The Bernese Mountain Dog

Daisy & Maggie

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​Origin:
The Bernese Mountain Dog originates from the Swiss Mountains and is an ancient breed, with 18th century paintings showing dogs that appear very similar to the BMD. They are named after the area in Switzerland, the canton of Bern.
 
Purpose:
The BMD was bred as a working and companion dog for farmers. Their lines of work included pulling carts as well as driving cattle. The breed excels in herding, guarding and search and rescue work.

Coat care:
The thick double coat of the BMD requires daily brushing, with extra work needed during shedding. The breed is a seasonal shedder however during this time will drop a lot of fur. Being bred to work in the Swiss Mountain, they are very much equipped for the cold weather, with a longer outer coat and woolly warm undercoat.


Health & Temperament:
These beautiful giants are a perfect companion and family dog. The BMD is a loving and happy dog that are very intelligent and easy to train. They are confident and alert and get along well with other animals is well socialised from a young age.
Despite their size, they are a very active breed, requiring a decent daily walk. They enjoy a large outdoor space for daily access to get out and run. With the right physical and mental stimulation, they are also happy to lounge around inside, lapping up plenty of cuddles and attention and being close with their family.
Sadly, the average life span has decreased for the breed over the last 10 years, with poor breeding practices included in some of the claims for this. Currently, the average lifespan of the BMD is only 6 -8 with cancer being a very large cause of death within the breed. This is something that many BMD groups have been studying and looking into to reduce this. They are certainly a breed that requires thorough health checks of their parents breeding blood lines.