Bernese Mountain Dogs
Author
There is a wide variety of dog breeds available today. Carefully
examining the choices will give you a better chance of finding a
dog that fits into your home and family. The Bernese Mountain
Dog Club of the Rockies has prepared this FAQ to introduce you to our
breed and help you decide
if a Berner is right for you.
Created October 15, 1994. Updated January 17, 1996. Copyright 1995 by
Philip Shaffer,
pshaffer@teal.csn.net.
Quick Links
Table of Contents
- needs lots of human companionship; must be a full member of the
family; a dog that must be allowed inside the house
- gentle, calm, affectionate, and faithful to their owners
- very good with children and other animals
- intelligent, but needs patient, consistent training
- seldom nuisance barkers
- good watch dogs but not guard dogs
- reserved around strangers but not shy or fearful if given proper
socialization when young
- moderate activity level, a fine walking companion but lacking the
endurance of lighter boned breeds
- a working breed that was originally used
for draft work and light duty cattle herding
- purchase cost varies widely around the country
- males and females should cost the same
- $120 for first year routine vet care
- $50 per year for routine adult vet care
- $120 per year for miscellaneous vet care
- $20 to $30 per month in food
- $180 for 20 hours of basic puppy and obedience classes
- home and yard improvements such as fencing or a run
- the median life span is 6 to 7 years, however, for dogs that enter
adulthood in good
health the typical life span is around 9 years
- cancers are a serious problem and common cause of
early death
- joint problems are common
- serious autoimmune problems and kidney problems are known
- the Berner-Garde
data base
tracks many health problems and can be accessed by breeders and potential
owners.
- 65 to 95 pounds for females; 80 to 115 pounds for males
- males 25-27-1/2 inches at the withers, bitches 23-26 inches
- heavy shedding once or twice a year and for some dogs throughout
the year
- coat naturally repels dirt; regular brushing but only occasional
bathing is required.
- very few are prone to drooling
- not a natural retriever
- not naturally inclined to hunting, though some chase squirrels, etc.
- not naturally a water dog but some take to swimming for fun
- some have a tendency to dig holes
- fun to travel with if properly trained
The name Bernese Mountain Dog is a rough translation of the German
"Berner Sennenhund," which literally means Bernese Alpine Herdsman's Dog.
The breed's original name was Durrbachler, after an inn where
these farm dogs were bought and sold. The modern breed was developed from
dogs found in the countryside around Bern, Switzerland and is only one of
several Swiss
breeds. The original Berner Sennenhund was an all-around farm dog,
used to guard the farm, drive the cows to and from their mountain pastures,
and pull carts loaded with milk cans to the dairy; modern Berners retain
some, although not necessarily all, of these instincts. The breed was
rescued from near extinction by Professor
Albert Heim
around the turn of the century and has developed slowly since then.
In 1948 there was a significant outcrossing to a Newfoundland dog,
with a resulting improvement in temperament and increase in size.
Berners are known to have first come to America in 1926, and possibly
even earlier, but the breed was not recognized by the AKC even after
intervention by the Swiss Kennel Club. A decade later, two more were
imported from Switzerland; these dogs became the first of the breed
to be registered with the AKC, in 1937. By the 1960s, a small group of
loyal Berner owners and breeders was developing in the United States. During
1994 there were 1594 Berners registered with the AKC, making the breed
the 68th most popular out of 137 AKC-recognized breeds. The breed's
popularity
has been rising steadily and is now at the point where
"backyard breeding" is a problem.
Hip and elbow dysplasias are common conditions in Bernese Mountain
Dogs. These are structural defects in the joints that can cause mild to
crippling arthritis.
- Dysplasia is inherited, but many genes are involved.
- It is possible for normal parents to produce dysplastic puppies;
however, the chance of a particular puppy's having dysplasia is
reduced if both parents are normal, and even more greatly reduced if
other close relatives (parents' parents, parents' littermates, and
other puppies produced by the parents) are also free from dysplasia.
- environmental factors--overly rapid puppy growth, improper diet,
and strenuous exercise--do not cause dysplasia but may act to worsen it.
- X-rays of mature dogs are the definitive way to diagnose dysplasia.
X-rays may be done of younger dogs who are exhibiting clinical symptoms
(e.g., lameness), but they may not accurately predict how bad the
final effects will be. Because both hip and elbow dysplasias often are
not apparent at birth but develop over time, mild or moderate dysplasia
often cannot be diagnosed in young dogs.
- The Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals (GDC) evaluates
dogs at 1 year of age by X-ray. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
(OFA) evaluates dogs at 2 years of age by X-ray. Dogs found to be free
of dysplasia are issued a certificate and a registration number.
- Of all the breeds evaluated by the OFA, Bernese have the eighth
highest incidence of hip dysplasia. 28% of the Berners whose hip X-rays
are submitted are rated as dysplastic, but in reality the overall
incidence in the breed is probably considerably higher, since many owners
do not submit the X-rays if dysplasia is suspected.
- Surgery to correct dysplasia in puppies can be helpful but costs
$400.00 to $1,800.00 per joint. Hip surgery is usually more successful
than elbow surgery.
- Recommendations
Both the GDC and OFA recommend that:
- breeding dogs be free of dysplasia
- breeding dogs' parents and grandparents be free of dysplasia
- 75% or more of any siblings or half siblings of breeding dogs be
free of dysplasia
Cancers are a serious problem in the Bernese. An ongoing study of
these diseases in the breed, sponsored by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club
of America, indicates the following:
- Approximately 9.7% of Berners get cancer.
