One of my all time favorite breeds is the Bernese Mountain dog who originated as a farm dog in the Swiss mountains...used mostly for guarding their farms, pulling wagons of milk, and driving the cows the Bernese Mountain dog is one of several swiss breeds. Bernese first came to American in the ninteen twenties, but it wasn't until nineteen thirty-seven that the breed was registered with the AKC.

Appearance:

The Bernese Mountain dog is a large breed, measuring twenty five, to twenty seven inches at the withers and weighing between seventy five to one hundred and twenty pounds. The pattern on the fur is distinctive to the breed; tri-colored in black, white and brown. Their base color is jet black, with rust and white colored markings...ideally your Berner will have rust patches over each his eyes, on his feet, on all his four legs, and under his tail. This breed has a double coat that's thick, and water resistant but soft to the touch... if you're looking into this breed know that you will need to keep up with brushing, especially when the undercoat is being shed. Bernese Mountain dogs shed year round, so tufts of hair around the house are to be expected.

Temperament:

This breed is a gentle giant that gets along excellently with young children! They love to be outdoors, so ample time in the yard or park is a must..Loyal, intelligent, and faithful to the end, this breed makes for a great family pet. They are easy to train, and make excellent watch dogs but they aren't overly-aggressive. Pups will need to be socialized! The Bernese Mountain dog needs to be around people, so if you are an apartment dweller who's hardly ever home this is not the breed for you.

Possible health problems:

The Bernese Mountain dog can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Cancer is also a serious problem; 9.7% of Berners will get cancer. While this breed is slow to mature, they don't live for an lengthy period of time – the average age for a Bernese is seven years old.

Average cost for the breed:

Assuming you are purchasing your Bernese from a breeder, they range from to an upwards of twelve hundred dollars for a top of the line dog. Also take into account routine health check ups, healthy dog foods, toys, and maintenence products.

Caring for your Bernese:

These dogs need to be well socialized as pups, like I mentioned and because of their large size a yard with a fence is almost a must! I wouldn't recommend this dog for a life confined to an apartment and occasional walks. Because of their love of people, your pet will need plenty of family and people time as well – families that live in cooler climates this may be the perfect pet for you...(because of their heavy coats, summer can be a bit much for the Bernese)