Bernese Mountain Dogs are typically placid and calm like the lakes in their homeland of Bern. They have an air of quiet dignity, but are exceedingly tolerant while still being alert and watchful of their surroundings. They bond deeply with their family, owners, and friends, and tend to be more than happy to play and run around with you once you’ve earned their trust.

While they may be wary or reserved when it comes to strangers and other dogs, they aren’t often aggressive. A Bernese Mountain Dog just makes sure that any new people that they meet aren’t dangerous or mean before smothering them in kisses. Despite being a working dog, they’re affectionate and loving like a companion or toy breed. 

They may not be as friendly to dogs as they are to humans, but can still get along just fine so long as proper introductions are made. 

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a working dog bred for its strength, power, and stamina. While it may not be as explosively energetic as a pure herding or hunting breed, they still enjoy running, jumping, and playing around. Around an hour to an hour and a half of vigorous exercise per day will help keep your Bernese happy and healthy.

Bernese Mountain Dogs shouldn’t be exercised in very hot weather. Their thick coats make it difficult for them to dissipate heat, and they may be prone to heat exhaustion. Early morning or evening walks will be better for the Bernese. If you do have to take your Bernese out during hot weather, stay in the shade and provide plenty of water. 

Outdoor sports and activities can give your Bernese the mental and physical stimulation they require. As an all-around working dog, they can excel at agility, obedience, scent work, or even drafting or carting. While they won’t set any speed records, they’ll keep working so long as you’re giving them tasks to do. 

Bernese Mountain Dogs have a distinctive tricolor double coat that is meant to protect them from the cold weather in the Swiss Alps. The top coat is long and wavy, while the undercoat is dense and insulating, with an almost wooly texture. 

The Bernese is a shedder, there’s no other way to say it. They shed throughout the year, and like other double coat breeds, will occasionally blow coat when the seasons change. These periods of extreme shedding will typically happen during spring or summer, then again during fall. 

Regular grooming may help keep some of this shedding under control. It’s best to brush your Bernese Mountain Dog three or four times a week when they’re not blowing coat. When they do blow coat, you may find yourself having to brush them out multiple times a day. One option is to perform a deshedding on the dog, either at home or at a professional groomer. 

Baths can be done every couple of months, as most Bernese Mountain Dogs are reasonably good at keeping themselves clean. Tooth brushing should be done daily, as keeping your dog’s teeth and gums healthy is of paramount importance. Nail clipping can be done once or twice a month.

Since Bernese Mountain Dogs were expected to perform a variety of tasks, they excel at being trained for various purposes. They have a high level of intelligence since they often had to figure out how to solve problems on their own.

Due to their massive size and high weight when fully grown, it’s better to start training your Bernese early on, while they are easier to wrangle. Trying to control a fully-grown Bernese who wants to run after a squirrel is going to be a tough job for most adults on their own,  maybe even for two or three people. 

As a result, the Bernese isn’t always a good fit for novice dog owners who are inexperienced at training intelligent, self-reliant dogs with a great deal of strength. 

Still, the Bernese loves making their owner proud, and will respond well to training so long as it is backed up with positive reinforcement. While they are calm and accepting of life as it comes, they still don’t enjoy punishment or harsh rebukes, and will be far more motivated to follow commands if they can expect a treat or praise. 

Bernese Mountain Dogs are sadly not as long-lived as other breeds, with a life expectancy of 7 to 10 years. Bernese Mountain Dogs may be prone to:

• Cancer – there are a number of types of cancer that the Bernese can develop
• Hip dysplasia – an inheritable condition that causes the hip bone to not fit properly into the hip socket, causing pain and lack of mobility 
• Portosystemic shunt – a condition typically caused by a birth defect, which may cause blood to bypass the liver, resulting in stunted growth, behavioral issues, and and gastrointestinal problems
• Von Willebrand’s disease – a blood disorder that causes the blood to not clot properly

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very large, muscular, and imposing dog when fully grown. Males will typically stand between 25 to 28 inches at the shoulder, while females will stand between 23 to 26 inches. Male Bernese Mountain Dogs can weigh between 80 to 120 pounds, with females weighing in at 70 to 95 pounds. 

A Bernese is large and heavy enough to knock down chairs, tables, and other types of furniture. They need a lot of space and do not do well in small apartments or homes. Larger homes with a secure, fenced yard will be ideal. Rural properties may also be good for well-trained working Bernese Mountain Dogs. 

One major consideration is the overall climate of their environment. They thrive in colder weather, and are prone to overheating. They may acclimatize to homes in warmer climates, so long as they have air conditioning indoors.