The Bernese Mountain Dog (or Berner Sennenhund, as it is called in German) is one of the four breeds of large dogs originating from the Swiss Alps. Its name comes from the area where the breed was first acknowledged. This happened in the twentieth century, but we could say that this dog comes down from a distant lineage, its direct ancestor being the wolf.
It shares some similar traits with the other three varieties of Swiss Mountain Dogs, such as the tricolored fur or the large body size, but it is the only one with a long coat, often straight and shiny and, sometimes, silky. If we were to make a quick description of the breed, we could say that the Bernese Mountain Dog is very easy to recognize. It is large, with a height of up to 70 centimeters in males, and 66 centimeters in females, both genders weighing about 47 kilograms.
The body of this dog is long, with good muscles and a deep chest. This is, probably, the reason why it has been used as a multi-purpose dog for more than a century. Its excellent physical abilities make it suitable for pulling carts, tracking wild animals, hunting and guarding. The head is very well proportioned, with wide ears that drop in a V shape. The eyes are round and colored like chestnuts. The muzzle is of medium size, straight, and ends with a black nose. Its distinctive coat is tricolored, usually following this pattern: black on the back, white on the chest and rusty markings around the eyes, sides of the mouth and the front of the legs.
Having the looks and the skills of a general farm dog is what probably made it so beloved by the German people. Its downside is that it is not the "sharpest tool in the shed". In other words, intelligence is not the strongest point of the Bernese Mountain Dog. But what makes it so great is its stable temperament.
These dogs are quite slow to mature, displaying puppy-like tendencies until the age of two. And in a family with little children, this will allow the small ones, dog and kids, to grow up all together. The Bernese is friendly and loving with other pets too. Furthermore, it is loyal and faithful, and very eager to please its master. In rare cases, it can be shy, but, if you show it a little compassion, its self-confidence can be restored.
Despite being a large dog, it quickly adapts to the city life. Still, it is healthier for it to be able to enjoy an open space. Attention and a lot of exercise is what this dog needs most.
The Bernese lives, on average, seven years, which is less than other dogs of its size. The main causes of the breed's high mortality rate are cancer and problems related to the bones and muscles. This is the reason why people who are thinking of adopting one must be very knowledgeable of its sensitive nature.
With all the ups and downs of this dog, it definitely deserves our love. Lately, it has become very popular, but it is sad that we have waited for this breed to almost go extinct until we turned our eyes on it. It is not in our power to save all the living things on this planet, but we should at least respect them, and make sure we do not harm them. Just like with any other animal, the fate of the Bernese Mountain Dog is closely related to our actions.
