyrenees, the Maremma Sheepdog, the Kuvasz, and the Tatra Mountain Sheepdog. Because the Sennenhunds share a number of similarities with these breeds, some experts place them with this family. However, if the modern Sennenhunds are descended from Lupomolossoids, they have certainly been crossed extensively with other breeds. The Molossus was the primary war dog of the Roman army and is known to have accompanied the legions throughout the Empire; eventually becoming adapted for sheepherding, livestock guarding, and personal protection. Most experts believe that the Molossus was a Mastiff, but others think it was more like a sheepdog or even a sighthound. The Molossus has given its name to an entire family of dogs, which are today known as Mastiffs or Dogues. Members of this family include the English Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux, and the American Bulldog. Between 35 and 6 B.C. the Roman army conquered most of the Alps and records from the time indicate that more than 40 separate tribes had to be pacified in the process. The Romans would bring the Molossus with them, as well as possibly another breed known as the Roman Droving Dog. It is claimed (with good reason) that the Romans crossed their dogs with the existing livestock guarding breeds of the Alps. This is the most widely accepted theory for the origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog, and is in fact the most likely. However, the four Sennenhunds are substantially different than most members of the Mastiff/Molosser family and likely have been crossed with other dogs as well. The Pinschers and Schnauzers are a family of dogs which have been kept by German-speaking farmers since time immemorial. These breeds were primarily tasked with vermin eradication but also served as property guardians and cattle drovers. Although little to nothing is known of their origins, these dogs were found throughout German-speaking lands and likely accompanied the Germanic tribes on their migrations across Europe. As the Roman Empire weakened, Germanic tribes invaded and settled large territories that were previously controlled by Rome. The area known as Switzerland was one such region, and still has a large German-speaking population. It is very likely that German settlers brought their farm dogs with them when they entered Switzerland and crossed them with existing farm dogs of the region. As a result, the Sennenhunds probably share some amount of Pinscher/Schnauzer ancestry, and this may be why they have tri-colour coats. However the Swiss Mountain Dogs developed, they were the indispensable aides to Swiss farmers for many centuries. These dogs became known as Sennenhunds, which loosely translates to Farmer’s Dogs. Because the Alps are so remote, the Sennenhunds were bred largely in isolation. Initially, all Sennenhunds were probably very similar in type. Most agree that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the original form of the Sennenhund from which all others descend. The original purpose for this breed was probably livestock protection, but as the centuries passed predators became increasingly scarce. Swiss farmers also needed a large dog to drive their cattle to market. These dogs excelled at this task. However, the farmers could not afford to keep such a large animal if it would only be used on rare occasions. These farmers did have one area of great need, a draft animal. Horses fair poorly in the Alps. They are not fleet-footed enough for the region’s mountainous terrain and have difficulty finding enough food especially during the winter. Large dogs are much more suited to life in the Alps and they became the primary draft animals of the region, especially for small farmers. The Sennenhunds pulled carts and wagons for the farmers helping them in numerous ways. The Sennenhunds were bred to be strong and powerful enough to drive cattle and pull heavy load, but also adaptable and confident enough to travel to new places without difficulty. Many of Switzerland’s valleys are quite isolated from each other, especially in an era before modern transportation was developed. As a result, many distinct varieties of Sennenhund developed. All were fairly similar and were used for similar purposes, but were slightly different based on the needs and preferences of the residents of a particular area. At one point there were probably dozens of identifiable types of Sennenhund, although few were given unique names. Some types of Sennenhund were localized, but others were found across the country, most notably the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Technological advancement came somewhat slowly to the Swiss. Sennenhunds remained the only affordable means of transporting cargo over much of Switzerland until at least the 1870’s. Eventually, the advancements or the Industrial Revolution and Modern Era came to even the remotest of Switzerland’s valleys. New technology began to make the draft dog obsolete. Unlike in some other