The first name came from an inn. This longhaired, tricolour farm dog was so common in the hamlet of Dürrbach near Riggisberg that people called it Dürrbächler. Today, a Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennenhund) looks above all like comfort on four paws. Behind that is a working dog who pulled carts and guarded the farm.
| FCI | Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs), Section 3 Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs, Standard No. 45, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Height at the withers | Males 64 to 70 cm (ideal 66 to 68 cm), females 58 to 66 cm (ideal 60 to 63 cm) |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | Median 10,1 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024); 8,4 years in a Swiss study (Klopfenstein et al. 2016) |
| Coat | Long and glossy, straight or slightly wavy |
| Colours according to the standard | Tricolour: jet-black base, rich brown-red tan on cheeks, above the eyes, on legs and chest, white head, throat and chest markings; white paws and tail tip desirable |
Origins
The FCI standard describes an old farm dog from around Bern, kept for guarding, draught work and droving. In 1907, breeders in Burgdorf founded the Schweizerischer Dürrbach-Klub to establish pure breeding. By 1910, a Burgdorf show exhibited 107 dogs. Later, following the other Swiss mountain breeds, the dog took the name Berner Sennenhund.
Temperament
The standard describes a confident, attentive, watchful and fearless dog, good-natured and affectionate with familiar people, self-assured and peaceful towards strangers, moderately spirited and readily trained. In daily life, this is a friendly, rather deliberate dog wanting family close by.
Exercise and activity
Daily walks at a calm pace are needed, including long outings in cool weather. Draught work with a light cart suits the breed. During growth, avoid jumping and prolonged running alongside a bicycle; provide plenty of sniffing instead of racing.
Grooming
The long coat needs brushing two to three times weekly, daily during shedding. Otherwise, it mats quickly behind the ears and on the breeches. Shade and fresh water are always essential in summer.
Health
Time together is often short with a Bernese. Klopfenstein and colleagues studied the Swiss 2001 and 2002 birth cohorts: median life expectancy was 8,4 years, with tumours accounting for 58,3 per cent of 381 deceased dogs. A French paper gives a frequency of around 25 per cent for the particularly aggressive histiocytic sarcoma in the breed (Abadie et al. 2009). Ask the breeder how old deceased relatives were and request the parents’ hip and elbow results.
Who does the Bernese Mountain Dog suit?
Families with space, time for grooming and enjoyment of quiet outings, seeking a gentle, affectionate dog and honestly prepared for a shorter life.
Who is the breed less suited to?
Sporty people wanting a fast running partner, hot attic flats without lifts, and anyone who would worry about veterinary costs in old age.
For why life is so short and how to handle it well, read our detailed Bernese Mountain Dog breed profile. To see whether the breed suits you, try the breed quiz, or explore the question further in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For starting life with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find a picture of your Bernese among Bernese Mountain Dog portraits and gifts or as a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Bernese Mountain Dog: why your time together is so short
- Older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 45 Berner Sennenhund (fci.be, version dated 05.05.2003); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Klopfenstein M et al., Life expectancy and causes of death in Bernese mountain dogs in Switzerland, BMC Veterinary Research 2016; Abadie J et al., Epidemiology, pathology, and genetics of histiocytic sarcoma in the Bernese mountain dog breed, Journal of Heredity 2009.
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