Purina

Other names/Nicknames:

• Berner Sennenhund

Country/Date of origin:

• Switzerland
• 100 BC

Height:

• Females:  23 to 26 inches
• Males:  25 to 27-1/2 inches

Weight:

• 87 to 90 pounds

Personality:

• A very dominant, take-charge animal.
• Pleasant to be around.
• Cautious with strangers.
• Loyal and steadfast.
• A serious nature is innate.
• Does not fawn.
• Learns slowly but it retains what it is taught.

History:

One of four tri-colored dogs from the Swiss mountains, the Bernese is the only long-haired member of the quartet.  It is the only one of the four that is not a herding dog.  It was bred in the area around Berne as a draft animal.  Its primary job was to haul milk (down the mountains) to market, but it is also a superb guard dog and will drove cattle when necessary.  This dog, of the mastiff family, is a descendant of dogs that invading Roman soldiers brought as livestock guards and drovers 2,000 years ago.  This is the most popular of the four breeds.

Body Type:

• Have a rather compact build for their size.
• The tail is of medium length and is carried low.  It is not altered.
• The ears hang slightly forward and are held next to the face.  They are not altered.

Coat:

• Long and slightly wavy, without being curly.  It is exceptionally thick.
• Color is very important.  There is only one permissible:  jet-black, with deep tan or rust markings on all legs.
• A white blaze on the head (extending between the eyes) and a white chest marking (known as a cross) are essential.
• White paws are preferred.
• Moderate to heavy grooming needed.
• Seasonal shedding is heavy.

Health and Wellness:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Elbow dysplasia.
• Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
• Meningitis.
• Histiocytosis.
• Histiocytic sarcomas.

What you should know:

• Nicknamed the bear cub.
• If used to guard cattle, the Berner is a tyrant.  It keeps all its charges in line with a firm paw.