Things you should know ...

First off I have been breeding these magnificent dogs for 6 years. I am not a member of the BMDCC because I choose not to be, I like to do my own thing and don't want to be part of a group of breeders who want to control what I think and do.

I think the group is great but just not for me. I am also not a show person, bernese hate to show so I would never put my dogs through this for the sake of a ribbon. I also don't believe in "line breeding" or " inline breeding" for the same reason it is against the law to marry your cousin, just isn't right and another reason why I am not a BMDCC breeder

Health Concerns:

if you find a breeder who says they do not have health issues run away, for the bernese do have health issues. The main reason for this is a small gene pool and people breeding them due to their popularity and not checking into the pedigrees and finding out what health issues are associated with these lines

Most of my bernese I have imported from Belguim where they life span is 10-15 years not 1-2 years that most live here and in the USA.

If you find a breeder that doesn't believe in vaccinating a pup or make you sign a contract that you will only feed raw food, think hard about this one. Parvo is everywhere, parvo does not make a pup sick 99% of the time it kills, so by not vaccinating is putting your pup/ adult at risk every day. As for raw I have tried it, I have asked my vet of 20 years what he thought of raw and he said it put all his children through University due to health issues it has caused

Now that we have Kijiji the bernese are being bred on every corner which is so sad, most of these back yard breeders are buying dogs from the US on "Non breeding" contracts and breeding them anyways just to make a quick buck and not one of the ads are supporting health guarantees. I get calls from people all the time that bought dogs from these breeders to say their bernese have died at 8 months to 2 years and the people they bought them from won't answer their phones or stopped breeding.

I do feel sorry for puppy buyers for there are so many things to read and no one is ever sure who is good and who is bad. I always say go with your gut, meet the breeders, ask questions, see their dogs and if it feels right great if not walk away

I don't ship my puppies for I want to meet the families as much as they should want to meet me.

Call me anytime, I will be happy to answer any of your questions

serious inquires only please

Puppy Info:

All our litters are whelped in our home and are surrounded by a busy family for 8-10 weeks and well socialized

Time for placement

Most Bernese breeders place their puppies between 8-10 weeks of age. By that age puppies have been weaned by their dam and have been eating solid food for some time. Puppies that come from conscientious breeders are clean and have been exposed to a wide variety of sites, sounds and experiences both as a part of their litter and as individuals.  Puppies will be given one serie of core vaccines designed to safeguard pups from distemper and parvo virus which are life threatening diseases.  Pups have visited the vet prior to placement to ensure heart function ,general health and physical condition are good.

Fear period concerns

Puppy buyers should know all puppies experience a "fear period' during their early development which generally occurs sometime between 6-10 weeks. The age at which a breeder chooses to place a pup can depend on working around the few days when the pup is experiencing a fear period. It is not advisable to cause unnecessary upheaval or upset to a pup during the 'fear period'.

Pups are individuals

Conscientious breeders are observing pups from the day they are born. So a breeder who is paying close attention to their puppies will have a very clear picture of how each pup is developing through the first weeks of life. Early observations offer breeders clues as to a pup's overall vigor. Observing a pup's reactions to people and to different situations and experiences allows breeders to assess puppies' personality traits and their physical attributes. Berner pups are slow to mature .

I no longer have a pick list, found this too hard to organize, so now I just allow the puppy buyers to come out and choose the puppy they want at 8-10 weeks. This allows people to get the puppy they want

Early interactions between littermates and between pups and their dam will serve as a foundation for how dogs will relate to other dogs throughout life . By the time pups have reached 7-10 weeks they will have had an adequate amount of time to learn many dog relationship skills. Puppies placed very young, under 7 weeks of age , may have difficulty relating well with other dogs.   Unsocialized, unhandled pups will not be well accustomed to relating to life's changes or interacting with people which can make a dog more difficult to train, especially for novice dog owners. Also management challenges, such as fearfulness or lack of confidence can be seen in pups that have not been offered lots of human contact and many varied experiences early in their lives. 

So what is it that we look for in Bernese Mountain Dog puppies?

We start with these criteria: an outgoing or accepting attitude , a calm easy going demeanor, a full body with a broad flat back and level topline, nice proportions and adequate heaviness of bone in the legs , a pleasant head with broad back skull, good scissors bite and good detail in ear placement (not low like a hound dog) tight medium brown eyes and not too droopy or loose skin around the mouth with tight fitting lips.  A good balance in gait that shows the puppy is capable of sustaining a slow trot is an excellent indicator that a puppy's structure will be adequate .  Pups usually possess some ideal characteristics , but not every pup will possess every ideal characteristic.  No puppy is perfect! We try to recognize all the positives and negatives each individual puppy has when we are evaluating a litter.

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USE OF DOG CRATES WITH PUPPIES

There are many books and internet resources that discuss crate training in depth. Please find out how to use a crate properly. Here are just a few highlights on crates and their use.

Puppies less than four months of age have little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies less than three months have even less. Very young puppies less than nine weeks should not be crated for any extended period of time, as they need to eliminate frequently, 8-12 times or more daily.

