Bernese shepherd: description of the breed and cultivation

In the Swiss Alps, one of the most picturesque places on the planet, a breed of dogs has appeared that is impossible not to love. Beautiful, loyal, faithful, loving, but not spineless Bernese Shepherds can really be considered alpine dogs. Another name for the breed is the Bernese Mountain Dog. The small homeland of shepherd dogs is considered the Swiss canton of Bern.

The breed received official recognition only in 1907, although its actual history began much earlier. Mention of dogs, one in one resembling a Bernese shepherd, found in ancient historians. For centuries, the Sennenhund was used as a faithful and courageous guard, as well as a professional shepherd. The strength and endurance of the animals was entirely dedicated to serving the master. And these are not big words! In the Middle Ages, peasants often suffered from roaming robbers, while cattle suffered from attacks of wild animals: the Swiss mountain dog was indispensable.

The Sennenhund was how useful and valuable it was spoken and written at different times. Legends were made of loyal dogs.

In 1902, a specialized exhibition was held in Bern. A dog of this breed was officially introduced there for the first time. The kind and generous disposition, remarkable appearance, strength, excellent health and mind of the animal quickly made him a universal favorite. First, the dog was loved in Switzerland, then the love for the shepherd dog came to Germany, Austria, and now all of Europe was imbued with warm feelings for the Bernese shepherd.

5 years after a landmark exhibition, a club appeared in Switzerland that brought together the Sennenhund breeders. In Russia, the breed can be called the Bernese meadow dog, which is also true. In Moscow, a dog of this breed first appeared in the late 1980s, and in 1995 the first Russian Bernese Mountain Dog club was organized.

Bernese shepherds are tricolor animals, the hair of which is thick and long. They are distinguished by a strong physique, animals are well-built and very mobile. The size of the dog is above average, they are strong, with strong legs and harmonious build, can boast of good health and stamina. This characteristic allows us not to be inferior to either the Newfoundler or St. Bernard.

Females and males differ in size: the average height of a male at the withers is 68 cm, weight 47 kg. The bitch grows to 66 cm and weighs a maximum of 45 kg. The body of the dog is long, the back is straight, straight, black dog (although in fact it is three-colored) has a strong skeleton and well-developed musculature. Strong limbs with wide pads, a long and saggy tail, a massive highbrow head with a tight closing of the jaw teeth, with the right bite - this is all about the Bernese Shepherd. Her ears are drooping with bending forward (neither them nor the tail stop).

Important points:

• the dog’s coat is thick and long, the undercoat is dense, which is very important in the context of the alpine winter - there is no short-haired breed and cannot be;
• the longest hair is on the tail and chest, the shortest hair is on the forehead and ears;
• Only one color is peculiar to the breed, all other options will definitely be a marriage.

Newborn mountain dogs are born deaf and blind; they cannot regulate the temperature of their own body. Only at the end of the third week the eyes of the babies open, they hear everything, and in the fourth they have teeth cut out.

The intellectual level of dogs can be compared with service breeds - the German and Belgian shepherd. The Sennenhunds have an enviable independence, which is not surprising: the "shaggy shepherds" performed a serious task. They sometimes graze herds in the mountains sometimes even without a master.

Dogs are perky, lively, cheerful. Grow slowly because Large dogs can behave like huge puppies, for which children are especially fond of them. Before 2-3 years, you will not consider slowness and thoroughness in an animal.

Bitches grow up faster: they carry out assigned tasks with high responsibility. The owners and close circle are affectionate, friendly. Strangers are wary. Barking without a reason is not inherent in the Bernese Shepherd, but the dogs also do not suffer from excessive silence. Genetically, they have a need to serve a person, therefore a more devoted, loyal, strong and intelligent animal still needs to be sought.

It is no coincidence that many adults have no doubt: Sennenhund will cope with small, but responsible assignments. For example, it can bring a child to a stop, can ride him on a sled, or even be able to bring a shopping bag from the store. And most importantly, this is not a burden for the dog, but a joy to serve. The dog really appreciates communication with a person, so you need to spend a temporary resource on him. But these expenses are pleasant for both parties - try to find such a friend!

The Bernese Shepherd has several close relatives: for example, the other Swiss Mountain Dogs are related to the Swiss mountain dog. And outwardly it is easy to notice.

But the differences are still noticeable:

• appenzeller mountain dog - not the largest representative of the family, its size is average, and you can distinguish a smooth-haired dog by a tail curled into a horn;
• great swiss mountain dog - the largest dog in the world, a male taller can reach a height of 72 cm;
• entlebucher mountain dog - the smallest dog in the family, they do not grow above 50 cm at the withers.

