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The Bernese Mountain Dog (also called Berner Sennenhund or Bouvier Bernois) is a versatile cattle-herding or farm dog originating in the canton of Berne in Switzerland.
Appearance: A tri-colored dog of large size, the
“Berner” (as they are often called) stands 23 to 27.5
inches (58-70 cm) at the withers; breed standards for this
breed normally specify no weight, but the usual range is 70 to
130 pounds (32-60 kg).
The breed is instantly recognised by its distinctive
tricolor pattern: body, neck, legs, cranium and ears black;
cheeks, stockings and eyespots rich tan, toes, chest, muzzle,
tail tip and blaze between the eyes white. The pattern is
rigid and varies only slightly in the amount of white. A
perfectly-marked individual gives the impression of a white
“Swiss cross” on the chest, when viewed from the front in
sitting position. The eyes are an expressive dark brown.
Grooming: The Bernese coat is slightly rough in
outline, but not at all harsh in texture. The undercoat is
fairly dense; the coat is quite dirt and weather resistant. A
good brushing every week or two is sufficient to keep it in
fine shape, except when the undercoat is being shed; then
daily combing is in order for the duration of the shed.
Temperament: Berners are outdoor dogs at heart,
though well-behaved in the house; they need activity and
exercise, but do not have a great deal of endurance. They can
move with amazing bursts of speed for their size when
motivated.
The Berner temperament is a strong point of the breed.
Affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable and intelligent, Bernese
Mountain Dogs make wonderful family pets. They are very
trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in
training; Berners need time to think things through. The breed
is stable in temperament, and is patient and loving.
Health: The breed’s genetic base is somewhat
narrow, so hereditary diseases and inbreeding depression are
major issues. Several kinds of cancer (malignant
histiocytosis, mastocytoma, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma,
osteosarcoma) commonly affect Berners; hip dysplasia, elbow
dysplasia, osteoarthritis, aortic stenosis plus autoimmune and
kidney problems are other major health issues for the breed.
Many litters contain stillborn young, a major indicator of
inbreeding depression.
Although slow to mature, the Berner is not particularly
long-lived. The Swiss say, “three years a young dog, three
years a good dog, and three years an old dog.” Today even
nine years may be slightly optimistic; certainly a
ten-year-old Berner is a very old one. In fact, surveys around
the world show that the average lifespan is seven years,
primarily as a result of the prevalent occurrence of cancers.
History: The breed originated in Swiss farm villages
where it was used in herding livestock, as a drover to haul
carts containing milk cans and farm goods, and as a flock
guardian. It nearly disappeared in the late 1800s but was
rescued around the turn of the century by a determined Swiss
cynologist, Franz Schertenleib.
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