Where the Bernese Mountain Dog came from
The Bernese comes from farms in the midland region of Switzerland near Bern. It is one of four Swiss mountain dog breeds, and the only one with a long coat. One story says its roots go back about two thousand years to mastiff-type dogs that came with Roman soldiers. Farmers used them to guard the farm, drive cattle and pull carts of milk and cheese to market.
In the late 1800s farm machines began to replace working dogs, and the breed grew rare. In 1892 a man named Franz Schertenleib searched for good examples, and other fans joined the effort. The breed was sometimes called the Durrbach dog, after a small town where large dogs were common. In 1907 breeders formed the first breed club and wrote the first standard.
Isaac Schliess is believed to be the first person to bring Bernese to the United States, in 1926. The AKC recognized the Bernese Mountain Dog in 1937. Today they are popular family dogs, and many still enjoy pulling a cart.
- 1892 Franz Schertenleib begins searching for good examples of the breed
- 1907 A Swiss breed club forms and writes the first standard
- 1926 Isaac Schliess is believed to bring the first Bernese to the United States
- 1937 AKC recognizes the Bernese Mountain Dog
The job a Bernese Mountain Dog was bred for
The job was all day farm help: watching the property, driving cattle and pulling dairy carts. They were built to work steadily and stay close to the family. At home that shows as a loyal, easygoing dog who likes to be where you are.
Sports that fit a Bernese Mountain Dog
- Carting and drafting. A traditional job that suits their strength
- Scent work. A calm nose game works well for them
- Tracking. They enjoy steady trail work
- Therapy work. Gentle, friendly dogs often love visiting
- Rally. Teamwork with moderate exercise
Training tips for a Bernese Mountain Dog
- Use gentle rewards. Many Berners are soft and take correction personally.
- Teach loose leash walking early before they are strong.
- Build a calm settle and allow rest breaks. They are happy to sleep near you.
- Socialize while young so natural reserve with strangers stays relaxed.
Body and health
Heavy coat and size make heat a risk, so exercise in the cool of the day. Joints matter too, so avoid hard impact like repeated jumping.
Fun fact. Berners are the only long-coated breed of the four Swiss mountain dogs. In Switzerland they were sometimes called cheese dogs for hauling cheese to market.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Bernese Mountain Dog is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.