Berner Sennenhund

Bernese Mountain Dogs are strikingly beautiful, tri-colored, large, working dogs and companion animals. The breed's reputation for possessing a pleasant disposition, a gentle, reliable character and their adaptability is attractive to a steadily increasing number of pet owners who are searching for an ideal companion dog.

THE BREED HISTORY

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very old breed. The ancestors of today's dogs served as all purpose farm dogs in Switzerland long before the time they were recognized as a purebred dog and before dog clubs or clearly defined pedigrees (family trees) were recorded. The breed has gone by several names in its homeland including Gelbbäckler (Yellow Cheeks), Vieräuger (Four Eyes), Dürrbachhunde and the Berner Sennenhund.

THE BREED HIGHLIGHTS

1. Berner babies give the sweetest puppy breath kisses; they are very warm & fluffy and are real cuddle butts. Bernese pups get big fast - in a year the baby fluff ball will become a powerful, large young adult dog.
2. Raise your Bernese puppy well; provide him with care and guidance to grow the puppy into his adult role...a Bernese Mountain Dog that is capable of serving you as an exceptional companion.
3. Bernese Mountain Dog owners feed a range of food from raw diet, homemade diets to commercially prepared kibble. No matter what type of feed you will choose, it should be a high quality food with relatively low protein level, approximately 18 -26% and a moderate fat content, under 16%. A diet too high in fat adds unwanted pounds and in some cases causes diarrhea.
4. People frequently choose a Bernese Mountain Dog because they have read or heard the breed is great with kids. Ideally, most Berners are gentle and nurturing; and, as a rule, they have the tendency to interact well with children. 
5. When weather permits, Berners benefit from spending several hours a day outside in the fresh air - a fenced yard can be a perfect place for Berners to rest or play.
6. Bernese are SLOW MATURING DOGS. Most Berners do not reach their adult height and weight until they are 2 or 3 years old. 
7. Berners are a double coated breed; they have an undercoat and topcoat. To maintain the proper care, it is necessary to comb the hair twice a week with a brush and a comb with long teeth. Strong seasonal shedding occurs once or twice a year. In fact, the dogs loose their coat  moderately all year round, so a regular combing is recommended.
8. Berners are big, heavily built dogs with black, thick, double coats. The breed was developed by the Swiss to live in the Alps where temperatures rarely reach +25C°, even in the hottest months. Most Bernese Mountain Dogs love cold weather and snow. The dogs' black coats absorb heat from the sun; many dogs seek shade, even on cool days. Be aware of heatstroke in hot weather!