European countries, Switzerland did not have many major canine organizations to protect its native breeds. The first Swiss breed club was not founded until 1884, and that was to protect the Saint Bernard. The Swiss Kennel Club was founded later that year but initially did not show much interest in the Sennenhunds. By the beginning of the 1900’s, most types of Swiss Mountain Dog were already extinct. For several years, it was believed that only three had survived, those that became known as the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog (the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was later rediscovered). The most common surviving type of Sennenhund was one which was especially prevalent in areas around the capital city of Bern. This type was large, relatively long-coated, and possessed a tri-color coat pattern. As this type had long been especially prevalent in the region of Durrbach, they were known as Durrbachhunds or Durrbachlers. Around the year 1900, several Swiss Dog fanciers began to realize that unless they took action, an important part of Swiss history would disappear forever. Two of the most prominent of them were breeder Franz Shertenlieb and famed geologist Albert Heim. These fanciers began to collect the remaining Durrbachlers from the valleys around the city of Bern. They first exhibited the breed in Swiss dog shows in 1902, 1904, and 1907. In 1907, several fanciers founded the Schweizerische Durrbach-Klub. The main goal of the club was to keep breeding records and promote the pure breeding of the few Durrbachlers that remained. Another major goal was to promote the breed and increase the interest among Swiss dog fanciers. Interest in the Durrbachler increased slowly but steadily in Switzerland. By 1910, there were 107 registered animals. A few years after the Schweizerische Durrbach-Klub was founded the breed’s name was officially changed to the Berner Sennenhund. The change was made to follow the naming conventions of other Swiss breeds, but also to highlight the breed’s connection with the Swiss capital. The Berner Sennenhund became the most popular of the four Sennenhund breed’s in Switzerland, and was also the first to become well-established outside of its native country. In retrospect, the efforts of the Schweizerische Durrbach-Klub and later on the Swiss Kennel Club almost certainly saved the Berner Sennenhund and the other three Sennenhund breeds from extinction. Between animal rights legislation, the introduction of new technology, and the ravages of World War I, the four Sennenhunds were essentially the only European draft dog breeds to survive past the 1920’s. The first records of Bernese Mountain Dogs (as the breed became known in English) in America come from 1926, when a Kansas farmer named Isaac Scheiss imported a pair. Scheiss attempted to register his dogs with the American Kennel Club (AKC) but failed. The Swiss Kennel Club apparently attempted to aid Mr. Scheiss in his efforts, likely because they wanted to establish and promote their breed abroad. In 1936, Glen Shadow of Louisiana imported a pair of his own, Fridy V. Haslenbach and Quell v. Tiergarten. Led by Mr. Shadow, a group of Bernese Mountain Dog fanciers again petitioned the AKC for recognition, and the breed was granted full recognition as a member of the Working Group in 1937. Quell v. Tiergarten became the first Bernese Mountain Dog registered with the AKC. Breed numbers increased very slowly in the United States until 1941, when the World War II caused a disruption in imports. As Switzerland remained neutral in World War II, breed numbers continued to grow in that country. After 1945, importations resumed and the breed’s number began to grow at a greater pace. In 1948, the United Kennel Club (UKC) followed the AKC’s lead and granted full recognition to the Bernese Mountain Dog as a member of the Guardian Dog Group. By 1968, the population of Bernese Mountain Dogs in America had grown to the point that several breeders banded together to form the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA). The BMDCA was meant to promote and protect the breed, as well as organize breed specific events. In 1973, the BMDCA became the AKC’s official parent club of the breed. As the decades wore on, the Bernese Mountain Dog continued to grow in popularity. Unlike other breeds which became popular as a result of a movie appearance or a celebrity owner, the Bernese Mountain Dog earned most of its fanciers as a result of word of mouth and personal contact. Wherever these dogs went they caught the eyes of new admirers, most of whom became very fond of their personalities as well. By the end of the 1990’s, the breed was well-established and on the verge of becoming even more popular. The 2000’s saw an interesting paradox; there was a tremendous boom in the popularity of both tiny and giant breeds. Many giant dogs such as the Great Dane and Mastiff saw their numbers soar throughout the decade. The Bernese Mountain Dog was a breed