Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog, called in German the Berner Sennenhund, 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 (“alpine
pasture”) and Hund (“dog”), as they accompanied the alpine herders and dairymen
called Senn. Berner (or Bernese in English) 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 (no problems with their hips, elbows, or other joints), 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:
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 (especially in shoulders and elbows), 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 (ex: Walkin` Wheels). Comfortable bedding may help alleviate joint
pain.
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