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If looking for a great family pet that will make a superior walking companion and will be tolerant of children, consider the Bernese Mountain dog as a choice.

HISTORY

The Bernese Mountain Dog originated as a farm dog of midland Switzerland near the city of Berne, thus its name. It may have been used to pull a cart and was usually used to accompany cows to pasture. It was not used for herding goats or sheep. The breed was near extinction when it was rescued by Professor Albert Heim at the end of the 19th century. It has had a steady increase since then.

It has signature tri-color markings of black, brown and white. It has a height ranging from 22-26 inches and weighs usually between 80-100 pounds.

It is known for having a strong neck and muzzle with a compact body, a broad chest and a strong loin.

HEALTH

It is a hardy breed that is rarely ill but its life expectancy has lowered from 10-12 years to 6-7 years largely due to the frequency of cancer in the breed. The breed is also known to be susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia.

TEMPERAMENT

This is a gentle giant. It is good-natured and compatible with children and other animals. It is vigorous, active and sturdy, but slow to mature and will stay in the playful puppy stage longer than some other breeds. It is a reliable guardian, but is not aggressive. It may not take well to a change in ownership after age 18 months. It may appear aloof and indifferent to strangers but is a loyal family pet.

OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE BREED

This is an animal that must be part of the family unit and is best integrated into the family home and lifestyle. It does have a wide sweeping tail that can knock items over so it is best in an uncluttered yard and home. It should not be left unattended for long periods of time and it needs exercise, although it will not be a dog that will jog with you everyday. It does not have the endurance of lighter boned dogs. It will make a great walking companion though and about 30 minutes of exercise a day is ideal. This dog is not recommended for apartment life.

It is not a lapdog, but it certainly will crawl in your lap if you wish as it is very affectionate with its owners. This is not a dog that will respond to hard hands or harsh training. That will break its tenderhearted spirit. It does require basic obedience training as a puppy to be a well-mannered addition to the family.

In the summer time this dog will need abundant water and shade as it is meant for a colder climate and has a very heavy coat. Grooming will require that it is brushed at least weekly and frequent vacuuming will be required in the house to remove the shedding hair especially when it sheds its coat.

The Bernese Mountain Dog will be a great family dog that has relatively few negative traits. It is not a natural retriever and does not naturally come to hunting or love of the water. It seldom nuisance barks and it a relatively quiet dog. Despite its short life span and its large size, do not let those problems deter you from choosing this wonderful pet.

Sources consulted in the writing of this article include:

The Reader's Digest Book of Dogs
www.bmdca.org
www.dogbreedi nfo.com
www.akc.org

Learn more about this author, MJ Suttor.
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