Bernese Mountain Dog

History

Despite the fact that the precise origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog is uncertain, this breed almost certainly began in the Swiss mountains as a farm dog. Works of art from the late 18th century prove the Bernese type was there. As the 19th century came to an end, many foreign breeds of dogs were being traded into Switzerland and this posed a danger in the form of a loss of all native breeds. Professor Franz Schertenleib, Albert Heim and others led the attempt to conserve indigenous Swiss breeds by tracing and locating the residual specimens and maintaining the distinctiveness of the Bernese Alpine Herdsman's dog. The Berne canton of Switzerland is the region that the breed was named after and the dogs are extensively known there. The strong Bernese has been used for herding livestock, as a farm guardian and for draft work. Due to its mild, pleasant nature, the Bernese Mountain Dog makes an excellent family companion. Its talents are carting, trailing things, looking after livestock, safeguarding, exploration and rescue, and spirited obedience.

Description

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a strong, weighty dog, with a gorgeous tri-colored weather-resistant double coat of black with even markings of white and rust. The dog has a white mark on the head, chest and toes and a rust blaze on the sides of the chest, over both eyes, under the tail, on the cheeks and on each leg. The fur is reasonably long and might be either slightly wavy or straight. The wide cranium has a small undulation down the center. They also have pendant medium-sized ears that are triangular in shape. The eyes are dark, with a gentle expression and the nose is black in color. The body is dense with a broad, profound chest. They have a long bushy tail that is mostly in a low position when the dog is relaxing. The tail may be lifted upwards slightly as the dog becomes alert.

Temperament

These mild, cheery dogs care for children. They are clever, easily trainable and are normally watchdogs but not excessively dominant. The dogs are self-assured, vigilant and pleasant and make good companions for a lifetime. They are quite sociable with strangers and are normally fine with non-canine pets and dogs. This breed of dogs may be sluggish to grow-up, acting puppy-like for a fairly long while. Bernese dogs require being around people, not confined to the kennel. This breed is very sociable while they are puppies like most other dogs. They are sensitive and must be trained properly. The dogs will cause problems for owners who do not exhibit natural leadership skills.

Health and Care

Cancer is one of the most prevalent causes of death for dogs, but Berners are more susceptible to fatal cancer in comparison to other breeds. The cancers include lympophosarcona, mast sell tumor, fibro sarcoma, malignant histiocytosis and oesteosarcoma. They also suffer from musculoskeletal diseases such as osteochondritis, cruciate ligament rapture, arthritis and hip dysplasia. Brushing on a day-to-day or weekly basis is crucial for the health of the dog's thick, long fur, with additional care required during shedding, which will be heavy on a seasonal basis. Bathing and dry shampooing is done when necessary.

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