Bernese Mountain Dog

The FCI standard describes the Bernese Mountain Dog as self-confident, attentive, vigilant and fearless in everyday situations; good-natured and devoted to its own people, and self-assured and placid with strangers. Its temperament is moderately lively and docile.

According to the AKC, the breed has a sweet, affectionate nature; it's generally placid but always up for a romp with its owner, whom it lives to please. It gets along with the whole family and is especially gentle with children, though it often becomes more attached to one person. In the AKC's words, it's imposing but not threatening, with an aloof dignity toward strangers. Its feelings are easily hurt, it wants to be with its family, and undesirable behaviors can develop if it's regularly left alone for long periods.

The Bernese suits families with a fairly calm lifestyle who can spend time with their dog every day, put up with plenty of hair and take on the breed knowing its health risks. The Royal Kennel Club recommends a large house and a large yard.

According to the FCI, the Bernese Mountain Dog is an ancient farm dog used as a guard dog, draft dog and cattle drover in the foothills of the Alps and the midlands around Bern. It used to be called the "Dürrbächler," after the hamlet and inn of Dürrbach near Riggisberg, where these long-haired tricolor dogs were especially common. It appeared at shows in 1902, 1904 and 1907; in 1907 breeders around Burgdorf founded a club to promote pure breeding and set down the breed's traits. In 1910, 107 dogs were brought to a show in Burgdorf. The breed was later renamed the Bernese Mountain Dog, in line with the other Swiss mountain dogs.

According to the Royal Kennel Club, the Bernese was a draft dog that pulled carts for the region's weavers; on farms it herded sheep and cattle and pulled milk and cheese carts. It's one of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds with the black, tan and white coat and white chest markings. The AKC explains that the 1907 club was formed under the leadership of Professor Albert Heim, one of the most respected dog experts of his day, and that the breed arrived in the United States in 1926. In Switzerland you can still see Bernese dogs pulling light carts in parades.

According to the FCI, the Bernese is a long-haired, tricolor, strong and agile working dog of above-medium size, with sturdy legs and a harmonious, balanced build. Its body is slightly longer than its height at the shoulder (about 10 to 9), and it looks compact rather than long.

• Height: 25–27.5 in (64–70 cm) for males, ideally 26–27 in (66–68 cm), and 23–26 in (58–66 cm) for females, ideally 23.5–25 in (60–63 cm) (FCI).
• Weight: According to the AKC, males weigh 80–115 lb (36–52 kg) and females 70–95 lb (32–43 kg).
• Coat: Long, shiny, straight or slightly wavy, with a woolly undercoat.
• Color: A jet-black base with rich rust markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on all four legs and on the chest. A symmetrical white blaze and muzzle band on the head and white on the throat and chest; white feet and a white tail tip are desirable.

According to the AKC, the Bernese has a longer outer coat and a woolly undercoat; it sheds a fair amount year-round and much more during the shedding season that comes twice a year. On the AKC's scale, its shedding is 5 out of 5. Brush it weekly, stepping up to daily during shedding season; tangles can be worked out with a slicker brush or metal comb. The Royal Kennel Club recommends grooming more than once a week. See our dog grooming guide for details.

• Nails: Long nails cause pain and walking problems; trim them regularly.
• Ears and teeth: The AKC recommends checking the ears regularly for signs of infection and brushing the teeth often with a toothpaste made for dogs.
• Hot weather: According to the AKC, this is a hardy dog that thrives in cold weather; in the heat its thick coat becomes a burden. In a 2020 UK study (Hall et al.), heavy dogs and dogs heavier than the average for their breed had a higher risk of heatstroke. In summer, shade, a cool floor and plenty of water are a must; our article on dogs in hot weather covers the warning signs.

The AKC calls early socialization and obedience training important for all dogs, but especially for breeds as large as the Bernese. Because it's intelligent and eager to please, it's usually easy to train. It's affectionate and openhearted; according to the AKC its feelings are easily hurt and it doesn't respond well to harsh corrections or harsh training methods. Short, calm, reward-based sessions work best.

According to the AKC, the Bernese needs at least half an hour of moderate exercise every day to stay healthy and happy, and the Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour a day. It loves long walks and hikes. Thanks to its draft-dog history it does well at carting, and it also takes part in agility, herding, obedience and tracking. Don't push a growing puppy into strenuous exercise; talk to your vet about activity that suits its age.