Of course, you should not rush to the first advertisement you see, no matter how eloquent the breeder is and how great your desire would be to quickly get just such a friend. It will be useful to collect information about large clubs and nurseries, their reputation is important. And if you attend exhibitions, then you can already see the parents of your future friend. The first moment before meeting with the puppy is the assessment of the birth box and the room where the puppies are kept. Strong unpleasant odor, general negligence should alert.

What healthy babies look like:

• clean clear eyes without discharge (no clouded film should be on them);
• the dog’s coat is clean - not dry and not brittle;
• the nose is wet, without discharge;
• the anus of the puppy should not have sticky coat, eat it, this indicates digestive problems;
• puppies should not be sluggish, inactive, the more kids fool around and indulge, the more likely they are healthy and full of strength.

Pay attention to the following points.

• The backbone. Compare the thickness of the paws of the kids: the one with whom they are thin, obviously loses. But do not complain too much, puppies of 1.5-2 months should resemble furry cubs, and not their parents in miniature. So clumsiness and some discoordination is passing.
• Paws Front and rear straight, parallel to each other. The corners of the hind legs are slightly flattened. On examination, you will see that the hind legs resemble a keg in shape, this is normal. It is not normal if they are concave inward and X-shaped.
• Head. Already in childhood, it should be clear that it is large, the muzzle is voluminous. If the muzzle is narrow and elongated, it will remain so, of course, it will increase in size, but this disproportionality of the body of the dog will not outgrow. The ears of the baby should be large and wide.
• Movement. Ease and freedom are the main criteria when choosing puppies. If the baby is mincing, this is not very good. Parents of puppies should have pictures for dysplasia, experienced breeders monitor this. Dysplasia itself is not very scary, but arthritis and arthrosis associated with it undermine the dog’s health.
• Back. Direct, without any failures. The puppy should not give the impression of a humpbacked back. During the period of growth, it may seem that the back “falls through”, but this happens because the hind legs in growth are ahead of the front.
• Tail. Long, thick at the base, narrowing towards the end. The shape of the tail is saber, in the excited state the tail rises to the line of the back. If the puppy’s tail is twisted into a ring, this is a defect in the breed. Puppies have difficulty seeing the ring, but the tendency to twist is well seen.
• Color and coat. You will not find perfect symmetry. Pay attention to the good stained face. The shirt-front and the cross on the chest should go without tears. The coat is clean, not dry, not brittle, without dandruff. Babies have soft downy hair.

The nature of the puppies should be sociable and inquisitive. It’s not worth frightening him: some buyers throw keys in front of the puppy and wait for action. But most kids will just get scared.

Do not believe the breeders who give guarantees and promises. Inspection, characteristics of parents - this is the information on the basis of which the buyer makes a conclusion.

Monthly height and weight

The owner will definitely have to follow the beauty of the dog.Without the efforts of the owner, it is difficult for the dog to maintain his amazing genetics. If you don’t have time and energy to care for such a rather big dog, it’s better to immediately abandon the idea of ​​having a dog of this breed. Shedding and wool at home will definitely be, it’s just scary for some, while others consider it a “worldly affair” and a low price for happiness to find such a friend.

The dog, despite its size and shaggy, is quite neat. But still, you have to regularly comb and clean it. The remaining hair should be combed once a week with a comb with long sparse teeth. In autumn and spring, you can not do without a pohodider (furminator). A prerequisite for leaving is the timely removal of the undercoat. If the owner does not pay due attention to the molt of the animal, the case will turn to dermatitis or weeping eczema.

Other important aspects of care and maintenance of the Bernese Shepherd.

• Be careful with swimming. It is possible and necessary to wash a dog, but without fanaticism. It is not always possible to immediately pick up a cleaning agent that is loyal to the dog's body. Often you can’t bathe a dog that has not thrown off the undercoat. If you are not preparing for the exhibition, try to bathe your pet as little as possible in winter.
• Inspect the dog’s eyes every day. Gently remove the secretions that have accumulated in the corners of the eyelids of the discharge (sponge dipped in warm water). Any redness and swelling of the eyelids is an occasion to consult a veterinarian. But the dog can’t wipe the eyes with tea and decoctions of herbs (there may be an allergy).
• Inspect your ears daily, especially after summer walks, contact with tall grass, etc. To keep the dog’s teeth and bite healthy, the dog’s menu does not include hard bones and moslaks (this applies to those who are concerned about the dog’s show career).

