Bernese Mountain Dog - All you need to know about them.

[nelson]

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of four Sennunhunds, a variety of worker dog from the Swiss Alps. Aside from the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog - or Berner as they're sometimes known — is the largest of these.

Originally, they were used on Swiss farms to herd livestock and to protect the homestead. Of course, because of their ecstatic and friendly nature, these dogs have also become popular family dogs. Their imposing size was also helpful in deterring unwanted visitors. The adult male Bernese stand between 60-70 cm at the shoulder, while females measure between 55 and 65 cm. These dogs weigh on average between 45 - 65 kilograms.
Its coat is very thick and has a natural glossy sheen. This breed has acquired the thick coat for protection against the extreme cold conditions of the Swiss Alps.
Its coat is primarily black, with markings of white or rust color on the chest, legs, stomach, tail, and face. Probably one of the most distinctive features of this breed of dogs are two brown stripes above the eyes, almost as if they were eyebrows. This gives an amusing, partially surprised expression to the face of the dog.

They have a number of characteristic personality traits, the most predominant being a stubborn streak, due to frequently working independently and, as such, developed a will of their own.
Big dogs, in particular, should learn to obey when they are puppies. A big dog that is disobedient could be downright unpleasant.
Besides this, Bernese Mountain Dogs are intelligent dogs. They are easy to train, but at the same time, they get bored really fast. Extra rewards during training are needed for them. A Bernese puppy needs more attention and distraction compared to other puppies.
Apart from these profound character traits, they are also known as one of the friendliest and sweetest breeds. This will make them suit a family with young children as it is always up for play.
Before one considers this breed, consider how many hours a day someone will be home. Generally, one should not leave these dogs alone for more than three hours at a time.

Especially, you have plenty of time, and you are prepared to keep the dog engaged all the time.
This implies much more than that, you must go on frequent walks. In addition, you must mentally exercise them by playing games. When walking, you can engage your dog by taking toys along, and you also are expected to have a variety of different and challenging toys at home. Most importantly, you should have enough space in your home, first off because your Bernese is one big dog and the breed really needs a lot of freedom. In their nature, they used to spend much time outdoors in the yard. So, the ideal house should have a big garden. However, that doesn't mean you can leave your dog inside all day. While the breed is good with kids, they can be very bossy with other dogs. Keep in mind that the Bernese thinks it's the center of your universe and may view other animals as rivals. But if you want to have more than one pet, it is possible to socialize a Bernese puppy to co-exist with a cat if they grow up together from a very young age.
Socializing a Bernese puppy
A Bernese Mountain Dog is considered a puppy up until it reaches the age of 1 year. Until that time, you mustn't overdo their activities because they need this energy in order to develop. If possible, you should take them out for short walks at least 6 to 8 times a day, for 10 minutes each.
When you go on a walk, while playing, always look into your puppy's behavior closely. If they lie down, this is a sign that they've had enough. In no way should you be forcing more from them at this moment; the dog should be allowed to rest until they see fit to get back up and go again. Patience is a virtue with the training of puppies. Trying to accomplish too much at once will have the opposite effect from what you are trying to achieve. Always be consistent in your training since this makes your puppy see precisely what you are expecting from them.

The Bernese breed is beautifully coated; however, one thing to consider is that they shed a lot of hair. Soon, you will find that your clothes, sofa, and curtains will have hair on them. By brushing the dog for at least twice a week, this would be curtailed, but you can only partially avoid dog hair all over the house. Your Bernese Mountain Dog can easily become overly hot in summer due to their thick coat; they don't always manage to cool down efficiently. Comb their undercoat well when it hot and make sure they have a great place to lie down - like a cold stone floor indoors, or outside in the shade.
The health measures such as cleaning the dog's ear with a damp cloth at least once a week is very vital since they are prone to ear to ear infections, their nails should be kept shorter. Dogs that walk on hard surfaces often will have their nails worn down automatically. In cases where they mostly walk on surfaces like grass and carpets, their nails will need regular clipping. Their eyes check should not be neglected.

Many believe that big dogs also have to eat a lot, but this does not apply to the Bernese. Due to this breed's tendency to build up fat and excess weight, it might lead to a number of health problems. Each extra kilogram the dog carries means great strain on their joints. When you begin to feel that your dog has gained too much weight, you should consider carefully how much he is fed.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are big eaters and can be very clever at making you believe that they have not received sufficient nourishment. Give several small meals daily rather than a large meal once daily.
A fixed feeding schedule works well for this breed, in which you feed them at exactly the same times every day. This will allow your dog to become accustomed to when they will be fed and soon cease the whining and begging altogether.
Finally, make sure your dog can always find enough fresh drinking water. This is even more important for your Bernese because the breed is prone to kidney problems. Make water available in several locations during the summer so your dog has enough to drink without having to hike too far for that cooling drink.
General health and life span of Bernese dogs
On average, Bernese Mountain dogs only live 7 years-a short life compared to most other giant breeds. They are prone to a number of cancers; approximately 25 percent will die of this disease. If your dog has lost their appetite, becomes lethargic or suddenly loses weight you may wish to visit your vet.
The incidence of gastric torsion is also above average in this breed. In this condition, there is a kink in the intestines so that the food can no longer move along and becomes compacted. This may eventually cause a rupture in the bowel. For this reason, you should not go for a walk with your dog straight after a meal, but at least an hour afterward when your dog has lain down to digest its meal.