About the BMD
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a sturdy tri-colored dog who was originally used as an all-purpose farm dog in the cantons of Berne, Switzerland. They provided companionship to the farmer, as well as alerting the farmer when strangers approached the farm. On occassion they were used as drovers for livestock and for taking milk carts to the dairy.
The breed standard indicates that they may be aloof to the attention of strangers, but this should not be confused with shy. They may choose to hang back when introduced to strangers. But after a short-period of time, should become accustomed to and accepting of newcomers.
While Berners are typically good with children and other animals, they should be introduced with adult supervision. Adult Berners are large dogs and can unintentionally topple small children, so interactions with youngsters should always been supervised.
Berners are not a breed for everyone. Their looks and personality are appealing, but their large size (males can be as large as 90-120 lbs and females 70-95 lbs), and profuse amount of coat does not suit everyone. If you are a neatnik, or are looking for a dog that is content to live outdoors, this is NOT the breed for you! Berners want to be with their humans, and do not do well as kennel dogs, relegated to life away from you.
Berners do not require a great deal of excercise generally, but needs can vary with each dog. Some Berners are content to be couch potatos, while others seem to have unbounding energy and require a good amount of physcial and mental stimulation. Remember that these dogs were working dogs, so do best when they have a job to do. Their coats are generally fairly easy to maintain, though a weekly brushing will help keep hair in the house down to a minimum.
There are a number of health issues in the breed that potential owners should be aware of. These issues include:
- Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
- Inherited Eye Conditions - Progressive Retinal Atrophy (which causes eventual blindness) and Entropian and Ectropian (issues with eyelids which can cause permanent vision damage if left untreated)
- Inherited Cardiac Conditions - Subaortic Stenosis
- von Willebrand's disease - a blood clotting disorder
- Thyroid issues
- Certain kinds of cancers including Histiocytic Sarcoma (formerly known as Maliganant Histiocystosis) and Hemangiosarcoma
It is best to do your research and understand what issues to look for and ask questions about as you research breeders and pedigrees. It is also good to know what health issues are in the breed and what costs for treatment are. While reputable breeders strive to make the best breeding decisions possible to avoid producing puppies with problems, health problems will still occur in even the most well-researched breeding. It is unfortunately true that NO lines are free from health problems. But the responsible breeder will be aware of what is in their own pedigree and seek to make a good breeding selection to avoid doubling up on traits or health issues that may be inherited.
It is also good to be aware of what the costs of treatment are, as the purchase price of a Berner puppy is only one of the costs of owning this spectacular breed. One needs to be prepared for other health-care related expenses as well. Many puppy buyers choose to purchase health insurance for their dogs so they will never be faced with a decision about to treat or not to treat a disease due to cost considerations. But that is a personal choice that everyone who owns a dog should come to terms with.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT DOG SHOWS AND HEALTH TESTING
All ethical and responsible breeders health test, title their dogs and aim to produce only the highest quality BMD's which will better the gene pool. Responsible breeders are choosy about which dogs they choose to breed. They study pedigrees to find quality males that have both good conformation, but also good health, longevity and solid temperaments with demonstrated working ability.
Some people feel that it doesn't matter which breeder they go to because all they want is a nice pet. Some people feel that it doesn't matter if the parents of the dogs have any conformation, obedience or drafting titles, but it DOES matter! Conformation shows are designed to provide that the dog being shown conforms to the standard for the breed--that the dog is built to be able to do the job it was originally intended to do. This translates to the pet owner, as well in that the dog that is properly built should have a better chance at good health. This includes joints and health to give them the ability to run, jump and that paws and legs can absorb shock properly. Good health starts with good conformation!
Health testing provides good information to the breeder about the health of their dogs. Health testing of puppies produced also provides invaluable information to YOU, the owner. If there are issues, you will be aware of them and develop a treatment plan with your breeder and your vet to address them. Without health information provided by owners of ALL puppies in a litter, breeders are operating without full information to help inform future breeding decisions. Yes, health-testing does cost money, but remember, it costs no less to produce a great, healthy beautiful pet, than it does to produce the history-making show greats!