Anyone here have a Bernese Mtn Dog?

I work 1 or 2 days a week, other than that I'm home. I spend alot of time in our two barns or the garden shed. The shop I refer to is a two story building, wood stove, nice enough for some people to call home. Dobber sleeps in there with his buddy Casper the cat, who for a whole long list of reasons cannot live with the other cats. Sometimes he comes in the house. He's never been on a chain in his life and only got a whoppin' from me once when he wouldn't drop a squirrel.

He thinks he's a pretty happy dog. Don't go telling him any different!

Friends of ours who we met at the local dog park have a BMD called Murray. Murray is just a scream. He's commonly referred to as the `park hussy' because he is a little on the...er...`friendly side' with the other dogs. My Ruby just adores him. He's only 2, so still a puppy, really, and he's HUGE!!! His paws are the size of bread plates, I'm not kidding!

He's a lovely boy, but BMDs need a LOT of exercise, and a task - something to do, in case they get bored and destructive. If you live on a big property and are home a lot, I don't see why you shouldn't get one. As long as he gets out every day for a big long walk or a run or romp (they really do have boundless energy and they must be exercised to stay happy and healthy).

Also, all the playing with your other dog will keep them both more stimulated than a single dog alone would be.

Bear in mind, they don't live as long as other dogs as they are classed as a giant breed, and they do have health issues, but if you get one from a reputable breeder who is happy to show you that all the necessary testing has been done on the breeding pair who produce your pup, then you have done as much as you can to ward off hereditary illness.

I think they're lovely dogs - beautiful looking, too. I love tricolours and BMDs are a magnificent looking animal.

I just think they're beautiful dogs and most of what I've read says they have temperments to match. The cancer issue is what scares me the most though. I feel like my cats suffer from an unusually high rate of it, although they were for the most part older and fell pretty much within the ages when it is normally diagnosed. From my reading I also seem to remember that the lifespan at one point for BMD was closer to 10 years, but had been lowered to 6-8. I know they're working to find the answer of why there's such a high rate of cancer.

Last night on the news there was a man who lost his 2 year old BMD to the tainted food that is being recalled.

Give Murray a headrub for me!

Originally Posted by fosterkitty

I assume from your post that your dogs live outside for the most part. Please do not get a dog that is banished to the outdoors or your shop. Dog belong with their owners, and if the owner is in the house, thats where the dog belongs.

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I wasn't flaming, I just can't imagine going to bed with my dogs not in the house...there are plenty of nights when I have all 3 in the bed, with Eric and I! Who needs flannel pj's and down comforters when you have a golden retriever laying on top of you?

Originally Posted by fosterkitty

I wasn't flaming, I just can't imagine going to bed with my dogs not in the house...there are plenty of nights when I have all 3 in the bed, with Eric and I! Who needs flannel pj's and down comforters when you have a golden retriever laying on top of you?

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I already have a *cat* blanket that gets so heavy sometimes I can't move!

And we live on a farm...so sometimes Dobber doesn't smell so very good. He thinks rolling in donkey poop is loads of fun.

I certainly will give him a head rub! If I can get near enough to him...lol. He's always belting around at the park so he never stops for five seconds.

This is funny - the people who own him said that their neighbour came over once, and the husband answered the door. The neighbour said, `Oh, you must be Murray' - they thought that because the wife yelled `MURRAY!!' so often that it was her husband's name, not her dog's!!

Here's a link to some good info - I'm sure you're already aware of this site it's a good basic source of information.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bernesemountain.htm

Thanks. I'm not sure if I've seen that one or not. I did follow the link for Greater Swiss Mountain dogs out of curiousity because a woman at work told me that they were basically a short haired BMD. Nice, but somehow all the BMDs attraction has alot to do with the fluff! I don't have enough time to read further right now, but it looks like they have their own health issues. (well duh...like any breed doesn't) I just think I'm going to have a hard sell with DH because he was really put off by the issues of life span and cancer. But before he knew those things, the first time he saw that puppy he was ready to whip out his checkbook!

Originally Posted by Cinder

I already have a *cat* blanket that gets so heavy sometimes I can't move!

And we live on a farm...so sometimes Dobber doesn't smell so very good. He thinks rolling in donkey poop is loads of fun.

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I have 6 cats as well as my 3 dogs, I just don't get having animals that aren't allowed in the house, never understood it. Sage likes to roll in rabbit poop, but if she does, she gets a bath. I would never imagine leaving her outside because she smelled bad. That's what baths are for!

My Aunt and Uncle have a BMD, she's almost 2 and starting to fill out now. Unfortunately they don't spend enough time with her and she's confined only to th ekitchen area of their home. Consequently whenever we're over she barks unless someone is paying attention to her, and is just full of trouble. She's learning manners, but she's still the alpha dog in the house because no one is big enough to physically control her. (I am but I always seem to be in a skirt when we get to wrestling!) She's a great dog and if I had room for her I would steal her.

Good luck with your decision.

I know that this is an old thread, but as I stumbled upon it on google. I wanted to clarify a few thing( being a Bernese owner).

   For one Bernese are not "working" dogs in the ways you describe them. They are NOT herders they are "working" they pull heavy thing ie. sleds, cars, people, camping gear.

Also for everyone who thinks that Bernese have short life spans. This is because we (humans) are to blame for this defect as since so many have been forced to imbred that there life span has decreased. When the Berners where first discovered as a breed their average life span was anywhere from 16-20 years.. All the imbreeding and human cultivation of this breed is what's to blame for the short life span of this breed.  I am not writing this for the OP but for anyone who might stumble upon a thread of mis-information like I have.. But yes they are the best dog you will ever own, cuddly, protective, not rough with kids, and they LOVE cat's and little kids.. Literally love... Pricey but always worth it with these dogs!!! 
 

I wouldn't be so quick to blame the short life span on inbreeding, all purebred dogs have been inbred at some point. In fact, line breeding and in some instances inbreeding, can be very beneficial to dog breeds. Bernese Mountain Dogs have a higher than normal instance of cancers than most purebred dogs, this is due to irresponsible breeding - breeding dogs that have high instances of cancer in their lines. It is difficult to breed some things out of a line without having to start all over, and from what I understand from Bernese breeders that I've talked to, it's nearly impossible to find a line that hasn't been affected by cancer at some point from which to start over with. They also have a rather high instance of musculoskeletal problems - arthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament tears - which many owners put their dogs to sleep over (up to 6%). 

As a breeder that uses line breeding, I'm a bit touchy when people blame line or inbreeding for problems with a breed when irresponsible breeding has "ruined" a breed. 

Most giant or larger breeds have a shorter lifespan due to many issues, Bones issues due to size, certain diseases, certain heart issues like cardiomyopathy, and diet also factors in. That being said, I ADORE Berners!! One of my neighbors had one several years back but they moved away to PA (probably because he needed ALOT of room to run!) My Shiloh used to play with their dog, and they were an even match, temperament wise and size wise as well. 

I think life on a farm would be great for the berner. Especially if you have a good snowfall! They do like to pull stuff, like children on a sled.

By "work" they mean physical and mental work. They like to use their minds, being highly intelligent. I have the same type of mental giant here, so I hide things around the house and yard for her to find. That and our daily runs keeps her happy and sleepy in the house. A tired dog, is a happy dog!