The Bernese mountain dog comes from Switzerland and was used in the Alps as herding and guarding dogs helping the shepherds up in the mountains. The Bernese mountain dogs were also used as draft animals and could pull small carts to help carry things around. Part of their heritage comes from the mastiffs of Rome, which helps to give them their size.

Sennenhund

The BMD is part of a larger category of dogs called Sennenhund. The name comes from two German words, Hund, which means dog, and Senne, which means alpine pasture. All of the breeds are mountain dogs, and all were used as farm dogs. The Bernese, Greater Swiss, Appenzeller, and Entlebucher all share the same coloration of a black body, and brown and white face, chest, and legs. The biggest differences between the breeds are the coat length and body size. The Bernese mountain dog is the only one of this class of dogs to have a long coat. 

Markings

While the Bernese dogs share the same coloration with all the other Sennehund, they do have their own distinctive markings to look for. Ideally, the dog should have a black horseshoe mark around its nose, along with white markings on its chest that look like the Swiss cross from the Swiss flag. The BMD may also have a white mark on the back of their neck, but breed standards say that it shouldn't create a full ring around the neck. Of course, that doesn't matter as much when it comes to a family dog as it would if the dog was being shown. 

Temperament

The Bernese mountain dog is part of the working class of dogs, which means that they want to do things. They aren't going to be content to sit around and do nothing. The dogs are going to need daily exercise. Overall, the BMD is going to want to be with their family, and they are going to need to be around you a lot. They are very smart and loyal dogs, and they will be good watchdogs for your family. They can be easy to train, but you are going to need to be consistent with them. They would be really good for agility training, because it would really engage their intelligence, their energy, and give them something fun to do. 

The Bernese mountain dog can be a really good pet dog for the right family. Make sure that you have the time to give them lots of attention, walk them regularly, and give them the training they need before you bring one of these puppies home.  

For more information, contact a breeder that has Bernese mountain dog puppies for sale.