The Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the most friendliest dogs I have ever seen. I myself own one and he has never charged or growled at anybody. They are great family dogs but not very active. They are like a big bean bag. They are easy going, calm, sensitive, and loyal. Though they do not do well isolated from family activities. This dog enjoys the outdoors, especially in cold weather. It needs daily exercise, but little exercise daily. Bernese Mountain Dogs often enjoy a good hike and love pulling. Altough they can physically live outdoors in temperate to cold climate, it is so in tune with its human family that it cannot be relegated to life alone in the yard. Inside they need plenty of room to stretch out. Its coat needs brushing about once a week, and much more when it's shedding. Bernese life span is described by a Swiss expression: "Three years a young dog, three years a good dog, and three years and old dog. Else is a gift from God." Bernese Mountain Dogs are often show dogs, and great family dogs.

Males tend to weigh 90 - 120 lbs

Females tend to weigh 70 - 100 lbs

Some information provided by: Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds Second Edition D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.

The Basics

The first thing you need to know about dogs is that they started out as wolves. Then humans domesticated wolves. As humans kept breeding wolves, and wolves kept becoming nicer, humans began to call wolves dogs. Now instead of eating deer and moose, dogs eat pretty much dog food and table scraps. So now, even though there are some mean dogs, they still aren't as mean as wolves, by far.