The Bernese Mountain Dog is an extremely versatile working dog from the farmlands of Switzerland. He was developed to herd cattle, pull carts, and be a watchdog and loyal companion. He is one of four types of Swiss Mountain Dogs, and the only one with long hair.

The Bernese Mountain Dog comes from the canton of Bern, hence his name. He's a large and sturdy dog breed, with a friendly and calm disposition, and he's well suited to conformation, obedience, tracking, herding, and carting competitions.

Expected Adult Weight:
70 - 115 lbs.

Expected Adult Height at the Shoulder:
23 - 27 inches.

Expected Life Span:
6 - 8 years.

In addition to being strikingly good-looking, the Bernese has a wonderful temperament. He is known for being loyal, affectionate, eager to please, and intelligent.

The Bernese coat is gorgeous: a thick double coat with a longer outer coat and a wooly undercoat. Characteristically tricolored, the majority of the Bernese's body is covered with jet-black hair with rich rust and bright white. There's usually a white marking on his chest that looks like an inverted cross, a white blaze between the eyes, and white on the tip of his tail.

Regular Grooming Frequency:
Brushing several times a week helps reduce the amount of hair around the house and keeps the coat clean and tangle-free. Periodic bathing, every three months or so, will maintain his neat appearance.

Trim nails once a month if your dog doesn't wear them down naturally to prevent painful tears and other problems. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they're too long.

Home Grooming Tools Required:
Metal comb and soft slicker.

The German Shepherd was originally bred to herd flocks in harsh climates, and his medium-length double coat fits the job perfectly, protecting the dog from rain and snow, and resistant to picking up burrs and dirt.

The coat types of the German Shepherd are as varied as his color; some German Shepherds are long-haired. However, the ideal German Shepherd has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat is dense with straight hair that lies close to the body, and is sometimes wavy and wiry.

Regular Grooming Frequency:
Weekly brushing and seasonal grooming needed.

Trim nails on a regular basis to prevent painful splintering. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they're too long.

Home Grooming Tools Required:
Metal comb and soft slicker.

Since he was bred to be a working dog, the Bernese likes to learn and can be easily trained. Since he is very large — about 100 pounds — when mature, early obedience training and socialization are recommended!

The Bernese is a wonderful exercise companion as he enjoys the outdoors and getting proper exercise proportional to the size of his body. He is also extremely intelligent so agility exercise and other types of work-outs make for one happy Bernese Mountain Dog!