that also experienced a massive rise in numbers. In 2010, the breed ranked 39th out of 167 total breeds, after ranking 58th a decade earlier. The rise in popularity of the Bernese Mountain Dog has caused some problems for the breed. Many newer breeders are less experienced with dog breeding in general and less familiar with the Bernese Mountain Dog in particular. Such breeders generally produce lower quality dogs, and often unknowingly breed dogs with health problems. Although the tremendous size of the breed means that it has not a popular choice with commercial dog breeders and puppy mills, some breeders do care more for potential profit than the quality of the dogs they produce. Many fanciers are concerned that the overall quality of the Bernese Mountain Dog breed is being compromised, and the life expectancy for this breed has dropped by four or five years over the past decade. It is very important that prospective owners of Bernese Mountain Dogs carefully select a breeder, one who can document health tests performed on their breeding stock. Another major problem is that an increasing number of Bernese Mountain Dogs are being acquired by people who are either incapable of or unwilling to provide this breed with the care that it requires. As a result, more and more breed members are ending up in animal shelters or rescue groups. The Bernese Mountain Dog was bred for centuries as a multi-purpose working dog, and is still quite capable of pulling tremendous weights. Recently, weight pulling and draft competitions are becoming popular, both for the Bernese Mountain Dog specifically and multiple breeds. This breed has also competed very successfully at agility and obedience competitions. Recently, the Bernese Mountain Dog has become known as one of the most popular therapy dogs because they are both quite beautiful and extremely gentle. For similar reasons, this breed also excels in the conformation show ring. However, the vast majority of Bernese Mountain Dogs in the United States and Europe are primarily companion dogs, a task at which this breed is very well-suited. |
| Personality | These cheerful dogs love children. They are very intelligent, easy to train and are natural watchdogs, but not overly dominant. A Bernese Mountain Dog will be your friend for life. Self-confident, alert and good-natured, be sure to socialize well as a puppy. These dogs are slow to mature, acting like puppies longer than other breeds. They are rather friendly with strangers, and are generally good with other pets and dogs. The Bernese needs to be with people and not confined to the backyard or a kennel. These dogs are sensitive and should be trained firmly, but gently. Owners will only run into issues with this dog if they are not displaying natural leadership towards the dog, treating him more like their baby and lacking in the knowledge as to what dogs instinctually need to be stable minded. Owners who fail to convince the dog humans are alpha may find themselves with a totally different dog than what is described above. For a dog to feel secure it needs to clearly know the rules so they can be followed, thriving in structure, along with a daily pack walk to satisfy its instinct to migrate. The Bernese Mountain Dog was bred for draft work and can be trained to pull a cart or wagon. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The BMD Club of America did a health survey in 2000 with 1,322 dogs. The average age of death was 7.2 years. Cancer is unfortunately a very large part of the Berner world and many Berners die young. One source states "I know of several that died of cancer at 3-4 years old and one that died two days before his 2nd birthday. The BMD Club of America is aggressively researching this cancer issue. We must see if we can end this sad situation." The Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to bloat, cancer and eyelid problems, hip and elbow dysplasia. Gains weight easily. Do not overfeed. Prone to mast cell tumors. |
| Grooming | Bernese Mountain Dogs shed year-round, and the heaviest shedding is during seasonal changes. Usually the Bernese will only require a brushing once a week, with more in spring and fall, to keep its coat neat and reduce the amount of fur on the floor and furniture. The Bernese will only require a bath about once every couple of months or so, depending on how high its activity level is and how often it spends its time in the dirt. Special attention should be paid to the ears of the Bernese Mountain Dog, as they can trap bacteria, dirt, and liquid. The risk of an ear infection drops with weekly ear cleanings using a veterinarian-recommended cleanser. |
| Exercise | Large active dogs such as these need regular exercise, which includes a long daily walk. |
| Other Considerations | Bernese Mountain Dogs are not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large, fenced-in yard. Because of their thick coats they are sensitive to the heat and would much rather be in cold temperatures. |
