Have a new puppy? If you are considering training them without professional help, here are some dog training essentials you'll need to get started.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a hefty, strong, agile dog. Also known as the Berner Sennenhund in Swiss German, this breed is one among the four of the Sennenhund-type dogs from Swiss Alps. This breed weighs an average of 90-120 pounds for males, and 70-100 pounds for females; stands 25-27.5 for males, and 23-26 inches for females.

Coat

With thick coat, fairly long and somewhat straight or wavy, the Bernese Mountain Dog has distinctive markings that include a white tail and an inverted white across its chest when viewed from the front. They are tri-colored, with jet black ground color, and markings with rich rust and clear white.

Activity

For a working breed, the Bernese Mountain Dog is astonishingly lazy. This breed is suited for less active families, as they tend to be energetic and active only for short periods of time due to their heavy bone structure and susceptibility to joint problems.

The Bernese Mountain Dog loves to take long walks or a light jog around the city or through the local park. Exercising this breed with some fetching activity or tug-of-war is recommended when indoors. This breed can't hold up with these activities as much as the other breeds, though. So, don't expect a highly active Bernese Mountain Dog to be up and about all day. To a Bernese Mountain Dog, loyalty is a whole lot. They focus mainly on the bond that forms with the family. It is important to keep this in mind when exercising this dog.

Temperament

Playful, affectionate, and outgoing, the Bernese Mountain Dog makes a great companion for inexperienced dog owners. A highly intelligent, good-natured, and easy to train breed, they excel at obedience training. They are known to be well-tempered, placid and calm, although some have are inclined to be slightly shy. This breed is responsive, and highly sensitive and loving.

The Bernese Mountain Dog loves attention, gets along well with children, and thrives on interaction with families. It is important to remember, though, that this breed is a large dog. They might unintentionally knock out a small child when playing, so they should always be supervised. This breed is generally good around animals, making them suited for households with other pets. A grown-up Bernese Mountain Dog may have difficulties adjusting to a new home, some may even be nervous around particular groups of people.

Overview


The Bernese Mountain Dog is a highly versatile and placid breed with large sturdy build. They make are ideal for herding cattle, pulling carts, and being a farmer's buddy.

Care

The Bernese Mountain Dog sheds heavily year-round. Because of that, owners should brush and shampoo their dogs during this time to keep their fur healthy and to avoid scattering it around the house or the furniture. During less heavy shedding, a typical combing and brushing once a week or once every two weeks is enough.

Training

The Bernese Mountain Dog gains from basic obedience and early socialization. This breed is highly sensitive and will be unresponsive to heavy-handed or harsh training. Handling must be done with positive methods including reward, respect, love, consistency, and fairness.

Character

This breed is highly intelligent, agile, and strong. Their placid attitude and elegance played a role to their growing popularity.