Bernese Mountain Dogs: A Comprehensive Look at the Breed
It is a majestic, gentle and intelligent animal, in which the Bernese Mountain Dog has placed itself in the heart of many families around the globe. One of the most popular dog breeds, which bears its tri-colored coat as one of its most obvious features, this large breed is known to be a great family pet. This is a detailed guide specifically on how to understand Bernese Mountain Dogs including its history, appearance, temperament, health, and care requirements. Be it the idea of getting a Bernese Mountain Dog or just the necessity to simply know more, this article shall fill in all the necessary bits of information so that you can make the right decision. We provide informative material for the pet lovers on our pet fresh supplies.
History and origin of Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog is named after the area in Switzerland where the dog is, namely, the region of Bern. The farmers before breeding these dogs were used as draft dogs, herders, and guardians. They served many purposes including serving as cart pullers, guarding animals and farmland protection. The Swiss farming community found the breed to be invaluable because of their strength, intelligence and their hard working nature.
The early origin, as its early forebears may have been imported to Switzerland by Romans. Only in the late 19 th century, the breed was officially recognized and standardized. Ever since, the Bernese Mountain Dog has become one of the world famous and adorable companion dogs. There are other dog breeds, which are famous and have origin just like this one.
Physical Characteristics
Size and Weight: This breed is characterized by great size.
- Adult Males: 85-110 pounds (38-50 kg)
- Adult Females: 70-95 pounds (32-43 kg).
- They are 23 to 27 inches (58 to 70 cm) high at the shoulder.
Coat and Color: An extremely long making up the coat of the breed is a distinctive characteristic. It has an underlying coat and a dense outer coat that is a little wavy coat. The color of their coats is a mix of black, white, and tan which combine to make a traditional tri-color look on the coats. The coat is absolutely spectacular and in most cases it needs frequent grooming to stand out beautiful.
Eyes and Ears: Bernese Mountain Dogs possess expressive eyes that are brown in color filled with warmth and intelligence. They are the medium sized ears and they hang near the sides of their head giving them a soft character.
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy is 7-10 years compared to other large dogs which is a low life expectancy. Nevertheless, this is dependent on care whereby some Bernese Mountain Dogs can live a little more. They unfortunately have a tendency of causing some health complications which may affect their life span because of their size.
Temperament and Personality
This breed is a comparatively calm personality. It is a gentle and loving breed, which is called Bernese Mountain Dog. Although they are big in size, they are sociable and communicative. They are mostly dog friendly and so children and other pets will be fine with these dogs who are most likely to make good family pets.
Family-Oriented: Bernese Mountain Dogs are very loyal to their families and they are characterized by being very attached to the owners. They prefer living in a family and hate to be separated from all the members of the house.
Patient and Calm: The dogs are patient and calm, which makes them better in the families which have young children. They are also termed as gentle giants, because they are very big, powerful yet friendly toward persons.
Sociable and Funnies: Though Bernese Mountain Dogs love to relax and spend most of the time lying in the house, they love playing, and they are sociable. They like spending time with the family and require sufficient physical and mental engagement to remain happy.
Protective: Bernese Mountain dogs are protective as most large breeds. Although they are not termed as overly aggressive, they will behave like watch dogs once they feel it is in danger.
Family Pets of Bernese Mountain Dogs
Exercise: Since Bernese Mountain Dogs are so big, they also need to get much exercise so that they do not become overweight and develop behavior issues. They also need to walk or jog every day or play around as a way of keeping them physically and mentally active. They prefer to be outside and especially in cool weather because they are made for cooler climates with their thick coats.
Space Requirements: Considering the size of the Bernese Mountain Dogs, they need a large home with lots of space. Although they can live in apartments provided that they are exercised well, they would prefer a home with a big yard.
Grooming: The Bernese Mountain Dog has long and thick fur making it easy to become matted and best maintained. You may want to brush your dog two to six times a week when shedding, most importantly. Although they molt throughout the year the loss of hair is most significant during spring and fall.
Training: The Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly intelligent and are willing to please, which makes them trainable comparatively easily. Their size however is big and hence must be trained regularly at an early age so that they can be well-behaved in the family. Socialization at an early age is also important to avert possible behavioral problems.
