Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog — Berner Sennenhund — is a large tricolour working breed from the canton of Bern in the Swiss Alps.

History

It is one of four Swiss Sennenhund types, with roots in the mastiffs Roman armies brought over the Alps, bred on mountain farms to drive cattle, guard the yard and pull carts of milk and cheese to market. The black, white and rust coat is the breed's signature.

Temperament

The breed is known for being gentle, calm and affectionate — a good-natured family dog that bonds closely and is patient with children. It is sensitive and does poorly shut away from its people.

Care and training

It needs moderate daily exercise and room to move, with care not to over-exercise a heavy youngster whose joints are still growing. The thick double coat sheds and needs regular brushing, and gentle, reward-based training suits its sensitive nature.

Health

The breed carries real burdens: hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, and a notably high rate of certain cancers, and like the giants it lives a shorter life on average. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.