Bernese mountain dog
Bernese mountain dog
Recommendations: Singles, families
Maintenance Level: Medium
Lifespan: 6-8 years
Temperament: Friendly, loving
Health Risk: It has a high probability of health problems during its lifetime, so it is one of the more expensive types to insure.
Breed Overview
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large breed of dog with a thick double coat of three colours. This dog has a great temperament which makes it an ideal family pet. He loves to be around children.
The Bernese has a white neck and chest, and a tricolor of thick bilayer plumage that is full black with brown on the legs and around the face. It sheds all year round. It sheds the most during the autumn and spring months. This means that the handsome looking dog should be brushed at least once a week. It is also recommended to take a bath at least once every two months.
A female Bernese Mountain Dog can grow up to 63 cm and weigh up to 44 kg. The male Bernese Mountain Dog can grow up to 70 cm and weigh up to 53 kg. Like many large dogs, the Bernese does not have a long lifespan, averaging 6-8 years.
Bernese are generally outdoor dogs, but once trained they can be well behaved. This breed loves to explore and enjoy adventurous exercise such as hiking and bush walking. If the Bernese Mountain Dog does not get enough exercise, it may become restless and start barking.
Personality and Temperament
The Bernese Mountain Dog has a soft-hearted and calm approach to people. This makes them extremely loyal and devoted pets. They enjoy being part of the family and are relatively easy to train. They are often used as therapy dogs due to their gentle natures.
Bernese tend to have a relaxed approach to life. This means that they get along well with almost everyone and enjoy being with other dogs and cats.
Like all dogs, they need regular exercise and will do nothing more than take a long walk with their family.
If the Bernese is left alone for long periods of time and doesn't get a lot of exercise, they may have a tendency to bark.
What are the most common health problems?
Dermatitis
Gait abnormality
mass lesion
otitis externa
Sarcoma
Common diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Von Willebrand's Disease. This is a disease that is quite common in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Von Wiellebrand Disease causes blood clotting problems. Failure of blood to clot properly can cause a number of serious health problems.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This is a disease that will occur in Bernese Mountain Dogs and can lead to blindness. Nerve cells at the back of the eye degenerate over time and cause cataract formation. If you suspect your dog has signs of PRA, contact your veterinarian for observation as soon as possible. If the eye still has vision, corrective surgery may be an option.
Osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, is one of the most common cancers in Bernese Mountain Dogs. The first sign is lameness, but x-rays are needed to determine if the cause is cancer. It is often treated aggressively with chemotherapy and amputation.
Elbow dysplasia is common in large dog breeds and is believed to be caused by varying rates of growth at the dog's elbow. This leads to joint laxity, pain, and lameness. Surgery is available, but medication and weight loss may be prescribed by a veterinarian to help control pain.
Hip dysplasia is a condition where the thighbone and hip joint do not fit together properly, causing pain and lameness. Less severe cases can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, but severe cases may require surgery.
History
The Bernese Mountain Dog was once called the Dürrbachhund. Similar to the German Shepherd Dog, this breed was once used as a farm dog used for many tasks such as cattle herding.
This breed is believed to have worked on Swiss farms for over 2000 years. They often worked on farms as worker and farmer friendly because of their loyalty and compassion. The end of World War I saw the Bernese Mountain Dog begin to spread to other countries and its popularity around the world increased.
In 1981 the American Kennel Club accepted the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America as a member.
Bernese Mountain Dog Facts!
Courtney Cox & David Arquette owns many famous Bernese mountain dogs, including Ben Roethlisberger, Joel Benenson, Frank Ocean and Hilary Duff.
The Bernese Mountain Dog loves to play because of its adventurous history, making them great companions for kids and adults alike.
The Bernese Mountain Dog was originally bred for pulling dairy carts and cattle herders.
