Have you ever wondered what facts there were out there regarding the Bernese mountain dog? Perhaps you own a Bernese and you would simply like to find out more? If so then read on as here you will find some facts about the breed which you may not have otherwise known.

What You Should Know

The first fact which you may not know about the Bernese mountain dog is that it does not fully mature until it is 3-4 years old. They are a breed which is incredibly young at heart and they love nothing more than to play and be boisterous. This can make them difficult to handle sometimes and it means that they will need regular training from an early age.
Another fact which many owners are worried about is that the Bernese has one of the shortest life spans out of all of the large breeds. Usually you expect large breeds to live less than smaller breeds anyway because of the strain on the dog's heart. However, the Bernese tends to have a lot of health worries and its lifespan has decreased as time has gone on. It used to live to 10 years of age but now the average lifespan of the breed is just 7 years old. Cancer is thought to be the main problem closely followed by bone and joint problems.
Whilst the breed was once used for guarding, these days it is better suited as a companion dog. They may make good watchdogs as they are naturally alert, but they do not make good guard dogs. So if you are looking for a dog which will look after your property then the Bernese is not really the breed for you.
If not trained properly, the Bernese can occasionally turn into an aggressive, temperamental dog. This is particularly true when you have purchased a dog from a breeder who has simply bred the dog for the money rather than the temperament of the animal. This happens quite a lot and that is why you should be careful when you do go out and look for a new addition to the family.
Also, as the breed is a very loyal one, it does not usually like to be separated from its owners. So if you are thinking of getting a Bernese mountain dog which is over the age of 18 months then you should be prepared for some settling in problems. However apart from that the breed as a whole does adapt fairly well to things.
Finally despite being a large working dog, the Bernese mountain dog does not usually like water. Due to the fact that other large breeds love the water such as the Newfoundland and the Saint Bernard, many Bernese owners make the mistake in thinking that the Bernese will love it too. In fact many Bernese dogs will not even allow the water to reach their ankles as they just do not like the feel of it.