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Bernease mountain dog??

  • 10-06-2011 9:44pm
    #1
    RJ59
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭


    Hey just wondering if any of ye had much experience wit these dogs??are they friendly or does it take a more experienced dog owner to own one? My uncle is keen to get 1 so I said I would ask here as I got so much friendly feedback and good advice from my previous thread. Thanks Ross :D


Comments

  • #2
    Shanao
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    Bernese Mountain dogs are amazing dogs, and very friendly IF you get them from a good breeder. Too many people are breeding them now and not bothering to socialise them properly, leaving them nervous and skittish. It's one of the main behavioural problems in Bernese now, so tell him to make sure he's going to go to a good breeder who will completely socialise their dogs and puppies. Also, make sure the parent dogs have health tests done and have good scores as Bernese are prone to hip dysplasia.


  • #3
    killwill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,785 ✭✭✭killwill


    Shanao wrote: »
    Bernese Mountain dogs are amazing dogs, and very friendly IF you get them from a good breeder. Too many people are breeding them now and not bothering to socialise them properly, leaving them nervous and skittish. It's one of the main behavioural problems in Bernese now, so tell him to make sure he's going to go to a good breeder who will completely socialise their dogs and puppies. Also, make sure the parent dogs have health tests done and have good scores as Bernese are prone to hip dysplasia.

    You can get a Bernese Mountain Dog/Sheep dog mix if that floats your boat. Looks exactly like a miniature Bernese. Beautiful.


  • #4
    honeybear
    Registered Users Posts: 5,648 ✭✭✭honeybear


    Know someone who has them and loves them. One thing she said they never considered when buying was their life expectancy-I think that, on average it is not that long. This was a big consideration for me when choosing a dog breed.


  • #5
    Shanao
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    killwill wrote: »
    You can get a Bernese Mountain Dog/Sheep dog mix if that floats your boat. Looks exactly like a miniature Bernese. Beautiful.

    But a bernese/sheepdog cross is nothing like a bernese, and a miniature? Not likely. I know a collie/bernese cross and he's actually bigger than some bernese, weighing in at 50kg. This is a 50kg dog with the collie's need for activity as well, which is quite different from a bernese's. He is a big, strong dog who chewed the tyres on the car because he wasn't getting enough mental stimulation.

    I also wouldn't get a bernese cross, as these are mongrels that people then charge money for; these crosses are bred for profit and profit alone with the money put ahead of the dogs' welfare.

    The Bernese life expectancy is something to consider though. Bernese are very prone to cancers, more so than the other large breeds. Their lifespans averages between 7-10 years, 10 being rare enough. They are also prone to problems with shoulders/hips/cruciate ligaments so insurance is a must.

    There is an Irish club for the Bernese Mountain Dog, so it might be an idea for your uncle to contact them.


  • #6
    LucyBliss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 616 ✭✭✭LucyBliss


    The woman who minds my dogs at her house has Bernese Mountain dogs. I met two of them when she came to collect my dogs when we had to take off to a wedding a few months ago and they were so friendly in the van. She also told me that my small terrier cross dog was bossing them around at her house and her dogs just went along with it. Oops!


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  • #7
    slashygoodness
    Registered Users Posts: 67 ✭✭slashygoodness


    From the right breeder and in the right home they are amazing. They do have shorter life spans <8 years and their coats require a lot of 'maintenance'. They are not a high energy dog - so don't expect them to want to go jogging with you ;)

    Also you need to be very careful with their food and exercise when they are young so that you don't cause issues with their bone & joint development. My bro in law has a full breed and I have 2x St Bernard/Bernese crosses - love them all and they are a perfect match for us.


  • #8
    Cú Giobach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,772 ✭✭✭Cú Giobach


    I have a Bernese/CollieX and he is a wonderful dog, very affectionate, active and intelligent (and an absolute stunner).
    Out of my three dogs he is the one everyone who visits me falls for.
    I got a puppy recently and he really became big brother and puts up with an amazing amount of abuse from her, absolutely wonderful temperament. :)


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