Bernese Mountain Dog
Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Cattle Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the four Sennenhunds, or Swiss Mountain Dogs, the other three being the Greater Swiss, Appenzeller and Entlebucher. The word Senn is the term for Alpine herdsmen, so a Sennenhund is a 'dog of the Senn'. Traditionally the Bernese Mountain Dog was a draught dog, helping craftsmen and farmers that were too poor to afford horses. As secondary tasks they were used for general farm work and to help guard and control the livestock.
Bernese Mountain Dog Standards
- AKC (Working)
- FCI (Group 2)
- KC (Working)
- UKC (Guardian)
- 23-28"
- 87-90 lbs
- large molosser
- triangular, hanging ears
- long, bushy tail
- moderately long coat, slight wave or straight
- tricolor (black, rust, white)
History of the Bernese Mountain Dog
It is believed that the Bernese Mountain Dog is descended from large Molossers brought to Switzerland either by the Romans or Phoenician traders. Serious breeding programs for the Swiss Mountain Dogs did not being until the late 1800s and they were not formerly separated into distinct breeds until 1908.
Related Breeds: