Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog

Other names:
Berner Sennenhund
Berner, Bernese
Country of origin:
Switzerland

The Bernese Mountain Dog, called in Swiss the Berner Sennenhund, is a large breed of canine, one of the four breeds of Senenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. The name Sennenhund refers to people called Senn, herders in the Swiss Alps. Berner (or Bernese in English) refers to the area of the breed's origin, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. Originally kept as general farm dogs, large Sennenhunds in the past were also used as draft animals, pulling carts.

Appearance
Like the other Sennenhunds, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, heavy dog with a distinctive tricoloured coat, black with white chest and tan (or rust) colored markings above eyes, sides of mouth, front of legs, and a small amount around the white chest. An ideal of a perfectly-marked individual gives the impression of a white horse shoe shape around the nose and a white “Swiss cross” on the chest, when viewed from the front.

Both males and females have a broad head with smallish, v-shaped drooping ears. Height at the withers is 23–27.5 in (58–70 cm) and weight is 65–120 lb (29–54 kg). Females are slightly smaller than males. The breed standard lists as a distinctly curly coat, along with wry mouth and wall eye. Exact colour and pattern of the coat are also described as helpful.