Is a Berner Right for You?

Bernese puppies are puff balls that are almost impossible to resist, but in the blink of an eye they grow up into big dogs. Male BMD's typically range in weight from 85 - 120 pounds; females from approximately 70 - 100 pounds. So you should ask yourself the following questions with that in mind.

Do your schedule and lifestyle allow you to spend quality time with your dog?

Before getting a Bernese ask yourself if you have a dog friendly lifestyle and are willing to spend quality time with your Berner so he or she has the best chance of remaining physically fit and content in your situation. Berners want to be where their people are. Any dog isolated from people and companionship will become bored and stressed. Many destructive, neurotic behaviors are a result of boredom and lack of exercise. When considering whether a Bernese Mountain Dog is a good choice for you, take into account that you will need to spend time teaching the dog manners and self control beginning at a young age so the dog acts appropriately at home and in public when the dog is grown. You will not be able to simply pick up an adult Bernese in your arms and keep it from harm or from harming others.

Some things you might want to consider in determining if you have enough time for a Berner follow.

Do you have a small yard but lots of parks and time for outings?
Do you work full time but can take the puppy or dog to work or have dog walker available?
Do you have safe fenced area outdoors or a room inside the house to keep the dog in your absence?
Is your lifestyle such that your dog can be with people and other animals more than not?

Is your living situation "Berner friendly"?

Where you live will determine to some extent what types of activities you can provide for your dog. Berner owners should realize that in the past Bernese served as working farm dogs which provided the dogs with a stimulating environment. You may not live on a farm, but what will matter the most to your Bernese is how you manage your dog in your particular situation with the goal to maintain a workable and mutually rewarding relationship. Ask yourself if you are willing to make a commitment to provide your Berner with a happy medium of stimulating activity for his or her mind and body. Many Bernese owners today find fun working their dogs in obedience, drafting, tracking or herding.

Can you provide a Berner with opportunities for exercise?

A common question puppy buyers ask is, how much exercise do Bernese need? Answer: Depends on the Berner. Several on leash walks per day or at least two 15 to 30 minute off leash play periods will provide most adult Bernese with an outlet for their energy. For some this would not be adequate. Striking a balance between your lifestyle and schedule and the activity requirements of your dog at various stages of development is challenging to many owners. Bernese can be quite active and energetic, but they are not likely to self exercise adequately in a yard alone. Some Berners are happiest when resting and need encouragement to get moving! By providing a Bernese

with exercise that meets his or her needs owners can expect to have a calmer, contented, healthier house pet. Playing 'Go fetch" is a great activity for some breeds of dogs - not so with most Berners. A typical Berner might chase a ball a couple of times, stand over the object and look at the owner who threw it as if to say "See, I saw, I followed, I found it and aren't I smart". No further action required!

What about exercising with other dogs?
Often owners believe another dog will serve as an exercise companion. Some dogs play well together, but some do not. Dogs roughhousing and playing together can be a great form of enjoyment and exercise. But supervision is required to prevent overly excited and exuberant dog pals from hurting each other.

Would a Berner do well with your other pets?

If you do not have other pets it will still be essential for you to train your dog to behave well around other animals should the dog be exposed to them in your community. The presence of other pets can be a source of positive mental stimulation for some dogs. As a single pet owner you may need to find ways to provide your dog with activities to compensate for time the dog will spend without the camaraderie that exists in mutiple pet households If you have other pets it is important to recognize that all pets in your home need to get along. Bernese generally tolerate other animals. Interactions should be monitored to make sure your Berner understands how to behave so as to not aggravate or injure other pets. Especially when Berners are puppies they can be quite boisterous. They can become curious and challenging to other

pets. Some Bernese can be aggressive towards other dogs or cats if not taught how to behave appropriately towards them. Sometimes pets that do not get along present significant management problems to owners.

What about Berners with cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other small pets?

Some Bernese have a strong prey instinct and so might chase smaller pets and potentially injure or kill them - it happens with some frequency.

NOTE: If you have other pets tell breeders you speak with about the nature of the pet so they can take that into account in helping to select a Berner puppy for you and potentially help you address any issues that arise in a multi-pet household.

Would a Berner do well in the climate you live in?

Berners are able to live in most climates but they are generally heat intolerant - some more so than others.

