Bernese Mountain Dog
About the Bernese Mountain Dog
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 23-28" |
| Weight | 70-115 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
45 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$3,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,800/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Bernese Mountain Dogs may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- First-Time Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
Guides for your Bernese Mountain Dog
The story behind the Bernese Mountain Dog
Farm dogs of this type worked the canton of Bern in Switzerland for centuries, one of four related tricolour mountain dog breeds used across alpine smallholdings. Their duties were general: driving cattle, guarding farmyards and pulling carts loaded with milk cans and cheese to market, work that demanded strength, steadiness and a calm manner around people. Numbers declined severely during the 1800s as farming changed and imported breeds spread. Swiss enthusiasts organising from the early 1900s gathered surviving dogs from the Durrbach valley region and established a breeding programme, with a club and standard following, and a documented outcross to a Newfoundland is credited with improving size and coat. The Bernese Mountain Dog spread internationally through the twentieth century and is now a popular companion rather than a working farm dog.
Originally bred for: Droving, Carting, Farm work, Guarding. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Bernese Mountain Dog
Large-breed puppy food with controlled calcium and energy matters for a heavy fast-growing frame, and adults do best on a moderate-calorie diet that keeps weight off developing and ageing joints. The deep chest makes divided unhurried meals and quiet rest afterwards sensible practice.
Watch for: Deep-chested large breeds are among those where bloat-conscious feeding routines are routinely recommended, meaning smaller divided servings and calm around mealtimes. No specific ingredient pattern is established for the breed, though individuals react. Discuss diet changes and any digestive concern with a veterinarian.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Bernese Mountain Dog
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.