If you have the space for a medium to large dog and you would like one that is sweet, gentle and very family oriented, you should give the Bernese Mountain Dog serious consideration.

They do well in obedience training and are extremely friendly with people they know and trust. They do enjoy playing with children and are typically good around other animals. They can sometimes be aloof and guarded around strangers but are rarely aggressive.

They make excellent, alert watchdogs.

The Appearance of the Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese's coat is long and silky and usually slightly wavy. Its coloring is jet-black with rust and pure white markings around the head, neck, tail and feet. The tip of the tail is typically white.

They stand 23 to 28 inches tall and can weigh up to 80 to 90 pounds or more.

They typically live 10 to 12 years.

Grooming and Exercise Needs

The Bernese needs to be brushed weekly to keep its coat shiny and free of tangles.

It will need to be taken several times daily for long walks and/or plenty of space to run and exercise. For this reason it is usually recommended for suburbs or the country. I like to think that it's size would discourage small apartment dwellers -- but you would be surprised by the things I have seen.

Origins of the Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese is descended from the huge Mastiff fighting dogs that the Romans brought to Northern Europe over 2,000 years ago. Until fairly recently, and still in many parts of Europe, the Bernese was used for cow herding.