If you live in a warm climate will you be able to provide your Berner with cool place to spend their time? Berners are big, heavily built dogs with black, thick, double coats. The breed was developed by the Swiss to live in the Alps where temperatures rarely reach 75°, even in the hottest months. Most Bernese Mountain Dogs love cold weather and snow. The dogs' black coats absorb heat from the sun; many dogs seek shade, even on cool days. It is not uncommon for Bernese to be less energetic and active in hotter months. Most Bernese seek out the coolest resting spot they can find in hot weather.

Puppy buyers and novice Bernese owners who live in climates where hotter temperatures are the norm (southern states in the US) should be

aware warmer weather presents management challenges. Berners do best in a climate-controlled environment during hot weather. Berners require daily exercise regardless of the climate in which they live. In hot weather providing Berners with opportunities to exercise during cooler times of the day is the best choice to reduce the extra stress dogs endure when physical exertion and hot/humid weather are combined.

Tips for management of Berners in hot weather

Keep water available at all times.
Provide your Berner with access to an air conditioned room, or a cool basement and flooring without rugs.
Fans can help a Berner to stay cool on hot days.
If you must leave you dog outside during a hot or humid day, be sure it has plenty of shade and fresh water.
If traveling with your Berner on warm/hot days, do not leave your dog unattended in your vehicle. And take water with you if you plan a long trip that includes your dog.
If you plan an outing on a hot day, and are unsure your destination will have trees or structures that provide shade, bring a sheet or tarp, and bungy cords or clamps to provide a shaded area for your dog.

Many owners like to include their Berner in their family's vacation plans. Vacation destinations may be in warm climates. 'Show' dog owners take their dogs to dog shows located in a warm climates. Be sure to consider whether your dog will be comfortable and welcome - especially if climate conditions vary significantly from where your dog spends most of the year. Be aware - dogs unaccustomed to living in high temperatures (in excess of 75°) are at a greater risk for overheating than those who live in a hot climate.

Extreme heat can and does KILL Bernese Mountain Dogs

If you own a Bernese Mountain Dog and plan to keep your dog in a warm weather climate or expose your dog to days in which temperatures exceed 75°, it is important for you to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Signs/Symptoms

Fatigue
Circulatory collapse
Red mucous membrane (gums)
Excessive panting
Dehydration
Shaking

Treatment

Seek shade.
Rest the dog.
Offer small amounts of water.
Seek veterinary care if the dog's condition does not improve.

A tragedy in the making.

HEAT STROKE

Signs/Symptoms

Excessive panting
Rectal temperature above 105-106° (F)
Disorientation
Weakness
Rapid pulse/breathing
Brick red mucous membranes

Treatment

Get the dog into shade, into cool water (creek, pond) if available.
Use same precautions as with humans, don't use ice water bath.
Slowly cool down the body temperature, immerse in a cool water bath.
Ice can be placed, with caution, under armpits, head, neck, and groin area, being sure to wrap in cloth first.
Monitor the dog's temperature, avoiding cooling too much.
Transport to veterinary hospital.

Tip for puppy and senior Berner management in hot or cold temperatures

Young puppies and geriatric dogs should be monitored in temperature extremes (hot or cold) since their ability to regulate their body temperature is less than that of a mature healthy Bernese.

Can you live with Berner hair everywhere, all the time?

Berners shed. Alot.

Berners are a double coated breed; they have an undercoat and a topcoat. Combine their large size (80-110 pounds average) with an abundance of thick, long hair. Then try to imagine just how much coat a Berner carries and what it will be like when the hair isn't on the dog anymore and is floating around all over the place in your home.

Ask yourself if you have time to spend grooming your dog to keep hair in your home under control. A heavy seasonal shedding occurs once or twice a year. Even with consistent grooming there are times when 'Bernerfur' is an unavoidable fact of life. It gets on your floors, on furniture and even in your food. If you don't have time, the strength, or facilities and equipment needed to groom the dog yourself, be advised; professional grooming services for big hairy dogs can cost $100.00 or more per session.

Ask yourself if allergies to hair might be a problem for your friends or any member of your family. Are you willing to have a lint brush handy for your use by your guests? Does the thought of dog hair in your butter bother you? Do you have the time to vacuum regularly or even daily?

