The Bernese Mountain Dog was bred to be an all-purpose farm dog in Switzerland, and they are still incredibly versatile and hard-working. They are affectionate, good-natured family dogs with a protective (though not aggressive) nature. Shyness does run in some lines, so it is essential to socialize them early. Even though they are large in size they are patient and gentle with children and other pets.When raised properly and given plenty of early socialization, they can do almost anything!
Berners (as they are affectionately called) are fairly quiet housedogs – they generally only get noisy if they’ve been left alone for long periods of time. Because they are prone to separation anxiety, they don’t like to be home alone all day. Instead, they enjoy a household where they can be social, active and constantly close by (they like to be in the same room where they can observe their people, but don’t tend to obnoxiously get in the way). In the right situation, they thrive – becoming one of the greatest companions an owner could ask for. In the wrong situation (such as being tied outside all day or left to their own devices alone in the house)… they could develop all manner of behavioral disorders.
The Berner is fairly active and does need to get out to exercise daily. Letting them out into a small yard is definitely not enough! They require at least 30 minutes of moderately high activity, although there is variation in the breed. Likewise, younger individuals have more energy to burn while mature adults will be a little more laid-back. As cold-weather dogs, they prefer to exercise in cooler weather so early mornings and late evenings provide the best temperatures. This said, they can go on a jog in the afternoon on a milder day as long as they are monitored. Their thick, mostly black coats make them more susceptible to heat stroke than some other breeds.
Some Bernese Mountain Dogs enjoy digging in the yard. If this isn’t ok, be prepared to spend some time working on behavior modification to stop this! Digging may also indicate that the dog isn’t getting enough mental and physical activity. This breed was made to work, and there are a myriad of fun competitions and activities to participate in which would fulfill that need – obedience, tracking, agility, herding, therapy work… all of which Berners excel in! Their strong body also means they are exceptional at pulling carts – which is a dog sport called “draft work”. This is one of their original purposes and is an activity that they love! 
As a double coated breed, the Bernese Mountain Dog does shed quite a bit. If you own one of these dogs, you no doubt find yourself vacuuming on a regular basis! While their coat shouldn’t be difficult to maintain, the work might be lengthy. Keeping a Berner brushed and bathed on a regular basis will help the chore go quicker than if one were to wait until the coat was dirty and full of mats. Speaking of grooming and cleanliness – while the breed isn’t supposed to drool, some individuals do.
Unfortunately, these large dogs don’t have a particularly long lifespan. Seven to eight years old is the norm, although some live closer to ten. Cancer, bloat, and other health problems are concerns worth considering. Many people find that the short time spent with the dog doesn’t matter because they are able to do so many activities and get a lot of enjoyment out of the time spent together. Either way, it is something worth considering if one were contemplating getting a Berner.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is intelligent, sensitive and loves to please his owner! Many take very well to obedience training, although some are almost too clever for their own good and will look for shortcuts to the commands. Others are a bit more stubborn and may require extra patience when training. If the dog doesn’t respect the trainer or owner… they won’t want to do obedience at all.
