Bernese Mountain Dog: history, appearance, and health

Part 1

Where the breed comes from

The Bernese Mountain Dog, called Berner Sennenhund in German, is one of four Sennenhund-type breeds and it takes its name from the canton of Bern. The word Sennenhund comes from Senne, meaning alpine pasture, and Hund, meaning dog, because these dogs accompanied the herders and dairymen who worked the high pastures. You can trace the breed's ancestry to Roman mastiffs, which are believed to have crossed with native flock-guarding dogs in Switzerland. For a time the dogs were called Dürrbachhund or Dürrbächler after Dürrbach, a small town where the large dogs were especially common. Breeders from the Burgdorf region founded the first breed club, the Schweizerischer Dürrbach-Klub, in 1907 and wrote the first standard defining the dogs as a separate breed. The American Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1937, and it still classifies the Bernese Mountain Dog in the Working Group today.

If you are curious how popular the breed is now, the American Kennel Club ranked it 19th by registrations in 2024. The breed is also very popular as a family dog in German-speaking countries, where it ranked 11th by live births in 2014 according to the German Association of Dog Breeders.

Part 2

What a Bernese Mountain Dog looks like

You will recognise a Bernese Mountain Dog by its tricolour coat: black with a white chest and rust-coloured markings above the eyes, on the sides of the mouth, and on the front of the legs. Of the four Sennenhund breeds, it is the only one with a long coat. Males stand about 64 to 70 centimetres at the shoulder and females about 58 to 66 centimetres. Males typically weigh 36 to 55 kilograms and females 34 to 45 kilograms.

Part 3

Health issues to watch for in your dog

Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high frequency of neoplasia, and one study found that 55 percent of deaths in the breed were attributable to cancer. The breed also has a high prevalence of elbow dysplasia, with studies finding rates ranging from about 14 percent to 26 percent. Life expectancy is typically given as 7 to 10 years. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America has said openly that this lifespan is too short for a large breed dog, and it has made improving that number a central priority.

• An increased prevalence of immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, with a Swiss study finding both incidence and mortality from kidney disease higher in this breed than any other studied.
• A high risk of developing high-grade mastocytoma.
• Histiocytosis, a rare group of disorders involving a build-up of histiocytes in tissue and organs.
• A high risk of developmental joint disorders like hip and elbow dysplasia.

Part 4

Temperament and daily life

If you bring one of these dogs home, you can expect a calm, affectionate, and loyal companion who forms deep attachments to its family. Berners are generally gentle with children and other pets, though they can be shy around strangers if they are not well socialised early on. They come from working stock, so your dog will likely benefit from mental stimulation and structured activity, whether that is obedience work, scent games, or pulling a small cart. Bernese Mountain Dogs are not well suited to apartment life; they do best with a large yard and are sensitive to heat because of their thick coats. They are heavy shedders once a year and need regular brushing to keep the coat in good condition.