ALL of this hair was brushed out of one 85lb dog!

The real costs of a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy
The initial cost involved in obtaining a Bernese depends on from whom or where you buy your dog. Prices for Bernese Mountain Dog puppies range from around one thousand upwards to several thousand dollars. In today's market (2020) expect to pay at a minimum $2000.00 - $3500.00 (US funds) for a well-bred pup.
DON'T FALL FOR SLICK SALES PITCHES or GET RIPPED OFF BY PROFITEERS or PET STORES that charge puppy buyers the same price for Berner pups as conscientious breeders! Price is not necessarily a reflection of quality nor does it reflect the upfront and ongoing services offered by the breeder you might think are essential at the time of purchase or those you could potentially desire later.Purchase cost is only a small portion of what it will cost you to maintain your

dog from day to day. Think about how much disposable income you have to

Can you afford to buy and care for a Berner?

spend on dog food. Add costs for training classes and routine veterinary care. Does the disposable income you plan to use for your dog affect other things you might want to do with your family or children, like vacations or providing your child with unique enrichment activities?

Would it be important to you in determining that you could afford to care for a Berner if your dog developed a catastrophic illness or was affected by an inherited condition that required a lifetime of medications or an expensive medical procedure? Some medications and dietary supplements for a dog of size can run into several thousand dollars a year. If a special diet was indicated for your dog due to allergies or a medical condition that affected the kind of food the dog could tolerate ask yourself - is that extra expense doable?

When considering costs, ask yourself whether the breeder of your dog has done everything possible to provide you with a pup that has the best chance of living a life free from debilitating illness. Then ask yourself how you will handle unplanned for expenses that might come up in relationship to owning a Bernese, because that possibility exists. Pet insurance might be worth looking into.

Reputable breeders work to minimize the possibility that your dog will have a genetic disease but you should be aware of the potential cost for fixing some of these problems.

Hip Dysplasia (one hip) $1000-$4000 for diagnosis and surgery
Elbow Dysplasia(one elbow) $1000-$4000 for diagnosis and surgery
Entropion $1000-$2000 for surgery to correct eyelid problem (can lead to blindness if left uncorrected, sometimes takes multiple surgeries)
Sub-aortic Stenosis $800 for diagnosis
$3500 or more for heart surgery
von Willebrand's $65 for blood test prior to surgery,
$100 for transfusion if vWD positive

Why are Bernese Mountain Dog puppies so expensive to buy?

It can cost the reputable breeder a significant amount of money to produce a well-bred puppy.

Genetic testing of the mother:

Elbow & Hip x-rays $150 - $450+
CERF (eye test) $35
Heart test $40 - $300
von Willebrand's test $99
Degenerative Myelopathy test $65
DNA profiling $40

Ensuring that the mother meets the breed standard:

Training for dog shows
Grooming supplies and equipment
Championship $500 - $3000

Medical support to get the mother pregnant and whelp a litter:

Stud fees
Multiple blood tests
Likely C-section

Raising a litter for the first 8 weeks:

Equipment (whelping box, baby bottles, enrichment toys, laundry detergent, etc.)
Veterinary care (dew claw removal, de-worming, vaccinations, illness, etc.)

Planning a breeding and raising litters includes many other real costs, and costs in time and emotional efforts. Little things add up quickly. For conscientious breeders, money is not made on puppies. You'd wonder why a person would spend so much time and invest so much money in breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs. Conscientious breeders do it to try to produce better and healthier Berner puppies.

Normal first year costs for owners:

Food $200 - $1200

Veterinary care:

Checkups and vaccines $150 - 250
Fleas, heartworm preventives $80
Neuter/spay $80 - $250
Oh no, he's limping! $25 - $800
Egad, he ate my panty hose! $25 - $2500
He's scratching! $25 - $500

License, AKC, local, microchip $50

Obedience class $75

Supplies: $150 - $500

Dog bowls, leash, collars, unused dog bed, baby gate, etc.

Toys (trust me) $50 - $500

Replacement for chewed rug/chair/etc $?

New vacuum $150 - ?

Better air conditioning/more servicing $?

Fencing $200-$5000

New car for big dogs $?

New house with bigger yard $?