When it comes to family pets, the Bernese mountain dog is possibly one of the best breeds that you can possibly own. They are usually extremely family orientated and they love nothing more than to stay close to their owner's side all day everyday. In fact, they much prefer human company to company of their own kind!
The Bernese as a Family Dog
The Bernese does usually make an excellent family dog but there are some things that you will need to consider. One of these things is that the breed can be particularly boisterous; especially if they are not trained from an early age. This is because whilst they are usually gentle dogs, in the past they have been used for guarding. So if they are not taught from an early age how to behave, they can become uncontrollable and sometimes even aggressive. As long as you take part in regular training sessions from the time that you get your Bernese puppy however, you should end up with a well behaved, mild mannered dog. Another thing that you have to keep in mind is that the Bernese is a very loyal breed. This means that they bond to their family quickly and easily and they will not adjust overly well if they have to have a new family after they are 18 months old. So if you do want to purchase a Bernese mountain dog then you should ideally purchase one as a puppy if you do not want any problems with the dog settling in. Although the breed has been developed to guard things in the past, they are not overly aggressive towards strangers. They are a little wary of them but mainly they are friendly and welcoming. That is not to say that they would not protect your home - they would - but when you are with them they will welcome strangers into the home with no problem. The one thing that Bernese owner's complain about is the boisterousness of the breed. If you have small children then you will constantly have to watch the dog whilst they are around them. This is because of the sheer size of the breed and the fact that they can easily knock a small child over and potentially hurt them without meaning to. Generally though, the Bernese makes a lovely, friendly family dog. They are self confident and they are eager to please. Whilst they may not mature for 2-4 years, they are fun to have in the home and they really can brighten up anybody's day. So if you are looking for a companion dog that will reward you with loyalty, fun and compassion, then te Bernese mountain dog is definitely the breed for you.
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