The purpose of this site is primarily to gather Berner Tales (TM), anecdotes about the humorous, heart-warming, and sometimes frustrating things Berners do to, for and with their humans or themselves. And yes, some Berners can add “saved a life” to their accomplishments.
Take a look at a few Tales and send us one of your own.
If you’ve arrived here by accident or are new to the breed, please note that these dogs originated near Bern, Switzerland. That’s why they are called “Bernese” with an “n,” not “Burmese” like the python snake or the people of Burma (now called Myanmar).
These dogs are truly fantastic, but they are not for everyone. They shed, have short life spans and are not the type of dog to be left home alone all day. They want and need to be with their “pack,” meaning their people family. They have strong personalities but don’t respond well at all to a tough approach. They need to be taught gently, and led to become the dog they can be, not forced into anything.
If you are considering one of these wonderful dogs, please go immediately to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA.org) for more information about the breed and about finding a reputable breeder. Please don’t purchase from a pet store or an online site that looks and sounds good, but might not provide good stock from healthy parents. If at all possible, meet early-on at the breeder’s kennel, or talk with someone who has one of the breeder’s older dogs, not a recent puppy.
Learning about the breed before taking home a puppy or an adult can help avoid misunderstandings and mistakes that could be frustrating, expensive and heart-breaking for you and a wonderful creature that – through no fault of its own – simply might not be able to live up to your unfair expectations or situations.
For example, Berners love the outdoors, but they aren’t the dog to accompany you jogging, and they aren’t natural retrievers. They can sometimes be taught to “Fetch,” but throw a ball or stick more than a few times, and they’re likely to lie down and give you a look that says, “Boring. Been there, done that. What’s wrong with your arm, anyway? Stick the cotton-picking ball in your pocket and let’s go eat.”
Don’t let this aspect of their personality fool you. They are smart and can learn lots of things to amuse you and amaze your friends. You’ve just got to understand their nature.