Bern Sheepdog: breed description and breeding

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, loyal, peace-loving, but not spineless Bernese shepherd dogs can really be considered alpine dogs. Another name for the breed is Bernese Mountain Dog. The Swiss canton of Bern is considered the minor homeland of shepherd dogs.

The breed received official recognition only in 1907, although its actual history began much earlier. Mentions of dogs, one to one reminiscent of the Bernese Shepherd, are found among ancient historians. For centuries, the Mountain Dog has been used as a loyal and courageous guard, as well as a professional shepherd. The strength and endurance of animals was entirely devoted to the service of the owner. And these are not big words! In the Middle Ages, the peasants were often battered by nomadic brigands, while the cattle suffered from the attacks of wild animals: the Swiss mountain dog was indispensable.

About how useful and valuable was a mountain dog, talked and wrote at different times. About the devotees of dogs composed legends.

In 1902 a specialized exhibition was held in Bern. There for the first time the dog of this breed was officially introduced. Good and generous disposition, remarkable appearance, strength, excellent health and the mind of the animal quickly made him a universal pet. At first they loved the dog in Switzerland, then the love for the shepherd dog came to Germany, Austria, and now all of Europe was filled with warm feelings for the Bernese shepherd.

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

Bernese shepherd dogs are tricolor animals whose hair is thick and long. They are distinguished by their 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 addition, they can boast of good health and endurance. Such a characteristic makes it possible not to yield to either the Newfoundler or the Saint Bernard.

Bitches and males differ in size: the average height of a dog at the withers is 68 cm, weight is 47 kg. Bitch grows to 66 cm and weighs a maximum of 45 kg. The dog's body is long, the back is flat, straight, the black dog (although in reality it is three-colored) has strong bones and developed muscles. Strong limbs with wide pads, a long and pendulous tail, a massive highbrow head with tight jaw teeth closing, with the right bite - this is all about the Bernese Sheepdog. Her ears are pendulous with bending forward (neither they nor the tail do not stop).

Important points:

• The dog's coat is thick and long, the undercoat is thick, which is very important in the context of the Alpine winter - there is no shorthair version of the breed and cannot be;
• the fur has the greatest length on the tail and chest, the shortest is on the forehead and ears;
• Only one color is peculiar to the breed, all other variants will definitely be a marriage.

Newborn Mountain Dogs are born deaf and blind, they cannot regulate the temperature of their own bodies.Only at the end of the third week the babies' eyes open, they all hear, and on the fourth they have teeth cut.

On the intellectual level of dogs can be compared with service breeds - German and Belgian Shepherd Dogs. The Dogs have an enviable autonomy, which is not surprising: the “shaggy shepherds” performed a serious task. They had to graze herds in the mountains, sometimes even without a host.

Males perky, lively, cheerful. Grow slowly because dogs large in size can behave like huge puppies, for which children especially love them. Before 2-3 years you will not consider slowness and thoroughness in an animal.

Females grow up faster: assignments are performed with high responsibility. To the owners and close environment are affectionate, friendly. To strangers are wary. Barking for no reason is not inherent in the Bernese Shepherd, but the dogs also do not suffer from excessive silence. Genetically, they have the need to serve man, because a more faithful, loyal, strong and intelligent animal still needs to be searched.

It is no coincidence that many adults have no doubt: Sennenhund will cope with small but important tasks. For example, he can bring a child to a halt, he can ride him on a sled, or even be able to carry a master bag from a store. And most importantly, it is not a burden for the dog, but a joy to serve. The dog really appreciates communication with a person, because a time resource should be spent on it. But these expenses are pleasant for both parties - try to find such a friend!

The Bern Shepherd Dog has several close relatives: for example, other Swiss Mountain Dogs are related to a 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 folded tail in the horn;
• Great Swiss Mountain Dog - the largest dog in the world, a dog with a height can reach a height of 72 cm;
• entlebucher mountain dog - The smallest dog in the family, above 50 cm at the withers, they do not grow.

