Strength, resistance and nobility
That's the Bernese Mountain Dog
History
The Swiss Bernese Mountain Dog breed traces its origins to the canton of Bern, Switzerland, approximately 200 years ago, when Roman soldiers who invaded Swiss mountain territories introduced dogs to these lands. Currently there are four different types of Bernese: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, The Bernese Mountain Dog, Entlebucher Mountain Dog and Appenzeller Mountain Dog, being The Bernese Mountain Dog the best known worldwide.
According to the American Kennell Club, this breed was imported to the United States of America in 1907, but was officially recognized as a purebred until 1937.
Abilities of this European Breed
As a Drover
As its name says, the Bernese is an excellent dog in the treatment and management of cattle and horses. For many years, the Bernese Mountain Dog has been used on farms, ranches and dairies to work with cattle, to herd, drive and accompany them from one place to another one throughout the working day.
It is a canine breed that is also characterized by its resistance in the countryside, as long as it has enough water to hydrate, the Bernese Mountain Dog will be able to endure several hours of arduous and hard work, its strong and resistant muscles allow it to pull weight on its back and shoulders, pulling carts is a task that a Bernese Mountain Dog can carry out with complete safety, since for hundreds of years the Bernese Mountain Dog has been recognized for its great skill as a drafting dog. In fact many years ago, in herds and Dairies, Bernese Mountain dogs transported the gallons of milk collected in the dairies, from one place to another, or the food supplies for the families in Bern.
As a Pet
The Bernese Mountain Dog breed is considered one of the most noble and friendly canine breeds that exist, either with people or with other pets. Educating and breeding the Bernese Mountain Dogs in an appropriate and respectful way is enough to make them exemplary. passive and calm.
In addition, this particular breed will always respect an adult person in the same way they do a young person or infant. The nobility and tranquility is so remarkable in this European breed that even in some countries the Bernese Mountain Dog are used as therapy dogs for people and as companion dogs for other animals in some adaptation process.
Breed Characteristics
Their Fur
Its beautiful three-coloured fur is usually very abundant, straight or slightly wavy, its base will always be jet black, with reddish brown spots on the sides of its face and extremities, the chest always white, as are the " gloves ”or“ stockings ”on feet and hands, and the white stripe on their face is characteristic.
The Bernese Mountain Dog hair needs to be brushed at least once a day, if not, at least three times a week is the minimum recommended.
Average weight
Adult females range from 35 kg to 50 kg, unlike adult males, who range from 40 kg to 55 kg
Average height
The average height for females is between 60 cm and 68 cm at the withers, and the average height for males is between 65 cm and 70 cm at the withers.
The negative side of the Bernese Mountain Dog
They are rough when playing
The Bernese Mountain Dog, being such large, strong and robust specimens, tend to play "roughly" with people and other pets, of course, in the vast majority of cases they don´t do it on purpose, but rather, involuntarily, they can even hitting or hurting us without even noticing, solely because of the characteristic force in their genetics.
Their life expectancy is relatively short
Unfortunately, the Bernese Mountain Dog breed is not a long-lived canine breed, its life expectancy ranges from 5 to 10 years.
Their daily feeding dose is high
A Bernese Mountain Dog can eat around 4 kilos pet food per week, 500 grams pet food per day.