Is A Bernese Mountain Dog Right for You?
Bernese Mountain Dogs, also known as “Berners,” are a large and majestic breed of dog known for their friendly and calm personalities, as well as their striking tricolor coats. These hardworking and loyal dogs have a rich history and have been used for herding and as a companion dog for centuries. In this article, we will share 12 interesting facts about Bernese Mountain Dogs, including their origins, physical characteristics, and unique personality traits. Whether you’re a Berner owner or simply a fan of this beloved breed, these facts will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Bernese Mountain Dogs and its special place in the world of dogs.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are believed
to descend from Roman molosser dogs or Mastiffs brought to Switzerland by the invading Romans. Unlike other breeds, they were used as draft animals and herders instead of simply guard dogs. Additionally, the breed was expected to cope with very heavy loads, including milk canisters and other items. They were so good at this job that they were used to transport goods across the Alps until World War I.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is one
of four “Sennenhunds or “Swiss cattle dogs that originated in Switzerland. The 4 Sennenhunds are: the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. Originally, they were all classified as one dog breed.
The Bernese Mountain Dog was
originally called the “Berner Sennenhund”. They started making their way to America in 1926 where they caught the eye of an American dog fancier named Mrs. Charles Lane. Mrs. Lane became infatuated with these dogs and eventually gave them the name of “Bernese Mountain Dog”. They were recognized by the AKC in 1937.
The St. Bernard vs. BMD.
In the 1800’s Switzerland, love for the St. Bernard was so strong that people almost forgot about any other dog breed. The “Sennenhunds” were seen as farmers dogs and, at one time were literally only owned by farmers in remote places. If it weren’t for a man named Franz Schertenleib, who dedicated himself to resurrecting the breed, these wonderful dogs would have probably become extinct!
According to FCI Breed Standard
the Bernese Mountain Dog can reach up to 28 inches in height and 115 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“Jet black main colour with rich tan markings on the cheeks,
above the eyes, on all four legs and on the chest, and with white markings on the head, throat, chest, feet and tip of the tail.”
Growing Up BMD!
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In this Same Research
the BMD ranks 35 out of 124 breeds in trainability. Essentially, this means they are generally eager and willing to learn new commands and obey them quickly without distraction.
BMD Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 22nd out of 130 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 5 to 15 repetitions and obey first commands more than 85% of the time. This puts them in the “excellent working dogs intelligence” category. In contrast, the lest intelligent breeds will require 80-100 repetitions to learn and follow the same commands and the most intelligent, 5 repetitions or less!
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