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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007) | | Bernese Mountain Dog | 
The Bernese Mountain Dog | | Other names | Berner Sennenhund
Bouvier Bernois
Bovaro Bernese
Dürrbächler | | Country of origin | Switzerland | | Nicknames | Berner | | | | | The Bernese Mountain Dog (also called Berner Sennenhund or Bouvier Bernois) is a versatile breed of farm dog originating in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ...
© The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ...
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ...
The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ...
The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ...
The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ...
The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ...
Valais Ticino Graubünden (Grisons) Geneva Vaud Neuchâtel Jura Berne Thurgau Zurich Aargau Lucerne Solothurn Basel-Land Schaffhausen Uri Schwyz Glarus St. ...
The Swiss Canton of Berne is bilingual (German: Kanton ; French Canton de Berne) and has a population of about 947,000. ...
Description
Black with white chest most have golden markings.
Appearance | Bernese Mountain Dog overview |
| | Weight: | 85-110 pounds (38-50kg.) | | Height: | 24-28 inches (61-71cm.) | | Coat: | Moderately long and either straight or slightly wavy | | Litter size: | ~8 puppies | | Life span: | ~7 to 10 years | |  Male Berner - Riley at 7 months (Don Mills, ON Canada - May 2007) 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 65 to 120 pounds. The breed is instantly recognized by its distinctive tri-color pattern: body, neck, legs, head and ears are solid black; cheeks, stockings and thumbprints (or ghost eyes) are rust or 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 and are almond shaped. Male Bernese mountain dogs are normally larger in size than females but both sexes are extremely strong. The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ...
A breed standard (also called bench standard) in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to insure that the animals produced by a breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed. ...
Temperament 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1148x1148, 328 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bernese Mountain Dog Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1148x1148, 328 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bernese Mountain Dog Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used...
The Bernese temperament is a strong point of the breed. They are affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable and intelligent. The majority of Bernese are very friendly to people, and other dogs. They often get along well with other pets such as cats, horses, etc. They are very trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in training; Bernese need time to think things through. They do not respond well to harsh treatment, however Berners are very willing and eager to please their master. Bernese love to be encouraged with praise and treats. The breed is very sweet and good with children, despite their great size. Overall, they are very stable in temperament, patient, and loving.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are quirky, loving dogs, craving love and affection. They love to lean against people or sit on their feet.
The Bernese 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. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America offers drafting trials open to all breeds; dogs can earn an NDD (Novice Draft Dog) or a DD (Draft Dog) title. Regional Bernese clubs often offer carting workshops. Dog cart during Mardi Gras in New Orleans Carting is the dog sport or activity of carting, in which a dog (usually a large breed) pulls a cart filled with supplies, such as farm goods or firewood, but sometimes pulling people. ...
Health
Mortality Health surveys of Bernese Mountain Dogs in Denmark, the UK, and USA/Canada all show that this breed is very short-lived compared to breeds of similar size and purebred dogs in general. Berners have a median longevity of 7 years in USA/Canada and Denmark surveys and 8 years in UK surveys.[1] By comparison, most other breeds of similar size have median longevities of 10 to 11 years.[2] The longest lived of 394 deceased Berners in a 2004 UK survey died at 15.2 years.[3]
Cancer is the leading cause of death for dogs in general, but Berners have a much higher rate of fatal cancer than other breeds. In both USA/Canada and UK surveys, nearly half of Berners died of cancer,[4][3] compared to about 27% of all dogs.[3] Berners are killed by a multitude of different types of cancer, including malignant histiocytosis, mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma.[4] Malignant histiocytosis is a hereditary disease found in the Bernese Mountain Dog characterized by histiocytic infiltration of the lungs and lymph nodes. ...
A mast cell tumor is a type of tumor consisting of mast cells that is found in many species of animals. ...
Lymphoma in animals is a type of cancer defined by a proliferation of malignant lymphocytes within solid organs such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver and spleen. ...
Fibrosarcoma (fibroblastic sarcoma) is a malignant tumor derived from fibrous connective tissue and characterized by immature proliferating fibroblasts or undifferentiated anaplastic spindle cells. ...
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of malignant bone cancer, accounting for 35% of primary bone malignancies. ...
Berners also 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 Berners in the UK study;[3] for comparison, mortality due to musculoskeletal ailments was reported to be less than 2% for purbred dogs in general.
Morbidity Owners of Berners are nearly three times as likely as owners of other breeds to report musculoskeletal problems in their dogs.[3] The most commonly reported musculoskeletal issues are cruciate ligament rupture, arthritis (especially in shoulders and elbows), hip dysplasia, and osteochondritis.[3][4] The age at onset for musculoskeletal problems is also unusually low. For example, in the USA/Canada study, 11% of living dogs had arthritis at an average age of 4.3 years.[4] Most other common, non-musculoskeletal morbidity issues strike Berners at rates similar to other breeds.[3]
In short, prospective Berner 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. Comfortable bedding may help alleviate joint pain.
Care
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 or brushing is in order for the duration of the moult. Bernese Mountain Dogs shed year-round, and drifts of fur are to be expected, yet the Bernese Mountain Dog tends to be one of the better hypo-allergenic dogs with a longer coat.
References - ^ http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 8, 2007
- ^ http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/survey_comparisons.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Survey Comparisons page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007
- ^ a b c d http://www.bmdca.org/health/Miscellaneous/Health_Report.php 2000 BMDCA Health Survey, Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America Retrieved August 8, 2007
- A New Owner's Guide To Bernese Mountain Dogs, written by Amy Christiansen, published by TFH Publications, July 30th, 2004, ISBN-10: 079382818X, 160 pages
- Bernese Mountain Dog, written by Louise Harper, published by Kennel Club Books, March, 2004, ISBN-10: 1593782896, 160 pages
- Bernese and Other Mountain Dogs, written by Gerd Ludwig, published by Barron's Educational Series, July 10th, 1995, ISBN-10: 0812091353, 64 pages
- The Beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog, written by Diane Russ and Shirle Rogers, published by Alpine Publications; 1st edition (April 1994), ISBN-10: 0931866553, 248 pages
- The Complete Bernese Mountain Dog, written by Jude Simonds, published by Howell Book House; 1st American edition, February, 1990, ISBN-10: 087605050X, 160 pages
- The New Bernese Mountain Dog, written by Sharon Chesnutt Smith, published by Howell Books, March, 1995, ISBN-10: 0876050755, 272 pages
- The Bernese Mountain Dog, written by Bernd Guenter, published by Doral Publishing 2004, ISBN 0-9745407-3-0
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed clubs, associations, and societies
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