Bernese Mountain Dog - Suitable for first time dog owner Questions

I'm researching into which breed my lifestyle might suit. I've written more about my lifestyle in the general dog chat, but was just wondering if anyone had more specific information on the Bernese. I adore these dogs, but not sure if I'd be suitable for one.

I'm a first time dog "owner" - do you think I could cope?!
How much daily exercise are they happy with?
How do you find them to be in the house? (I've heard contradictory information, some saying they are calm adults, others saying they are as energetic as a springer spaniel!).
What are the general difference between the males and females?
Do you think/find their big size to interfere with where you can take them? Eg popping round to friends, to the pub etc

Thank you for any advise

Hello Alice and welcome to Dogsey.

I have owned 2 Bernese one unfortunately no longer with me and now I have a 4 month old puppy.

Firstly re: exercise in the firstr year of their life you have to be very careful because of the frame size and joints the 5 minute per month rule is worth adhering too. IE: 4 months old no more than 20 minutes exercise. Possibly on fields not pavements on a harness and long line to make sure they do not go off to investigate dogs which may be wanting to rough house or nasty. Negative experiences with this breed when young can have a life long effect. Not good to deal with when they can reach 10 stone in adult hood. So socialisation is a difficult one but can be achieved under careful supervision. They can be a slobbery breed depending on the breed lines and they do shed tremendously. They are not an energetic breed in the hot weather you have to be careful they do not overheat so walking early mornings and late evenings is best in the summer months. You will probably find they do not need the amount of exercise they do in the winter.

Being a working breed they can have a stubborn streak and do need a lot of entertaining when young to keep them out of mischief they are also a very mouthy breed and do need to learn bite inhibition very early.

They are great to take to friends and the pub if your friends don't mind hair and slobber. They are very food orientated so easy to train in that respect but you have to be mindful of the weight they pile the pounds on very quickly. Males and females the difference is size really they can both be stubborn and the females quite hormonal when starting and during seasons I have only owned males but Dillons breeder remarked on this when I was considering a female this time around. They are a loving breed and need human companionship as they were bred to be working beside the farmer most of the day pulling carts around the village. They were when not doing this a flock guardian so they can be a little territorial especially the males if allowed to get away with things.

It will be worth looking at the Bernese events which start in May the Garden party (Roade Northampton) where you will see an abundance of Bernese all shapes and sizes and plenty of people to talk too and meet the dogs. You do not have to be a member to turn up and wander round and a good breeder will be more than happy to discuss the breed with you and their lines.

My first Bernese was ill from day one we did not know this till he became very ill and was hospitalised then PTS and a post mortem caried out he was 41/2. He came with many issues one of them being nervous we had to adapt our life around him he did not like strangers in or out of the house some he would accept not others it was very random. They can be shy but with the right socialisation should not get like Ollie. He was socialised from a very young age but his problems were as we found out too late medical so whatever we did we could of not of cured it. We loved him though and he loved his family. This breed do not do well if rehomed after 18 months they become very attached to their humans so you need to make they are the right breed for you.

They do come with many health issues. Cancer and joint issues but many do live into double figures so again researching breeders is paramount but things can and do go wrong even from the top breeders and it is nobody's fault.

Here is a link to the Bernese club of GB. worth a look if you haven't looked already.

http://www.bernese.co.uk/

Southern Club.

http://www.sbmdc.co.uk/links.htm

http://www.bmdinfo.org/

Hope these links are of some use. I am sure I have left a lot of things out so if you think of anything let me know and I will try to answer.

Great advice from Lynn. A couple of my friends breed and show Bernese and they both reckon that they are either really laid back or really daft and bouncy. Most of the ones I've met have been fairly energetic.

They can be nutty forgot to say they remain puppies in their brains till around 3 years old. 10 stone of puppy hurtling around can be funny or scarey depending on why they are hurtling around. They do expend their energy quickly so it doesn't last too long thankfully.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help Lynn! So you would say that although they can be energetic, it's more likely to be shorter outburst rather than constantly running about?

How far/for how long do you walk your dogs once they are old enough?

Don't forget to check out our breed profile too

http://www.dogsey.com/bernese-mountain-dog.htm

When you first take them out yes they do run about and then slow down. It then comes in fits and starts sometimes they will lay down and rest they are good watchers especially if they find some long grass to peer through and watch whats going on. They are very good at regulating their exercise and knowing when they need a rest. It doesn't mean a healthy Bernese can not be out with you all day when able to walk the distance. They usually say about a year old then you can start walking unregulated but be sensible and watch and listen to your dog. Do not overdo it. With sensible rest breaks they should be fine.

A healthy adult Bernese will hike all day with you and loves nothing better than doing that but at their pace not yours.

Here is another link well worth looking at.

http://bernesenews.btck.co.uk/

I emailed a few breeders asking if their opinions on my lifestyle for a Bernese and one of them came back offering lots of helpful information but also saying that as I am a single dog parent so to speak, that she doesn't think it would be fair on a Bernese. She said she thought they needed a family with children around to be completely happy.

The dogs happiness is absolutely my first priority, so I shall definitely take this on board.

Do you think this is true?

We have children but grown up ones. One left home not long after our first Bernese Ollie arrived. I hasten to add not because of Ollie and our youngest was in his twenties so not children so to speak.