Health and Care Tips
Although Bernese Mountain Dogs do not have major health issues, they have a couple of health problems that potential owners ought to know. Some of these risks may be alleviated by regular veterinary check-ups, proper diet and exercise. What to do for their eating habits is also an important factor to know.
Common Health Problems: Some of the common health issues of the Bernese Mountain dogs are:
Dysplasia of Hip and Elbow: Hip and elbow dysplasia is a problem in these breed of dog as it is with most large dog breeds.
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus): Twists the stomach. It can be life-threatening if not given treatment at time.
Cancer: As is the case with other breeds, cancer is also a major killer of the Bernese Mountain Dog, and this is partly contributed by the short life span of this breed.
Preventative Care: Preventative care plays an important role in keeping the Bernese Mountain Dog healthy. The dog should be checked in eventually by a veterinarian, and has to exercise well and eat a proper diet. Make sure regular shots, flea and tick protection and cleaning teeth are a part of schedule.
Age Span and Longevity
Age Span Consideration: As your Bernese Mountain Dog enters the elderly stage, it is critical to change its routine. The dogs that are older might be less energetic and a slower exercise program might be necessary. The significance of visiting the vet on a regular basis grows even greater with age, because older dogs are more likely to develop such conditions as arthritis, loss of vision, and cognitive impairment.
Genetics: There are factors that determine how long your Bernese Mountain Dog will live, which include genetics, diet, exercise and general body management. By engaging in responsible breeding, there is indeed a likelihood of diminishing the factors contributing to introgression of hereditary problem, whilst engagement in healthy diet and active physical activity can also increase their life expectancy.
Socialization and Training
Bernese Mountain Dogs are dogs that require training and socialization, particularly because of its size and an innate behaviour of guarding. These dogs must be trained to have manners and on how to relate with other people and other animals.
Puppy Training Bernese Mountain Dog puppies are extremely willing to please, and therefore they make fantastic early training candidates. Make the training of your Bernese Mountain Dog puppy early so that it can learn good habits and avoid unwanted behavior. At early ages, one should learn basic commands such as sit, stay and come.
Socialization: Early socialization is best in order to make your puppy grow into an adult rounded-off dog. Expose them to other individuals, dogs and surroundings so that they are at ease in any circumstance.
Where to Buy a Bernese Mountain Dog
American Kennel Club (AKC): AKCl Marketplace has quality information on locating quality bred Bernese Mountain dog pups in AKC registered breeders. They provide a variety of information about breed standards, health warranties, and qualifications of the breeders.
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America ( BMDCA ): BMDCA has a breeder referral program: This scheme links prospective dog owners with responsible breeders who fulfill the breed club standards. Price of a Bernese Mountain Dog may fluctuate on factors that include breeder reputation, locality and quality of puppy.
FAQs
- What is the amount of exercise that a Bernese Mountain Dog should have?
The Bernese Mountain Dogs are medium exercise dogs. Strive to get at least one hour of daily exercises, which may be walks, playing activities, and brain enriching. Make sure that they are not overworking and are fit according to their age and avenues of health.
- Do Bernese mountain dogs get friendly with kids?
Sure, Bernese Mountain Dogs are a relatively very gentle and loving animal with kids. They have patience and love to be associated with family members.
- How old can a Bernese Mountain Dog live?
Bernese Mountain dogs have a life expectancy of 7-10 years. The bigger the dog, the shorter the life-span and there are always certain health problems like cancer that come into the picture and affect the life-span of the dog.
- What is the health condition that Bernese Mountain Dogs get affected by?
Yes, they are at every chance of hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat and some cancer. This can be controlled by visiting the vet regularly and preventative care.
- How frequently is a Bernese Mountain Dog to be groomed?
The Bernese Mountain Dogs can be groomed on a regular basis. They have a thick coat that should be brushed at least a couple of times a week; more frequently when they are in shedding seasons.
Conclusion
It is a highly remarkable breed dating back several centuries years ago; it is a Bernese Mountain Dog that is intelligent, loyal and gentle. They are not the most convenient pets to handle because they require grooming and exercising, but as a reward you will have a pet that will adore you and will be a member of your family. When you are willing to have a Bernese Mountain Dog, or when you are only interested in how this breed looks, it is vitally important to know more about the history of the breed, their description, and the care, therefore, you could give them a healthy and prosperous life.