Puppies should never be left alone for long hours in a crate. Making arrangements for someone to check in on your puppy, let her out to exercise and eliminate and feed her, should you be at work or away for longer than a few hours, will be important to her comfort and well being.

Crates are excellent tools to safely confine puppies and young dogs to prevent development of bad habits such as soiling in the house or chewing furniture or other inappropriate items but should NEVER EVER be used as a babysitter.  Berners are very social interactive dogs and need to be with their family.

Crates can be a helpful part of housebreaking a puppy. They should never be used as a substitute for scheduling an adequate number of necessary breaks out of doors for the dog to relieve themselves.

Collars and crates: Always remove your puppy or dog's collar before confining in the crate. Even flat buckle collars can get struck on the bars or wire mesh of a crate. If you must leave a collar on the pup for identification when you crate him, use a safety "break away" collar.

8-10 weeks

One of the most important concerns in management of puppies is controlling interaction with adult dogs.

NO PUPPY SHOULD EVER BE PERMITTED TO ROUGHHOUSE WITH ADULT, larger or more physically adept DOGS!!!!! Young dogs can and will overexert themselves in play. Slamming, racing around and wrestling can cause serious and even lasting injury to muscles and ligaments in growing pups.

All play periods or exercise should be monitored by a responsible adult to avoid injuries to tender puppies. 

Typical Bernese pups weigh from 12-24 pounds at 8-10 weeks. Puppy weight at this young age is sometimes a refection of litter size, with large litters tending to have smaller puppies and litters with fewer members having larger sized pups. Sometimes puppy weight is a reflection of the size pups a particular dam or pair is apt to produce. Relative size of a puppy or litter may or may not carry through to adulthood. Genetics will play the most significant role in the eventual size any dog will attain at maturity provided the dog receives adequate nutrition and conditioning during development. Typically puppies will gain somewhere between 2-4 pounds a week during the first few months.

Feeding schedule

After you first bring your puppy home is the time to set up regular feeding times so your pup is on a schedule. What goes in must come out so housebreaking will be a lot easier with a regularly timed feeding schedule. Young puppies should be offered food three times a day.

Feeding and exercise

Pups want to play and many can play quite hard. Manage your puppy's play schedule so activities and exercise will occur at least about 2 hours after mealtime - to avoid bloat or gastric torsion.

Bonding & routines

During the first weeks you have your pup bonding and establishing routines begin. Pups of this age are still babies and will be looking to you for direction. Young puppies have no ability to anticipate the results of their actions so owners must be constantly vigilant to ensure the pup's safety. You will need to pay very close attention to your puppy while she is small to see that she does not get into mischief or get into a situation where she could get hurt.  Take your pup outside regularly to relieve herself and begin to introduce the crate if you plan to use one.

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BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPY SHOPPING LIST

Things to buy for your puppy

Get a crate large enough to house an adult BMD. most have dividers now so you can make the wire crate smaller for training as pups

Your new puppy will grow very quickly so investment in a crate large enough to be used throughout your dogs life is best.

A crate sized at around 26X 36 X 28 or larger for added room and comfort should be adequate for most BMDS. There are wire crates and plastic, "Vari- Kennel" type crates. Collapsible wire crates are available and can easily be folded up for transport.

A 2-3 quart stainless steel food bowl

A heavy ceramic or stainless steel 3-4 quart water bowl

A six foot long training leash and a heavy duty flexi-lead

A cloth buckle or break away collar (choke collars should only be used in training sessions and should never be left on an unattended puppy or adult

Nail clippers or a nail grinder

"Quick Stop', a styptic powder, is available through pet supply houses in case you accidentally cut your puppys nail too short

A dental kit including a dog tooth brush and teeth cleaning paste

A mild dog shampoo (baby Shampoo works good)

Toys and treats that are safe for puppies. (Puppies can eat cloth items or small toys and they can get their muzzles or heads stuck in small sized ring toys. (Monitoring is a good idea Always.)

The food your puppy will be eating for the first several weeks ( An abrupt change of food can cause digestive upset or diarrhea, so plan ahead and make sure the food recommended by your us is available in your area. If it isn't seek advice on what other types of food are acceptable substitutes.

We provide you with your puppys nutrition requirements, including the brand of food your puppy has been eating along with recommendations for the amount and feeding schedule. Young puppies often eat 3 times a day which may be continued for several weeks after placement. Always rely on feeding recommendations , who has, through observing development of their our dogs, chosen a diet that works best.

Please remember your puppy has been kept with his dam and litter mates since birth. The puppy may be a little scared and lonely for a few days until getting comfortable with a new environment, learning about what is expected and learning to trust you his new caretaker. Patience and tender hands will go a long way to building a rewarding relationship with your new puppy.

Important information:

Bernese pups and Adults do Not do well in Hot weather, they can get heat stroke very easy which can cause death. They need to be kept cool on hot days and out of the heat and sun. Make sure they have lots of water to drink.

