Size

 32 to 52 kg

Temperament

The alert and amiable Bernese mountain dog. They love the challenge of acquiring new skills since they have experience in the working world.

Due to their size, they need to be obedience trained from a young age in order to make good house pets.

The breed today still exhibits its original guarding and farmwork tendencies. The Bernese is an excellent watchdog and much more effective at herding and drafting.

Field routes for Bernese mountain dogs feature draft work demonstrations that are popular with owners nowadays. The dogs are assessed based on their capacity to pull and steer a cart.

The Bernese will appreciate some physical activity and having a task to do as a household pet. They have a desire to please.

Grooming

They are heavy shedders so they need to be brushed very often (at least a few times a week) and bathed as many times as they need.

Although it is not recommended to bathe them too often, because their skin might get dry, it is also not recommended to delay the bath, because it might cause a buildup of bacteria and grime.

Due to their heavy shedding, they will get rid of some debris naturally until it is time for their next bath.

Behavior with children and other pets

Berners are large canines that might scare a kid who isn't used to playing with dogs.

A Berner could unintentionally tip over infants or toddlers due to its size. If left to their instincts,

Berners puppies frequently chase, nip, or bite as a kind of play. It might be difficult to teach kids how to react to these instinctual acts.

It can be difficult to teach young children not to grasp skin or fur, pull on legs or tails, or stare or scream in the dog's face because these behaviors are frequently seen when young children interact with pets.

Children can be loud and clumsy when they're playing. It is important for the puppies to be trained and socialized early and for children to be supervised continuously when they play with dogs.

The majority of Bernese Mountain Dogs are calm and friendly toward other animals. However, some male Bernese are hostile to other male dogs.

This sensitive breed responds well to gentle, kind-natured obedience training, so it should be treated with kindness and given lots of praise and encouragement.

They are not entirely easy to train, though. Some people, especially males, and especially during adolescence when they're "starting to feel their hormones," can be a little bit stubborn and dominant.

Health concerns

Von Willebrand's disease (vWD), hypomyelination, allergies, hypothyroidism, hepatocerebral degeneration, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are among the health issues that can occasionally affect Bernese Mountain Dogs.

The dog is susceptible to cataracts, sub-aortic stenosis (SAS), entropion, and ectropion, which are all mild disorders.

The more severe conditions affecting this breed include mast cell tumors, elbow dysplasia, stomach torsion, and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Heat stroke should be avoided also. 

The Bernese Mountain Dog should receive tests for inherited disorders, heart , hips, eyes, and elbows conditions.

Life expectancy

6 to 9 years