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Bernese Info

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THE BREED STANDARD

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a striking tri-colored large dog. He is sturdy and balanced. He is intelligent, strong and agile enough to do the draft and droving work for which he was used in the mountainous regions of his origin. Dogs appear masculine, while bitches are distinctly feminine. Though appearing square, Bernese Mountain Dogs are slightly longer in body than they are tall. StuSize, Proportion, SubstanceMeasured at the withers dogs are 25 to 27-1/2 inches, bitcheare 23 to 26 inchesrdy bone is of great importance. The body is full.                                            

HEAD

Expression is intelligent, animated, and gentle. The eyes are dark brown and slightly oval in shape with close fitting eyelids. Inverted or everted eyelids are serious faults. Blue eye color is a disqualification. The ears are medium sized, set high, triangular in shape, gently rounded at the tip, and hang close to the head when in repose. When the Bernese Mountain Dog is alert, the ears are brought forward and raised at the base, the top of the ear is level with the top of the skull. The skull is flat on top and broad, with a slight furrow and a well-defined but not exaggerated stop. The muzzle is strong and straight. The nose is always black. The lips are clean and as the Bernese Mountain Dog is a dry-mouthed breed the flews are only slightly developed. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault. Dentition is complete.

Neck, Topline, Body

The neck is strong, muscular and of medium length. The topline is level from the withers to the croup. The chest is deep and capacious with well-sprung but not barrel shaped ribs and brisket reaching at least to the elbows. The back is broad and firm. The loin is strong. The croup is broad and smoothly rounded to the tail insertion. The tail is bushy. It should be carried low when in repose. An upward swirl is permissible when the dog is alert but the tail may never curl or be carried over the back. The bones in the tail should feel straight and should reach to the hock joint or below. A kink in the tail is a fault.

Forequarters

The shoulders are moderately laid back, flat-lying, well muscled and never loose. The legs are straight and strong and the elbows are well under the shoulder when the dog is standing. The pasterns slope very slightly but are never weak. Dew claws may be removed. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes.

Hindquarters

The thighs are broad, strong and muscular. The stifles are moderately bent and taper smoothly into the hocks. The hocks are well let down and straight as viewed from the rear. Dew claws should be removed. feet are compact and turned neither in nor out.

Coat

The coat is thick, moderately long and slightly wavy or straight. It has a bright natural sheen. Extremely curly or extremely dull-looking coats are undesirable. The Bernese Mountain Dog is shown in natural coat and undue trimming is to be discouraged.

Color and Markings

The Bernese Mountain Dog is tri-colored. The ground color is jet black. The markings are rich rust and clear white. Symmetry of markings is desired. Rust appears over each eye, on the cheeks reaching to at least the comer of the mouth, on each side of the chest, on all four legs, and under the tail. There is a white blaze and muzzle band. A white marking on the chest typically forms an inverted cross. The tip of the tail is white. White on the feet is desired but must not extend higher than the pasterns. Markings other than described are to be faulted in direct relationship to the extent of the deviation. White legs or a white color are serious faults. Any ground color other than black is a disqualification.

Gait

The natural working gait of the Bernese Mountain Dog is a slow trot. However in keeping with his use in draft and droving work, he is capable of speed and agility. There is good reach in front. Powerful drive from the rear is transmitted through a level back. There is no wasted action. Front and rear legs on each side follow through in the same plane. At increased speed, legs tend to converge toward the center line.

Temperament

The temperament is self-confident, alert and good natured, never sharp or shy. The Bernese Mountain Dog should stand steady, though may remain aloof to the attentions of strangers. Disqualifications blue eye color; any ground color other than black.


Other Info

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 £900 - £1500.  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 Dog 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.I would highly reccomend petplan insurance who provide the best cover.


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!



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A Brief Breed Description


The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of a group of four Swiss working dogs known as Sennenhund, (sennen being an alpine herdsman). Their ancestors probably came over the Alps with the Romans and were used as cattle drovers. As they spread through Switzerland each community developed the type of dog most suited to its particular needs and thus the four different types of Sennenhund were established: Entlebucher, the smallest; the slightly larger Appenzeller the Bernese and the Great Swiss Mountain Dog.


The Bernese is the second largest in size being 23 to 27+ inches high at the withers and the only one with a long coat. Although the Bernese is called a mountain dog it should not be confused with the Pyrenean, being more like the Golden Retriever in outline but somewhat stockier and heavier.

 As they are working closely with their owners, whether driving cattle to and from the alpine pastures, guarding the farm, pulling small wagons or carts or as avalanche dogs, the Bernese makes an ideal family dog only wanting to be with its owners and to take part in every activity. Their temperament is very stable being very affectionate, patient and especially good with children. For all their size they are very active and take a lively interest in all that is going on.


Their appearance is as attractive as their personality, basically gleaming black with a white muzzle and blaze, white cross on the chest and white paws and tail tip. Between the black and white on the legs and chest is a rich chestnut or tan. The markings should be symmetrical as possible and not haphazard as in some other tricolour breeds. The dogs should be between 64 and 70 cms (25.2 to 27.6 inches) and bitches between 58 and 66 cms (22.8 to 26 inches). Weights approximately 80 to 120 lbs for dogs and 70 to 100 lbs for bitches. The Bernese is not considered a giant breed but is quite late maturing. They usually reach their full adult height by about 15 months but can take a further 2 or 3 years to reach full maturity.

They do not make particularly good kennel dogs, preferring to live and spend time with their owners living in a family environment. They love to be with people and be given affection; however they are not constantly on the move in the house, demanding objects or retrieving objects to be thrown for them. When visitors arrive at the house they may bark and demand attention from them but after a little while they will settle down and rest - a valuable attribute in a house dog. The amount of exercise an adult Bernese requires varies between 1 and 5 miles daily, depending on his fitness and how he has been reared. They are very accommodating and if the owner is not feeling well, they will accept the fact that their exercise has to be temporarily restricted, they do not become neurotic about such things. Common sense is needed when the dog is very young as a fast growing dog can quickly tire and needs plenty of rest periods. You will get plenty of attention when out with your Bernese and this can be as tiring for a puppy as it is initially flattering for you.

Feeding should be as natural as possible for a natural working breed, although there are as many different ways to feed dogs as there are breeds. Supplements should only be given if a natural diet is fed as most manufactured complete foods contain additives and these should not be duplicated as this almost always does more harm than good.


Bernese are generally very willing to please their owners and therefore fairly easy to train, especially when rewarded with treats. A Bernese quickly becomes a part of the family and most owners soon wonder how their lives were ever complete without one.