Bernese Mountain Dog

Initially upholstered side by side with a man, sharing responsibilities with him and taking food from his hands, the Bernese Mountain Dog from the shepherd dog gradually became an excellent companion. But at the same time, his formidable appearance was preserved, which at one glance instilled panic fear. Such a contrast among the dog brotherhood is not uncommon, what attracts dog breeders exactly this breed?

Historical information about the breed

Bernese Mountain Dog is a type of common Swiss mountain dog. Researchers managed to find out that the history of the breed goes back centuries, and there is evidence that it existed more than 2000 years ago.

However, in our time it remains a mystery who became the progenitor of the Bernese Mountain Dog. According to one version, it is the Tibetan Mastiff , from which a group of Molossians and shepherd dogs from the mountains originated. On the other - this breed is the result of natural selection and multiple crosses of different breeds.

Unlike an origin, the mission of dogs does not cause doubts - these are primordially protective shepherd dogs. Initially, all the giant-sized dogs that were used to graze sheep on the Swiss slopes were called Shalashov, and only later they would receive flocks to receive the name, depending on the area. And so the breed was formed, whose representatives lived and worked not far from Bern.

The long period of the Bernese Mountain Dogs was used only as watchmen, but the dogs took possession of their owners with other virtues and not only physical, but also mental ones. Power and endurance allowed them to be used for the transport of goods, they could transport carts over long distances.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the dogs were able to “go out into the world,” and it was then that the representative of the breed was at a global exhibition. Naturally, such a powerful handsome immediately noticed and appreciated. This was the starting point for the development and improvement of the breed. In the future, to improve the quality of some indicators, they were crossed with no less gigantic and beautiful Newfoundlands.

Description of breed Bernese Mountain Dog

This type of Zenenhund has some similarities with other species, but is characterized by longer and thicker hair. The dogs are large in size: the growth of males at the withers is 64-70 cm, the bitches are not much less - 58-66 cm. The standards do not indicate the body weight of animals, the weight of males is from 35 to 55 kg, females - from 35 to 45 kg.

The constitution of Bernese mountain dogs is strong, but they cannot be called stocky. All parts of the body are proportional. If you look under the thick undercoat, you can find a developed muscular corset. Dogs are distinguished by their strength and unreal endurance.

According to the generally accepted standard, have the following structure:

• The tail of the representatives of this breed is luxurious - long and completely covered with long hair, narrower at the end.
• The head is located on a strong neck, the muzzle has smooth features, without abrupt transitions. Zenenhundov lips are closed tightly, salivation is absent.
• The eyes are small, have an almond shape and a dark brown iris. Dogs have a very attentive, expressive look.
• Ears are hanging, triangular, when the animal is disturbed or interested in something, then they rise a little. If we take into account all the characteristics, then it seems that the dogs from Bern are very intelligent and balanced animals.
• Wool is the pride of the Bernese Mountain Dog, the rest of the breed can not boast with it. It has a single layer, bright natural shine. There are representatives with straight hair, with soft waves or very easy "disheveled". According to experts, it is semi-long, slightly shorter in the head, muzzle and on parts of the limbs.

Color Bernese Mountain Dog

The color of the dogs of this breed is one - tricolor . The main color is black, on its background there are symmetrical spots with clear borders - red-rust and white. Ryzhina should be in the area of ​​the superciliary arches, on the sternum, under the tail and on the limbs.

Due to the long-term crossing of various breeds, sometimes puppies having a different color are born. But they do not meet the standard requirements, therefore they are not suitable for breeding and for show career. But this does not prevent them from being beautiful family pets.

Character of bernese mountain dog

Today, this breed is gaining momentum, which is more associated with the nature of its representatives, rather than their bright appearance or fashion trends. Any breed standard pays more attention to this aspect, and responsible breeders prefer breeding good-natured dogs rather than aggressive ones.

According to the description of many owners, the dog from Burns is gigantic and very patient. Pets are very attached to the owners, they are characterized by devotion and understand the person perfectly. In spite of the fact that only one of the members of the family is chosen as the host, they communicate perfectly with the other members. And their cat habits - to settle on the owner's lap, just touches, especially since this "kitten" weighs half a "centner."

