Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Bernese Mountain Dog Breeders Know The Animal

By Allyson Whitley


Bernese Mountain Dog breeders are a special breed themselves. There work includes gaining knowledge about the breed and diligently protecting the health and soundness of the animals they produce. When a person seeks to adopt one of these dogs as a pet or a worker or a show dog, they should take extra care to find a good breeder first.

The American Kennel Club has recognized this breed since 1937. It is a part of the Working Group classification. It originated in the Swiss Alps with the job of helping herders and dairymen and with other farm related tasks including cart pulling.

There are four types of Sennehund (Alpine dog). The Bernese Mountain Dog is one along with three other similar types of dogs.

The coat is tricolored with a mix of black, white and rust fur. Specific marking designs are required if planning to show the dog. Height ranges from 24-28 inches and weight ranges from 85-110 pounds with males being larger than females. Other distinctive physical traits include a flat topped head and teeth with a scissors type bite.

This is not an aggressive dog when properly bred. Rather, they are playful and gentle. When socialized well as a puppy, they can adapt well to families with even very young children. They prefer to be outside and need a lot of exercise. Keeping in line with the Standard kennel clubs of the various countries including the American when breeding will assure that the dog possesses these characteristics.

This is an intelligent breed. They can be trained easily. When training, it is important to keep in mind that they are sensitive. The human needs to be the alpha but needs to have a measure of gentility as well. They make good watchdogs even though they remain quite "puppy like" longer than other dog types.

There can be health issues that present themselves more often in this breed than others. Although cancer is a leading malady in all dogs, this breed is susceptible to certain types such as lymphocarcoma, osteocarcoma and fibrosarcoma. Musculoskeletal issues can also be a problem, primarily dysplasia of the hip and arthritis.

The Bernese Mountain Dog has several claims to fame. The 2003 movie, Good Boy, featured one as Shep, voiced by famous actor Carl Reiner. The New Normal, a popular 2012 television show has one featured as the pet of David and Bryan. The book Bad Dog: A Love Story by Martin Kihn presents one named Hola. And Hannah in the children's books, A Beach Day for Hannah and A Snow Day for Hannah is one.

Bernese Mountain Dog breeders have to be well educated on the animal they breed. They must know of its history and health issues as well as its temperament. They have to know what dogs are born with the proper markings to be shown and which dogs are more suited for farm work. They also need to serve as a resource for the families who adopt their dogs.




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