Of course, it is not necessary to rush to the first ad seen, no matter how eloquent the breeder would be, and how great your desire would be to get such a friend as soon as possible. It would be useful to collect information about large clubs and nurseries, their reputation is important. And if you attend exhibitions, there you can already notice the parents of your future friend. The first moment before meeting with the puppy is an assessment of the birth box and the room where the puppies are kept. A strong unpleasant smell, general untidy should be alerted.

What healthy babies look like:

• clear, clear eyes with no discharge (there should be no clouded film on them);
• the dog's hair is clean - not dry and not fragile;
• the spout is wet, without discharge;
• the puppy's anus should not have sticky fur, there is one, it speaks of problems with digestion;
• puppies should not be lethargic, inactive, the more kids fool around and play around, the more likely they are healthy and full of energy.

Pay attention to the following points.

• Backbone. Compare the thickness of the paws of babies: the one with whom they are thin, obviously loses. But do not carp too much; puppies of 1,5-2 months should remind furry bear cubs, but not their parents in miniature. So clumsiness and some discoordination are passing.
• Paws. Front and rear straight, parallel to each other. The corners of the hind legs are slightly smoothed.When viewed, you will see that the hind legs resemble a keg in shape, this is normal. It is abnormal if they are concave inward and 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, in size, of course, it will increase, but this disproportionality of the body will not outgrow the dog. Baby ears should be large and wide.
• Movement. Lightness and freedom - the main criteria when choosing puppies. If the baby is minced, it is not very good. Parents of puppies should have pictures of dysplasia, experienced breeders are watching for this. Dysplasia itself is not particularly scary, but arthritis and arthrosis associated with it undermines the health of the dog.
• Back. Direct, without all the failures. The puppy should not create the impression of a hunchbacked back. During the period of growth it may seem that the back “falls”, but this happens because the hind legs are ahead of the front legs.
• Tail. Long, thick at the base with a narrowing towards the end. The tail form is saber-shaped, in the excited state the tail rises to the back line. If a puppy's tail twists in a ring, it is a breed defect. It is difficult for puppies to see the ring, but here the tendency to curl is well considered.
• Color and wool. You will not find perfect symmetry. Pay attention to the good color of the face. Dickey and cross on the chest should go without breaks. The coat is clean, not dry, not brittle, without dandruff. Babies have a soft, fluffy coat.

By the nature of the puppy should be sociable and inquisitive. You should not frighten him: some buyers throw their keys in front of a puppy, waiting for action. But most babies just get scared.

Do not believe the breeders who give guarantees and promise. Inspection, characteristics of parents - this is the information on the basis of which the buyer concludes.

Height and weight by month

For the beauty of the dog owner just have to follow. Without the owner's efforts, it is difficult for a dog to maintain his amazing genetics. If you don’t have time and energy to take care of such a rather big dog, it’s better to immediately abandon the idea of ​​having a dog of this particular breed. Shedding and wool around the house will be for sure, it just scares some, others consider it a “life thing” and a small price to pay for happiness to find such a friend.

The dog, despite its size and shaggy, pretty neat. But you still have to regularly brush and clean it. Ostone hair must be combed once a week with a comb with long sparse teeth. Autumn and spring can not do without Puhoder (furminator). A prerequisite for care is the timely removal of the undercoat. If the owner does not pay enough attention to the molting of the animal, the case will turn to dermatitis or moist eczema.

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

• Be careful with swimming. Wash the dog can and should be, but without fanaticism. It is not always possible to immediately find a detergent that is loyal to the body of the dog. It is impossible to bathe a dog that has not discarded its undercoat. If you are not preparing for the exhibition, try to bathe your pet as rarely as possible in the winter.
• Inspect the eyes of the dog every day. Remove delicately discharges that have accumulated in the corners of the eyelid (sponge moistened in warm water). Any redness and swelling of the eyelids is a reason to contact the veterinarian. But with tea and herbal teas it is impossible to wipe the dog’s eyes (it may be allergic).
• Inspect the ears every day, especially after summer walks, contact with high grass, etc. To keep the dog's teeth and bite in good health, the pet menu does not include hard bones and maslaki (this applies to those who are concerned about the show career of the dog).

