Bernese Mountain Dog

Temperament

The Bernese is a family dog in the truest sense: it wants to be wherever its people are and does poorly when isolated in a kennel run. The FCI standard describes it as self-confident, attentive and watchful, good-natured with its own people and composed with strangers. The AKC gives it top marks for affection, for how it gets along with children and for how it gets along with other dogs. It's less active than the herding breeds, but young dogs can be surprisingly boisterous and clumsy, able to knock a toddler over with a swish of the tail. It learns willingly, though it likes a moment to think things over. An adult Berner usually barks only when it has a reason and greets visitors calmly, tail wagging. It typically lives peacefully with cats and other pets if it met them as a puppy.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Bernese Mountain Dog for?

A Bernese is a good choice for a family with children living in a house with a yard, ideally in a cooler climate, and ready to find dog hair in every corner. A first-time owner can manage one too, as long as they put real effort into puppy training. It's not for people looking for a running partner, for those living in a cramped apartment on an upper floor with no elevator, or for anyone who would find such a short time together too hard to bear.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Bernese needs less exercise than its size suggests: the Royal Kennel Club says up to an hour a day. Long, easy walks are better than sprints, and puppies should avoid jumping and long runs until about a year old, while their joints are still forming. The breed handles freezing weather very well and heat very poorly, so in summer plan walks for the morning and evening. The thick, long coat needs brushing several times a week, and daily while shedding, and it leaves plenty of hair around the house. The dog may drool, especially after drinking. Keep it lean and split food into two meals to reduce the risk of bloat. Start basic training early, while the puppy is still small, since an adult Berner pulling on the leash means dozens of kilograms of force.

Health and breed-related conditions

The most serious problem is cancer, which accounts for much of the breed's short life: the AKC gives 7–10 years, and the Royal Kennel Club puts it in the "under 10 years" category. Breeders should screen dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia (the Royal Kennel Club's minimum), progressive retinal atrophy and blood disorders. The AKC also recommends DNA tests for degenerative myelopathy, including the variant typical of Bernese, and a cardiac exam. As with other large breeds, bloat is a risk. When choosing a breeder, ask how old the puppy's ancestors were when they died.

• cancerThe AKC lists it among the breed's main problems; it's one of the reasons Bernese have short lives.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaThe Royal Kennel Club considers hip and elbow X-rays the minimum before breeding.
• degenerative myelopathy (DM)Progressive weakness of the hind legs in older dogs; the AKC recommends DNA tests for two variants of the mutation.
• bloat (GDV)A sudden, life-threatening condition typical of large breeds.
• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)An inherited disease that leads to vision loss.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed descends from farm dogs from the area around Bern that guarded farmsteads, drove cattle and pulled milk carts. They were originally called Dürrbächler, after the hamlet and inn of Dürrbach near Riggisberg, where they were especially common. The dogs were shown in 1902, 1904 and 1907, and in 1907 breeders from around Burgdorf founded the Schweizerischer Dürrbach-Klub and wrote down the breed's characteristics. According to the AKC, Professor Albert Heim played an important role. By 1910, 107 dogs were exhibited at the Burgdorf show. The breed was later renamed the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Fun facts

• The breed's old name, Dürrbächler, comes from the Dürrbach inn near Riggisberg.
• By 1910, 107 dogs of the breed were shown at the Burgdorf show.
• Bernese traditionally pulled carts loaded with milk cans, and drafting is a popular sport for the breed today.
• It's the only one of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds with a long coat.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids
• Dogs for first-time owners

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 45 – Berner Sennenhundfci.be
2. 2AKC – Bernese Mountain Dogakc.org
3. 3Royal Kennel Club – Bernese Mountain Dogroyalkennelclub.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.