Being attached to his family, the dog does not refuse to communicate with other people (a rare quality for large breeds), this is due to their past riding life, when they drove goods to noisy and bustling market squares. Having received proper socialization, dogs behave politely with strangers. Without proper upbringing , dogs can be nervous and show shyness in a society with strangers, but they show aggression very rarely.

Bernese Mountain Dog can be a security guard, since his thunder barking and roaring is enough for an attacker to change his plans. However, there is no aggression in these manifestations, and with certain knowledge of canine psychology, robbers can still penetrate the territory.

But if the territory of the mountain dog protects it does not matter, then with the threat to the life or health of someone in the family, the behavior of the giant changes dramatically. To stop the rage that has fallen on the offender is almost impossible.

These dogs are great for families with children, even babies. Dogs are patronizing to the kids and part of the parental care easily take over. They patiently endure all the pranks, never take revenge, and their huge size does not interfere with being very neat and soft.

Bern find a common language with other pets, even dogs. They even like the company of their relatives. They do not seek to dominate, divide territory or show aggression because of food. The latter quality is often used by smaller, but somewhat arrogant pets - cats. The dog may be taken aback from their insolence, but more often it retreats away. Such tolerance is associated with the purpose of the breed and the lack of hunter instincts.

All this applies to socialized dogs. If the dog was not brought up, or mistakes were made in the educational process, then the males of the Bernese Mountain Dog may show abnormal qualities - aggression towards the males.

Naturally, the size of the Bernese Mountain Dog can already pose a danger to small animals, so raising a pet is important.

Representatives of this breed are very intelligent and calm attitude to training . Their desire to please the owner makes this process easy and enjoyable. The main thing is to systematize the classes and act correctly. In the interaction, it is important that the teams are given by the leader of the family, otherwise the dogs perform the task, but with less enthusiasm.

However, if you compare other breeds, the Sennenhund is more agreeable. They do not tolerate rudeness in their address and always respond to encouragement, be it a snack, stroking or just a kind word. A positive attitude will give better results than a mushra.

See what the Sennenhund calls a girl or boy .

What care is required

Berns are equipped with a developed undercoat that protects them from both low and high temperatures. Breeders strongly recommend trying to protect the dog from the scorching sun and overload during this period, but they also differ from nature by endurance. Dogs love to sleep on a snowy crust and rarely spend time in a booth.

A great place to keep them is the aviary. Moreover, the insulation of the booth is necessary only if the animal is sitting on a chain. In this case, and walking should be more frequent and long. Once every day for at least two hours.

On a leash, the dog will feel fine if the chain allows you to move in an area of ​​at least 10 square meters.

Flat Mountain Dog requires a two-day walk. As for puppies, it all depends on age. All walks must be accompanied by active jogging and games.

How to feed the Bernese Mountain Dog

Having a large size and excellent appetite, dogs will require a decent amount of food. If you take the percentage of products with natural feeding, it looks like this:

• 70% - meat products, including by-products;
• 15% - cereals (in the form of porridges, boiled in water);
• 5% - boiled and raw vegetables, fruits;
• 10% - dairy products.

The diet can include lean sea fish, but not more than once a week. It is also recommended to give a raw chicken egg no more than 1-2 in 7 days. The pet should be provided with fresh drinking water in unlimited quantities. This is especially important on hot days.

Like other large dogs, burns require food containing cartilage, which helps strengthen the ligaments. Meat is better to give coarse, sinewy. Be sure to give a scar, not only that the pets adore him, he also has a positive effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

As for feeding the finished diet, you should choose a menu that is low in fat for large breeds. This is due to the fact that Bernese Mountain Dogs may suffer from overweight. It is better not to give vitamins by yourself, you should consult with a veterinarian first.

Read more: what to feed the Bernese Mountain Dog .

Photo Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog video

Puppy price

If there is a desire to acquire this gigantic handsome man, then it is worth knowing that a purebred puppy in a family without further show career and breeding will cost 20,000-25,000 rubles. The price of Bernese Mountain Dog for breeding and successful participation in exhibitions varies from 35,000 to 40,000 rubles.

When purchasing a puppy, the owners must be warned - Bernese Mountain Dog has a very long childhood period - up to 2.5 years. Therefore, some pranks can be safely attributed to age.