One very important point - Berne can not be called a long-liver. Alas, for various reasons that are widely discussed today among professional communities, Bernese shepherds live to 6.5-8 years. If all breeders turn to specialists in a timely manner, if any dog ​​disease does not end in self-medication, you can increase the breed's lifespan. Incorrect diagnoses, failure to determine the cause of death, sale of puppies without documents and pedigrees - all this only exacerbates the problem.

Berns are prone to cataracts, progressive atrophy and retinal dystrophy, hypothyroidism, etc. The dog needs to be monitored! All that you can do for the health of the dog, do.

The food that makes up the Bern diet affects both its health and behavior. Some food items improve the condition of the coat, while others can, on the contrary, aggravate the dog’s health. Because how to feed a dog and in what mode is a very important question.

8 rules of nutrition Bern.

• Dry food should include 18-26% protein, up to 16% fat. It should not be dominated by chemical preservatives, as this can lead to an allergic reaction. Should not be part of the feed of wheat, soybeans, corn. If the dog is allergic - this is an iron rule. Chicken or fish oil in dry food is welcome.
• The basis of the diet of the Bernese Shepherd is raw lean meat: chicken, beef, lamb. Sea fish is possible. Alternate meat with offal.
• With meat, the pet will be happy to eat vegetables - carrots, broccoli, pumpkin and zucchini. The pet will also like such a treat as apples, bananas (but not often).
• The best sources of dietary fiber are rice, oats, and barley.
• Once a week (a maximum of two), give Berna raw or boiled eggs, as well as dairy products that are not very fatty.
• The ideal formula for the diet of Bern is 40-60% meat, not more than 10% offal, up to 20% vegetables and fruits, 10% dairy products and cereals.
• With age-related diseases of the dog, feeding is adjusted - for example, the amount of sodium supplied with the feed decreases.
• Chondroitin and glucosamine should be included as valuable feed additives.

Adult Bernes should receive about 1800 calories per day, elderly dogs - 1500. If the dog is active and working, his daily calorie is 3000 calories. After eating, you do not need to immediately load the dog with an active walk: let her rest for an hour or two. If the pet has a full stomach, and you expose it to physical activity, dangerous inversion of the intestines is not excluded. After training, also do not rush to feed your pet - wait half an hour or an hour.

Nannies and guide - the so-called Bern. Their main quality lies in the desire to be useful to their master. They are enthusiastically accepted for any assignment: moreover, if a dog is deprived of meaningful activity for the benefit of the owner, it very often gets sick and prematurely dies.

Training and education is not some kind of process abstracted from everyday life. You turn any walk, game, home communication into a lesson for your pet. You need to start from 2-3 months, when the baby's hereditary stereotypes of behavior are activated, new ones can already be formed in life experience. It is at this age that mothers teach puppies functional behaviors.

The main points of education and training:

• effective encouragement is both a delicacy and happiness to play and chat with the owners in plenty;
• the peculiarity of berns is that the assignment itself very quickly becomes a reward to them - for them it is the most important thing, to please and help the owner;
• avoid physical and mental overload - do not frequent with repeated repetitions, do not bring puppies to fatigue;
• the very first “biting and grasping games” is an occasion to quickly teach a dog not to clench its jaws very tightly;
• if the training is organized correctly, in 4 months your baby will master the main disciplinary skills.

Three months is a very important period for Bern, it’s time to socialize the puppy. At this age, his nervous system is formed, so show him the real world around him, with noisy streets and large crowds. But do it carefully, gradually increasing the time spent on a crowded street, in a park. Carefully introduce your pet to other people and other dogs, but first make sure they are friendly.

At this age, the baby begins to understand the most important things: you can go to the toilet on the street, and not endure up to the tray. Not everyone is hungry for communication, so it’s not worth it to rush joyfully to everyone you meet - and this is also assimilated by the baby. Finally, he learns to take food only from the hands of the owner.

Dog handlers previously adopted several techniques, each talking about their age suitable for training. Today, experts adhere to a single system without additional stages of training, in a smooth mode, which is based on zoopsychology as much as possible.

Bernese Shepherd - a nice, kind, very smart and caring dog. You quickly become attached to her, she falls in love with herself the whole family. If you are serious and not afraid to spend time and energy on raising and caring for a big shaggy friend, it's time to look at the pretty puppies. And if one has already appeared in your house, help your faithful friend live a happy dog ​​life!

In the next video you will find an overview of the Bernese Shepherd breed.