- The average age at which cancer is diagnosed is 6.21 years; however,
this varies widely.
- The most common types of cancer found in Berners are:
- histiocytosis (24.0% of cases): these tumors are inherited,
but probably through the action of many genes (polygenic) acting
together
- mastocytoma: also inherited
- lymphosarcoma: not inherited
- fibrosarcoma: not inherited
- osteosarcoma: no conclusions yet as to heritability.
A tumor registry has been established which is continuing to collect and
analyze tissue samples from affected dogs. It is hoped that additional
data will enable researchers to reach further conclusions about the
incidence and heritability of other types of cancer in the Bernese
Mountain Dog. In addition The
(GDC)
has established a registry for histiocytosis and mastocytoma since
these are known to be inherited.
Coming from a working background, Berners enjoy the challenges of
learning new things. Most Berners are eager to please their owners and can
be trained quite readily in a variety of areas. Because of the breed's
eventual large size, it is to the owner's advantage to begin obedience
training (household manners and basic obedience commands) at a young
age. However, since Berners as a breed are slow to mature, both physically
and mentally, owners should not push puppies in training too rapidly;
these dogs are definitely not obedience "child prodigies." The training
of a Berner puppy requires firmness, consistency, and lots of patience,
and is most successfully accomplished with many brief, fun training sessions.
Despite their large size, the majority of Berners are "soft" dogs
and do not do well with harsh corrections. To avoid the possibility of
orthopedic injury, a Berner should not be asked to jump or pull loads
before the age of two.
A hundred years ago, Bernese Mountain Dogs worked at guarding the
farm, herding cattle, and hauling milk cans to the dairy. The guarding
ability is greatly diminished these days (although Berners still make
good watch dogs), but the herding instinct and draft capabilities remain
intact in many dogs. Although at this time Berners are not permitted to
compete in AKC herding events, the majority of Bernese will pass a herding
instinct certification test, and some owners actively train their dogs
in this area. Berners are eligible to compete in trials offered by the
Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) and the American Herding Breed
Association. However, it is draft work that receives the most attention The
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, the national breed club, offers
two titles in draft work: NDD (Novice Draft Dog) and DD (Draft Dog).
The trials for these titles require a dog to demonstrate both control of
the cart and strength and endurance to pull a load. Many Berners
participate in AKC obedience and tracking tests, as well as agility
competition. They have also been quite successful as therapy dogs and,
to a limited extent, as search and rescue dogs.
[Clubs Page]
The national breed club in the United States is the
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA).
There are also clubs in Canada, many
European nations, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
On the local level, there are over 20
regional breed clubs located in
various parts of the United States. These clubs sponsor a variety of social
and educational activities for Berner fanciers. New Berner owners, as
well as people considering the purchase of a Berner, are welcome to attend
these events.
There are currently four informative breed books available in
English. The Cochrane and Simonds books focus on the breed in England;
the Russ and Rogers book along with the Smith book deal primarily with the
breed
in the United States. The German language book is the most complete
referance available. For those interested in draft work the Powell book is
excellent.
Baertschi, M.& Spengler, H: Hunde sehen, zuechten, erleben - Das Buch
vom Berner Sennenhund, Haupt, Bern und Stuttgart, 1992
Cochrane, Diana. The Bernese Mountain Dog. Diana Cochrane, Westgrov
e
House, Haselor Hill Nr. Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6ND, Great Britain
(1987)
Consie Powell. Newfoundland Draft Work - a Guide for Training.
Consie and Roger Powell, Ottawa Newfoundlands, 5208 Olive Road,
Raleigh, NC 27606
Russ, Diane, and Rogers, Shirle. The Beautiful Bernese Mountain
Dogs. Alpine Publications, P.O. Box 7027, Loveland, CO 80537 (1993)
Simonds, Jude. The Complete Bernese Mountain Dog. Howell Book
House, 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022 (1989)
Smith, Sharon. The New Bernese Mountain Dog. Howell Book
House, 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022 (1995)
The Alpenhorn and The Bulletin are each published
six times a year, in alternate months, by the
BMDCA
The Alpenhorn is a magazine containing articles on all aspects of the
breed: showing,
breeding, training, health issues, etc. The Bulletin is a companion
newsletter
to the The Alpenhorn containing national and regional club news
reports, correspondence, recent titles earned, club minutes, etc.
The Illustrated Standard of the Bernese Mountain Dog. This version
of the official standard includes pictures, illustrations and commentary to
help both novice and expert better understand and interpret the AKC
standard. It is available
from the BMDCA.
For every breed recognized by the AKC, there is a breed standard
which defines the ideal dog of that breed, physically and temperamentally.
The standard is written by the parent club for the breed - in this
case, the BMDCA.
Because the breed club in each country where Berners
are recognized--Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany, etc.--
formulates its own standard, there may be some minor difference between the
AKC standard and the standard in other countries.
The AKC holds the Copyright to the AKC Standard for this breed and
have refused permission for its reproduction here. For full details
please consult their publication The Dog Book or visit the
BMDCA
page.
Bernese Mountain Dog FAQ
Philip Shaffer, pshaffer@teal.csn.net
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of the Rockies
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