What were Bernese mountain dogs bred for?

Part 1

The four jobs of a Swiss farm dog

Your dog's ancestors pulled carts rather than herding sheep or goats. On farms around Bern, Bernese mountain dogs pulled carts loaded with dairy products to market. A large, well-muscled dog with sturdy bone was needed for this kind of pulling work.

Bernese mountain dogs also helped move small groups of cattle between the farm and nearby pastures. Most Bernese farms kept only a handful of cows, so the dogs were not asked to manage large herds over long distances. They were not used as herding dogs for sheep or goats, since these animals were rarely kept on Bernese farms.

Guarding the farmyard was another part of the job. The dogs watched over the farmhouse and family and alerted their owners to strangers approaching. The breed's temperament was meant to be watchful, never sharp or shy.

Alongside their work, Bernese mountain dogs were companions to the farming family. They were bred to be trustworthy around children and to fit into daily farm life without causing trouble.

Part 2

Why the breed needed size, strength, and a calm temperament

Pulling loaded carts took real size and strength. Adult male Bernese mountain dogs stand 25 to 27.5 inches tall and weigh 80 to 115 pounds, while females stand 23 to 26 inches and weigh 70 to 95 pounds. That size and sturdy bone gave farm dogs the power to pull heavy carts.

The breed's coat is thick, soft, and fairly long, either slightly wavy or straight. This coat sheds and needs regular brushing.

The breed's temperament was meant to be never sharp or shy.

Part 3

How farm work shaped the breed's traits today

Many Bernese mountain dogs still enjoy pulling and carting, even without a farm to work on. Owners describe the dogs as loving cart work more than almost any other activity, since it comes naturally to them.

Traits linked to the old job are still visible in the breed today. A muscular build and broad chest gave working dogs the power to pull heavy loads.

Draft and carting trials ask the dogs to pull a load much like they did historically. In these tests, a dog pulls a load for half a mile and must finish within 12 to 15 minutes, using a cart that typically weighs about 20 pounds. Growth plates do not close until a dog is about two years old, so carts should carry no weight before then.

Part 4

What happened to the working role over time

Industrial farming eventually replaced the canine labor Bernese mountain dogs once provided. As industrial farming spread, the number of working Bernese mountain dogs declined, and the Saint Bernard became known as Switzerland's national breed instead. By the end of the 19th century, other imported working dogs were also taking over jobs on Swiss farms.

They kept a calm, gentle nature that now suits family life with you.

Swiss breed fanciers took steps to re-establish the breed after its decline. Franz Schertenleib searched for good examples of the breed in the 1890s, and fanciers formed a specialty club in 1907 to re-establish it. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, formed in 1968, later set up a drafting and carting program to keep testing the breed's historic working ability.

Part 5

Are Bernese mountain dogs still used for work today

If you want to see the old job in action, draft and carting trials are the place to look. The American club's drafting and carting program tests dogs on tasks similar to the ones they once did on Swiss farms.

Many Bernese mountain dogs are now family companions. Their calm nature and love of being close to people make them well suited to family life.

Dogs must be fully grown, around 2 years old, before pulling any weight in a cart.