Bernese Mountain Dog Picture Gallery

Bernese Mountain Dog Breeders

Bernese Mountain Dog Clubs/Associations

The Full Bernese Mountain Dog Description

This big sweet dog can sometimes be shy. He forms a strong bond of love with his family, but often attaches himself to one person. He is eager to please and easy to train, and gets along well with other animals. He likes children, and especially enjoys pulling them in carts.

Did you know?

The Bernese Mountain Dog is known in its native Switzerland as the Berner Sennenhund, which literally translated means Bernese Alpine Herdsmen's Dog.

Bernese Mountain Dogs have historically worked as drovers, draft dogs and watchdogs in the farmlands of the canton of Berne.

Their ancestors are thought to have been first brought to Switzerland more than 2,000 years ago by invading Roman soldiers.

So you want to own a Bernese Mountain Dog?

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large friendly dog originally developed in Switzerland, to pull cheese and milk carts and to drive cows.

A Bernese Mountain Dog should be groomed at least every two weeks. They require moderate exercise, making them excellent house dogs. Eager to accompany master and family everywhere, the Bernese Mountain Dog makes a faithful and devoted friend.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Strong, sturdy working dog, active, alert, well boned, of striking colour.

Characteristics

A multi-purpose farm dog capable of draught work. A kind and devoted family dog. Slow to mature.

Temperament

Self-confident, good-natured, friendly and fearless. Aggressiveness not to be tolerated.

Head and Skull

Strong with flat skull, very slight furrow, well defined stop; strong straight muzzle. Lips slightly developed.

Eyes

Dark brown, almond-shaped, well fitting eyelids.

Ears

Medium-sized; set high, triangular-shaped, lying flat in repose, when alert brought slightly forward and raised at base.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Strong, muscular and medium length.

Forequarters

Shoulders long, strong and sloping, with upper arm forming a distinct angle, flat lying, well muscled. Forelegs straight from all sides. Pasterns flexing slightly.

Body

Compact rather than long. Height to length 9:10. Broad chest, good depth of brisket reaching at least to elbow. Well ribbed; strong loins. Firm, straight back. Rump smoothly rounded.

Hindquarters

Broad, strong and well muscled. Stifles well bent. Hock strong, well let down and turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws to be removed.

Feet

Short, round and compact.

Tail

Bushy, reaching just below hock. Raised when alert or moving but never curled or carried over back.

Gait/Movement

Stride reaching out well in front, following well through behind, balanced stride in all gaits.

Coat

Soft, silky with bright natural sheen, long, slightly wavy but should not curl when mature.

Colour

Jet black, with rich reddish-brown on cheeks, over eyes, on all four legs and on chest. Slight to medium-sized symmetrical white head marking (blaze) and white chest marking (cross) are essential. Preferred but not essential, white paws, white not reaching higher than pastern, white tip to tail. A few white hairs at nape of neck, and white anal patch undesirable but tolerated.

Size

Height: dogs: 64-70 cms (25-271/2 ins); bitches: 58-66 cms (23-26 ins).