Suitability

So how do you know that the Bernese Mountain Dog is the right dog for you?

In my opinion, the Bernese Mountain Dog is the perfect family pet. If bred and trained properly, they can be fantastically patient with and considerate of children. Due to their large size and occasional clumsiness, it is important that they get used to how to correctly behave around children from an early age. They love and need to be part of daily family life. They like to see everything that's going on and will normally lie happily in the corner of the family room and watch the comings and goings of everyone. Of course, this happens when they mature; puppies like to have slightly more paws-on experience!

If you like a dog with a sense of humour, then this is the breed for you. Their striking good looks and affectionate nature makes them an increasingly popular choice. Some Berners excel at carting, others enjoy agility training and competition, still others like to do obedience whilst others do well as therapy dogs. A Bernese will generally do what you ask them to as they are so willing to please. They enjoy having their own "hobby" and it's up to you to find out what they seem to have an ability for and train them in that discipline.

I could sing the praises and virtues of Berners for a long time but by this stage you probably already know what makes them a fantastic dog. It's important that you question whether you can give them what they need for them to be the happy, well-adjusted dog we want them to be.

Ask Yourself

• Will someone be there at least part of the day with the dog? Berners need human company and will not thrive if they are regularly left alone for most of the day. They were bred to accompany the Swiss family in their daily activities and it's this trait that makes them such loving companions.

• Can you afford to own a Bernese Mountain Dog? They are a large breed of dog and the cost of feeding them is something that needs to be considered. If veterinary treatment is required, this could be costly. If you opt to purchase pet insurance for your dog, you should be aware that insurance companies charge extra for certain breeds to be insured and Bernese Mountain Dogs fall in to this category.

• Do you have the time a dog will require? Puppies need you to be there with them, for toilet training amongst other things. As the dog grows up, you will need to be able to set aside time for training, grooming, feeding, walking and so on. If your time schedule is tight already, then maybe now is not the right time to add a dog to your life.

• Who will take care of the dog if you are away? There will very likely be times when you will be away overnight or longer, due to holidays for example. The dog will need to be cared for during this time. Who will do this? You need someone that will be able to handle this large breed of dog and someone who the dog is happy to be with.

• What training method(s) to you plan to use? Bernese Mountain Dogs are a very sensitive breed and need very gentle training methods. All training needs to be positively reinforced with a combination of treats and praise. Negative methods have no place in training any dog, least of all a sensitive dog like this breed. A dog should never be hit. Toilet-training your dog should never include rubbing your dog's nose in its toilet or even reprimanding him at all. Positive training will make for a much happier dog who obeys you because he wants to, not because he's afraid of the consequences if he does not.

• What experience do you have? Have you ever owned a dog before? Have you ever owned a large dog? Bernese Mountain Dogs are very strong and need training from early on in their lives. They can be difficult to retrain when they are older so its important that they are trained correctly whilst young.

• Are you house-proud? Bernese females shed their coat about twice a year, usually spring and autumn. Males usually shed annually. When they are casting their coat, your hoover will be doing overtime! The amount of hair that they lose during this time should not be underestimated. The hairs they lose are very light-weight and float around the room only to land in the most inappropriate of places, including your food. Also, due to their large size and the texture of their coat, extra mud and dirt will be brought in to your house. All of this can of course be cleaned up but will require extra work.