One very important point - Bern can not be called a long-liver. Alas, but for various reasons, which are now widely discussed in the circle of 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-treatment, the longevity of the breed can be increased. Incorrect diagnoses, failure to establish the cause of death, sale of puppies without documents and pedigrees - all this only aggravates the problem.

Bernas are prone to cataracts, progressive atrophy and dystrophy of the retina, hypothyroidism, etc. The dog must be watched! All that you can do for the health of the dog, do it.

The food that makes up the diet of Bern affects both his health and behavior. Some food elements improve the condition of the coat, while others may, on the contrary, aggravate the health of the dog. Because what to feed the 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. It should not be included in the feed of wheat, soy, corn. If a dog is allergic - this is an iron rule. Chicken or fish oil in dry food is welcome.
• The basis of the diet of the Bern Shepherd - 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. Like a pet and a delicacy such as apples, bananas (but not often).
• The best sources of dietary fiber are rice, oats and barley.
• Once a week (maximum - two), give Bern raw or boiled eggs, as well as dairy, not very fatty foods.
• The ideal formula for Bern's diet is 40-60% of meat, not more than 10% of offal, up to 20% of vegetables and fruits, 10% of dairy products and cereals.
• With age-related diseases of the dog feeding is adjusted - for example, the amount of sodium supplied with food decreases.
• Chondroitin and glucosamine should be included as valuable feed additives.

Adult burns should receive approximately 1800 calories per day, elderly dogs - 1500. If the dog is active and working, its daily calorie is 3000 calories. After the meal, it is not necessary to immediately load the dog with an active walk: an hour or two, let it rest. If your pet has a full stomach, and you expose it to physical stress, a dangerous torsion of the intestines is not excluded. After training, also do not rush to feed your pet - wait half an hour.

Nurses and guides - this is also what they call Berns. Their main quality lies in the desire to be useful to their owner. They are enthusiastically accepted for any assignment: moreover, if a dog is deprived of meaningful activity for the good of the owner, she often becomes ill and prematurely passes away.

Training and education is not a process distracted from routine. Any walk, game, home communication you turn into a lesson for the pet. You need to start with 2-3 months, when hereditary behavioral stereotypes of behavior are activated in a baby, new things can already be formed on life experience. It is at this age that mothers teach puppies functional forms of behavior.

The main points of education and training:

• effective encouragement is both a delicacy and plenty of happiness to play and talk with the hosts;
• the particularity of the Berns is that the mission itself very quickly becomes their reward - for them it is the most important thing to please and help the owner;
• Avoid physical and mental overload - do not part with repeated repetitions, do not bring puppies to fatigue;
• the very first “biting-grabbing games” is a reason to quickly teach the dog not to squeeze the jaws very tightly;
• If training is organized correctly, as early as 4 months your baby will master the main disciplinary skills.

Three months is a very important period for Bern, it's time for a puppy to socialize. 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 the 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 outside, and not endure it to the tray. Not everyone wants to communicate, so rush happily to each comer is not worth it - and this is also learned by the kid. Finally, he learns to take food only from the hands of the owner.

Cynologists have previously taken several techniques, each talking about their age suitable for dog training. Today, experts adhere to a single system without additional stages of training, in a smooth manner, which is based on zoopsychology as much as possible.

The Bern Sheepdog is a nice, kind, very intelligent and caring dog. You quickly get attached to her, she falls in love with the whole family. If you are serious and are not afraid to spend time and energy on raising and caring for a big, shaggy friend, it’s time to look out for cute puppies. And if one has already appeared in your home, help your faithful friend live a happy dog's life!

In the next video you will find an overview of the breed of the Bern Sheepdog.