Bernese pups and Adults will eat and chew everything if they are bored and unattended. Most puppies of any breed will chew, but the Bernese have a problem with blockage in their intestines. Blankets and soft toys are the worse thing they can have. Most breeders and books will not tell you this but from experience we have learned the hard way and lost a bernese puppy, after the 1500.00 operations so please be aware and keep the dog area free of chewable items. Rawhide bones can also cause troubles.

Bernese are a large breed but are not guard dogs nor do well left outside, they need to be in the house with family or you will have a very unhappy dog.

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Origins of the Breed
The name Bernese Mountain Dog is a translation of the German "Berner Sennenhund," which means Bernese Alpine Herdsman's Dog. The breed's original name was Durrbachler, after an inn where these farm dogs were bought and sold. The modern breed was developed from dogs found in the countryside around Bern, Switzerland. The original Berner Sennenhund was an all-around farm dog, used to guard the farm, drive the cows to and from their mountain pastures, and pull carts loaded with milk cans to the dairy. Today's Berners retain some of these instincts. The breed was rescued from near extinction by Professor Albert Heim around the turn of the century, and has developed slowly since then. In 1948 there was a significant outcrossing to a Newfoundland, which resulted in improving the temperament and increased the size.

Berners are known to have first come to America in 1926, and possibly even earlier, but the breed was not recognized by the kennel clubs even after intervention by the Swiss Kennel Club. A decade later, two more were imported from Switzerland and these dogs became the first of the breed to be registered with the CKC and AKC

The Bernese is a breed which needs human companionship, and should be made a part of the family. They are a gentle breed, very affectionate and extremely faithful. They make excellent children's companions and can get along very well with other pets. They make good watch dogs, but are not much of a guard dog. A Bernese can be quite reserved around people they don't know, but once they have accepted someone as a friend, they will remember them all their lives.

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General Appearance
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a striking tri-colored dog. Berners are large, sturdy and balanced. They are very intelligent, agile and powerful enough to do the draft work they were bred to do in the mountainous regions of their origin. Dogs(male)should appear masculine, while bitches(female) are distinctly feminine.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Measured at the withers (point of shoulder) dogs are ideally 25 to 27-1/2 inches, bitches 23 to 26 inches. Though appearing square, Bernese Mountain Dogs are slightly longer in the body than they are tall. Good and heavy bone is of very important. Berners are distinctly robust.

Head - Expression
The head has a look of intelligence, is animated, and distinquished. The eyes should have a gentle appearance, and are dark brown, slightly oval in shape, with close fitting eyelids. Blue eye color is a disqualification for show or breeding stock but pups with blue eyes make wonderful family pets. The ears are medium sized, set high, triangular in shape, rounded at the tip, and hang close to the head when in repose. When the Bernese Mountain Dog is alert, the ears are brought forward and raised at the base, the top of the ear is level with the top of the skull. The skull is flat on top and broad, with a slight furrow and a well-defined but not exaggerated stop. The muzzle is strong and straight but never long. The lips are clean and as the Bernese Mountain Dog is a dry-mouthed breed the flews are only slightly developed. Idealy the teeth should meet in a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is strong, muscular and medium length. The topline is level from the withers to the croup. The chest is deep with well-sprung ribs reaching at least to the elbows. The back is broad, firm and strong. The croup is broad and smoothly rounded to the tail. The tail is bushy. It should be carried low when in repose. An upward swirl is allowed when the dog is alert but the tail should not curl or be carried over the back.

Forquarters
The shoulders are moderately laid back, and well muscled. The legs are straight and strong and the elbows are well under the shoulder when the dog is standing. The pasterns slope very slightly but are not weak. The feet are round and compact.

Hindquarters
The thighs are broad, strong and muscular. The stifles are moderately bent and taper smoothly into the hocks. The hocks are straight as viewed from the rear.

Coat
The coat is thick, moderately long and slightly wavy or straight. It has a bright natural sheen.

Color and Markings
The Bernese Mountain Dog is tri-colored. The ground color is jet black. The markings are rich rust and clear white. Symmetry of markings is desired but quality of the overall conformation of the dog is of greater importance. Rust appears over each eye, on the cheeks reaching to at least the corner of the mouth, on each side of the chest, on all four legs, and under the tail. There is a white blaze and muzzle. A white marking on the chest may form an inverted cross. The tip of the tail is usually white. White on the feet is desired but should not extend higher than the pasterns. Some puppies are born with a "Swiss Kiss" which is a white marking on the nap of the neck. This marking usually disappears when the adult coat comes in but will sometimes remain. Markings other than described are considered faults. White legs or excessive white color is undesireable. Any ground color other than black is a disqualification.

Gait
The natural working gait of the Bernese Mountain Dog is a slow trot, but the Berner is also capable of speed and agility. There is good reach in front and powerful drive from the rear. There should be no wasted motion. Front and rear legs on each side follow through in the same plane.

Temperament
The temperament is self-confident, alert and good natured, never sharp or shy. They are extremely loyal. The Bernese Mountain Dog should stand steady, though may remain aloof to the attentions of strangers.

There are several good books that you can buy at your local book store