1. Early socialization: As a puppy, give it short, positive experiences with different people, children, sounds, vehicles and calm dogs.
2. Leash training: Teach it to walk without pulling while it's small. Our guide to loose-leash walking explains it step by step.
3. Teach it to be alone: Start with short absences and build up slowly. Our article on separation anxiety can help.
4. Vet prep: Use rewards early on to get it comfortable with being handled, examined, groomed and getting in and out of the car; vet visits may be frequent with this breed.

According to the AKC, a quality food suited to the Bernese's age is enough, though some dogs gain weight easily. Extra weight puts more strain on the joints in a breed where dysplasia is common.

• Controlled growth in puppyhood: The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that too much calcium (for example, from unnecessary supplements) can harm bone and joint development in fast-growing large-breed puppies. Make a growth plan with your vet covering the type of food, the amount and the weight curve, and don't add supplements your vet hasn't recommended.
• Lower the risk of bloat: The AKC reminds owners that all large breeds are susceptible to bloat. For dogs at risk, the Merck Veterinary Manual recommends splitting the daily food into several small meals, limiting exercise before and after meals and keeping mealtimes calm.
• Ideal weight: If you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above, the weight is about right.

Also check our list of foods that are dangerous for dogs.

Before you get a Bernese, it's important to know the breed's health picture clearly. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer

In a study that followed Bernese dogs born in Switzerland in 2001 and 2002 (Klopfenstein et al., 2016), cancer was by far the most common cause of death: 58.3% of the 381 dogs that died. The authors note that some of these cancer diagnoses weren't confirmed by tissue testing, but the overall picture shows how common cancer is in the breed. Dogs with cancer had shorter lives than those with other conditions.

The cancer most discussed in this breed is histiocytic sarcoma, a fast-spreading tumor that develops from certain immune system cells. A 2009 study of 800 Bernese dogs (Abadie et al.) reported that it occurs in about 25% of the breed, starts at an average age of 6.5 years and affects males and females equally; pedigree analysis suggests it's inherited through several genes. If you notice unexplained tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, breathing trouble, lameness or a new lump, see your vet without waiting.

Elbow and hip dysplasia

Dysplasia means a joint doesn't develop properly during growth. According to UFAW, fragmentation of a bony process in the elbow (FMCP) is common in Bernese dogs and may affect a third to two thirds of the breed, with arthritis usually starting in the first year. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders, at a minimum, to hip and elbow score dogs before breeding. In the Swiss study, degenerative joint disease was the second most common cause of death.

Bloat

In bloat, the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself; according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, it's a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate care. In the Swiss study, 1.8% of deaths were due to a twisted stomach or mesentery.

Others

The AKC also lists narrowing below the aortic valve (subaortic stenosis), von Willebrand bleeding disorder, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), eyelid problems, and thyroid and immune system diseases among conditions seen in the breed; the screenings it lists include a heart exam, an eye exam and DNA tests for degenerative myelopathy, a nervous system disease.

A study that followed Bernese dogs born in Switzerland in 2001 and 2002 found a median lifespan of 8.4 years, with females (8.8 years) living clearly longer than males (7.7 years). A 2024 study using data on about 585,000 dogs in the UK (McMillan et al.) found a median of 10.1 years for 1,565 Bernese dogs, compared with 12 years for mixed-breed dogs. The AKC gives 7–10 years, and the Royal Kennel Club lists the breed as living under 10 years.

The numbers vary by country and method, but the message is the same: you may have fewer years with a Bernese than with most dogs. A puppy from screened parents, a healthy weight, regular checkups and getting new symptoms checked early are the most concrete steps.

• Consider a shelter: Purebred dogs end up in shelters and rescues too. Our guide to adopting a dog from a shelter walks you through it.
• If you buy from a breeder: Meet the parents in person. Ask for hip and elbow X-ray results, heart and eye exams and the degenerative myelopathy DNA test. It's also worth asking how long the dogs in the family lived and whether there's a history of cancer, since histiocytic sarcoma is known to cluster in families.
• Emotional preparation: A short lifespan and a high cancer risk are things to accept knowingly when choosing this breed.
• Red flags: Sellers who won't show you the mother, always have puppies available, can't provide paperwork or rush you.
• Registration: Rules vary by country. In Türkiye, owned dogs must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system.
• The first days: See our guide to the first week with a new puppy.