Alice White
The Bernese Mountain Dog, good-natured by nature, in exchange for care and love, will become a loyal and good friend for its owner and his family. Representatives of the breed cannot be ignored, they need to communicate with a person.
This breed is perfect for people who have experience in keeping dogs and are ready to exercise daily with the dog. Monotonous walks twice a day are not enough for this breed of dogs, although the breed cannot be called overly active and energetic. But it should be remembered that the Bernese Mountain Dog was bred as a working breed, dogs have the physical strength and need loads to maintain their shape (pulling a cart, sleds).
Bernese Mountain Dog & Family Members
The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the dog breeds that are ideal as family companions. Representatives of the breed are affectionate, good-natured, calm. Dogs treat children well, show tolerance, even if the child sticks to the animal. But there is one peculiarity. The Bernese Mountain Dog reaches maturity by 3-4 years of age. Puppies are very active and mobile. If there is a small child in the family, then you should not allow him to play with the puppy alone. An active puppy in the game can bite, squeeze, and these actions can be painful, frightening for the child, although they do not pose a danger to him.
Dogs of this breed love to spend time with people. If the animal spends most of the day alone, then over time, the pet develops increased anxiety and, as a result, destructive behavior. To avoid this, the owner will have to, starting from puppyhood, teach the pet to spend time alone without harm to the furniture in the house, without howling and barking.
At first glance, it may seem that the Bernese Mountain Dog is lazy, always ready to sit back and take a nap. But representatives of the breed love to walk in the fresh air and play. Playing in the snow in winter gives the dog the greatest pleasure. In summer, dogs of this breed are hot, so their activity may decrease. In general, the energy can be enough for the whole day. The best living conditions for a large pet will be a spacious apartment or a courtyard of a country house.
Socialization is very important. A trait of the character of the Bernese Mountain Dog is excessive shyness in relation to everyone or to specific people. Without socialization, natural caution can develop into shyness, which will complicate the life of the pet and owner in the future.
Bernese Mountain Dog & Strangers
Balanced, well-mannered dogs are friendly to strangers. Representatives of the breed will not run-up to a stranger wagging their tail, but they will not show aggression either. The attitude towards strangers can be characterized by politeness.
The watchdog qualities of the breed representatives should also be noted. The dog will warn about the approach of strangers by barking, and in case of a threat to itself and family members, it will defend itself without waiting for the owner’s command.
Bernese Mountain Dog & Other Animals
Most dogs are peaceful towards other animals. A common situation is when a large dog allows the kitten to play naughty, bite its paws and play with its tail. However, males can be hostile towards each other.
Bernese Mountain Dog Training
The Bernese Mountain Dog is trainable, but the breed is sensitive by nature. Consistency, gentleness, kind attitude, praise, and any other way of rewarding the pet for the correct actions are important. However, with some individuals, often with males, especially in adolescence, it is required to show firmness, since animals have a tendency to stubbornness and domination.
In any case, training is slow compared to other breeds. At the same time, representatives of the breed know how to listen to the owner and the distinctive feature of the Bernese Mountain Dog is obedience. Patience and the right approach to training Bernese Mountain Dog will allow you to achieve the desired result.
