Berner Guide: living with a Bernese Mountain Dog

Berner Guide is an independent guide for people who own, or are thinking about owning, a Bernese Mountain Dog. It collects practical information on health screening, everyday care and training, with links to the registries and veterinary references where you can check the details yourself.

The breed in brief

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large tricolour working dog from the farming regions around Bern, Switzerland, where it guarded farms, moved cattle and pulled small carts. Adult males commonly weigh 80 to 115 pounds and females 70 to 95 pounds. Berners are usually calm and affectionate with their families, but they grow quickly, shed heavily, handle heat poorly and have a shorter average lifespan than many breeds, often seven to ten years. Cancer, especially histiocytic sarcoma, and orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia are the health issues owners hear about most.

Start here

• Health testing for Bernese Mountain Dogs: which screening tests exist, where results are published and how to read a breeder's health claims.
• Separation anxiety: signs, first steps and where to find qualified help.
• Article library: archived articles on breeding, structure, stewardship and health, written by veterinarians and experienced owners.
• Useful links: health registries, veterinary references and training resources.
• Photo gallery and the history of Berner University, an educational program this domain used to host.

Nothing on this site is veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic. See the disclaimer.