Neither boys live at home now and Dillon is very happy. We are a couple but it is mainly me here most of the time as Gorden is out working. So no I wouldn't say this is necessarily true.

Can you tell me who the breeder was ?

I would PM you the breeder but I've not yet reached enough posts to send one! I'll go and look at some photos and comment! (that should be a way to speed up my post count )

They also thought that I should wait until I was in a more financially stable position... Which they must have misread between the lines as I didn't mention my financial situation but I guess because of my age and the fact that I am also in training they just assumed. However, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a bigger dog which costs more to keep happy.

They were really helpful, sending a really long email with tons of great information and I do appreciate them being honest with me. I just wanted to get a second opinion on whether you really need children around because this sounded slightly...restrictive maybe?

Needing children around itsn't necessarily true. Ollie and Dillon love the Grandchildren but neither need or needed them in their lives full time to make them happy or complete. They do need human companionship so maybe they misunderstood you about working from home. I am wondering if I am on the right track about who I think it maybe. I will wait till you have enough posts then you can as you say pm me.

Do not be put off by that one response. Many retired people own them and show them and cart them. Dillons breeder does not have young children at home in fact I am not sure if she even has children and she knew we didn't have family at home and it wasn't an issue.

I haven't read though the whole thread but did read your what breed for me thread.

It sounds like a bernese would be good for you.
My family have a BMD and even though they live in a big house he is generally confined to the kitchen and fine with small spaces although they are always lying right where you need to be!

They are such people dogs and thrive on attention so working from home is a good thing with this breed. I find Basset (our BMD) much more socially needy than other dogs I live with.

Basset has been fairly inactive, and in his youth was happy with between 30-60mins of exercise a day. In his old age now (9.5) he can only cope with 5 mins or so due to severe arthritis.
As Lynn said they are prone to health issues, and ours has been no exception so I think insurance is a must and it is something to bare in mind that your life with them is short but sweet.

Not the breed for me due to their large size, slobber (which is not too bad compared to dogs like mastiffs, newfies etc) and inactivity, however temperament wise I think they are LOVELY.
Basset is the nicest, most easy going, friendly, well tempered dog I have ever met. He loves people and other dogs. Nothing phases him, he is bomb proof.

They love their food which helps with training.
As for first time owners, they can be strong minded and hard to house break (say some - including us!) Basset is very food motivated but will not do anything he cannot be bothered. I'm not sure how easy they would be as obedience dogs based on my experience with them.
My buhund is much more eager to learn and please in that respect. Having said that he was my parents first own dog and all has gone very smoothly.

The size is not really an issue - Basset goes to pubs, shops (he is allowed in all sorts of places like video stores just because people love him). I think temperament is more of an issue than size - I have a 13kg dog with poor temperament who I would be less likely to take somewhere than or 55kg BMD.

To own a dog like this, beware you are stopped wherever you go. The dog loves it, but you generally need to expect strangers to accost you!

And just because.. here are some pics!

bottom pic is adorable

Alice if you fancy the journey over to Essex you are more than welcome to come and visit Dillon and have a more in depth chat about breeders etc., and the problems that can arise.

I was rather sad reading their reply so it's good to know this isn't a general view - although if it was, I would accept it. As I said, they were very helpful but did say a few odd things. Such as how it sounded to them that I really wanted a dog just for company. Which given that I am interested in doing obedience isn't actually true but nevertheless, isn't companionship one of the main things any pet owner wants?

Basset is gorgeous Thank you for the information, all very helpful

My sister and I were teenagers when my parents got Basset. He's great with kids but likes everyone and everything.

I don't think they need children but I do think they thrive in a household with time and attention.
This doesn't mean as a single person you cannot provide this. If you took the dog out for social walks, joined training classes, had friends over etc I cannot see what the dog is missing out on.

Just because an owner has kids does not mean they offer them anything more than you could IMO.

Hi Alice

I live on my own and work from home also. I used to have a Bernese - he died aged nearly 12 a couple of years ago. He was not free of health problems (epilepsy, heart condition) and I was lucky he lived to a good age, I know that's rare. He was extremely affectionate and did need a LOT of company. I had a Newfoundland and a Leonberger as well but I did always hate leaving him more than the others when I had to go out because he needed me more than they did. He had to be in the same room as me all the time, or at the very least where he could see me. (And as a puppy, wow, was he destructive!) He definitely required a lot of attention but in IMHO I would not say he needed children around. What exactly would a child give him that I couldn't? Unpredictably screaming, running around and knocking into him accidentally?! Not having children means my dogs don't share me with anyone. By saying they need to have children around maybe the breeder is just testing your resolve? Breeders have their ways of testing whether someone is serious. In my limited experience BMDs need to be with you, in the house. Not shut away in a separate room. Even if you have other dogs. It's great that you're doing your research so don't be put off by that one comment.

I will get another Bernese one day, hopefully a rescue - I love all my dogs to bits but there was something really really special about him!

I have just the one Bern for now, live alone, don't have kids and never been an issue at all. Not heard from any breeder they need to live with kids, sounds quite absurd tbh..
I'm near you and I'm happy to meet you in Stanmer any time