The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large-sized breed of dog, one of the four
breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. The name Sennenhund is
derived from the German Senne and Hund ,
as they accompanied the alpine herders and dairymen called Senn. Berner refers to the area of the breed’s origin, in
the canton of Bern. This mountain dog was originally kept as a general farm
dog. Large Sennenhunde in the past were also used as draft animals, pulling
carts. The breed was officially established in 1907. In 1937, the American
Kennel Club recognized it; today, the club classifies it as a member of the
Working Group.
Appearance
Four breeds of Sennenhund
The
four breeds of Sennenhund, with the original breed name, followed by the most
popular English version of the breed name:
·
Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Greater Swiss
mountain dog
·
Berner Sennenhund, Bernese mountain dog
·
Appenzeller Sennenhund, Appenzeller
·
Entlebucher Sennenhund, Entlebucher mountain dog
Colouring
Like
the other Sennenhunde, the Bernese mountain dog is a large, heavy dog with a
distinctive tri-colored coat, black with white chest and rust colored markings
above eyes, sides of mouth, front of legs, and a small amount around the white
chest. An ideal of a perfectly marked individual gives the impression of a
white horseshoe shape around the nose and a white “Swiss cross” on the chest,
when viewed from the front. A “Swiss kiss” is a white mark located typically
behind the neck, but may be a part of the neck. A full ring would not meet type
standard. The AKC breed standard lists, as disqualifications, blue eye color,
and any ground color other than black.
Height and weight ranges
Height
at the withers is 24–28 in (61–71 cm) for males, while it is 22–26 in (56–66
cm) for females. Weight is 80–120 lb (35–55 kg) for males, while it is 70–110
lb (30–50 kg) for females.
Build and proportions
The
Bernese mountain dog is slightly longer than it is tall, and it is highly
muscular.
Other physical traits
The
head of the Bernese mountain dog is flat on the top with a moderate stop, and the
ears are medium-sized, triangular, set high, and rounded at the top. The teeth
have a scissors bite. The legs of the Bernese are straight and strong, with
round, arched toes. The dewclaws of the Bernese are often removed. Its bushy
tail is carried low.
Temperament
The
breed standard for the Bernese mountain dog states that dogs should not be
"aggressive, anxious or distinctly shy", but rather should be
"good-natured", "self-assured", "placid towards strangers",
and "docile". The temperament of individual dogs may vary, and not
all examples of the breed have been bred carefully to follow the standard. All
large breed dogs should be well socialized when they are puppies, and given
regular training and activities throughout their lives.
Bernese
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. If they are sound , they
enjoy hiking and generally stick close to their people.Not being given the
adequate amount of exercise may lead to barking and harassing in the Bernese.
Bernese
mountain dogs are a breed that generally does well with children, as they are
very affectionate. They are patient dogs that take well to children climbing
over them. Though they have great energy, a Bernese will also be happy with a
calm evening.
Bernese
work well with other pets and around strangers.They are excellent guardians.
They tend to bond with one owner, and are somewhat aloof and 'standoffish.'
Health
Medical problems
Cancer
is the leading cause of death for dogs in general, but Bernese Mountain Dogs
have a much higher rate of fatal cancer than other breeds; in both U.S./Canada
and UK surveys, nearly half of Bernese Mountain Dogs die of cancer, compared to
about 27% of all dogs. Bernese Mountain Dogs are killed by many types of
cancer, including malignant histiocytosis, mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma,
and osteosarcoma. Inherited medical problems that a Bernese Mountain Dog may
face include malignant histiocytosis, hypomyelinogenesis, progressive retinal
atrophy, and possibly cataracts and hypoadrenocorticism. The breed is also
prone to histiocytic sarcoma, a cancer of the muscle tissue that is very aggressive,
and hereditary eye diseases that are common among larger dogs. A four-year-old
Bernese with lymphoma named Dylan was one of the first dogs to receive
chemotherapy at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine,
and it was successful.
Bernese
Mountain Dogs have an unusually high mortality due to musculoskeletal causes.
Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and cruciate ligament rupture were reported as the
cause of death in 6% of Bernese Mountain Dogs in the UK study; for comparison,
mortality due to musculoskeletal ailments was reported to be less than 2% for
pure-bred dogs in general. Owners of Bernese Mountain Dogs are nearly three
times as likely as owners of other breeds to report musculoskeletal problems in
their dogs; the most commonly reported being cruciate ligament rupture,
arthritis , hip dysplasia, and osteochondritis. The age at onset for
musculoskeletal problems is also unusually low. In the U.S./Canada study, 11%
of living dogs had arthritis at an average age of 4.3 years. Most other common,
non-musculoskeletal morbidity issues strike Berners at rates similar to other
breeds. Prospective Bernese Mountain Dog owners should be prepared to cope with
a large dog that may have mobility problems at a young age. Options to help
mobility-impaired dogs may include ramps for car or house access, lifting
harnesses and slings, and dog wheelchairs . Comfortable bedding may help
alleviate joint pain.
Life expectancy
The
Bernese is one of the short-lived dog breeds, compared both to other breeds of
a similar size and to purebred dogs in general. The average life expectancy of
a Bernese Mountain Dog is approximately 7 to 8 years. Most other breeds of a
similar size have median longevities of 10–11 years. In a 2004 UK survey, the
longest-lived of 394 deceased Bernese Mountain Dogs died at the age of 15.2
years.
Care
Activities
The
Bernese's calm temperament makes them a natural for pulling small carts or
wagons, a task they originally performed in Switzerland. With proper training
they enjoy giving children rides in a cart or participating in a parade, such
as the Conway, New Hampshire holiday parade.Regional Bernese clubs often offer
carting workshops.Carting competitions are held for the breed.
On
July 1, 2010, the Bernese Mountain Dog became eligible to compete in AKC
Herding Events. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at
noncompetitive herding tests. Berners exhibiting basic herding instincts can be
trained to compete in herding trials.
Grooming
Bernese
Mountain Dogs shed year-round, and the heaviest shedding is during seasonal
changes.[30] Usually the Bernese will only require a brushing once a week, with
more in spring and fall, to keep its coat neat and reduce the amount of fur on
the floor and furniture. The Bernese will only require a bath about once every
couple of months or so, depending on how high its activity level is and how
often it spends its time in the dirt.
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