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A Bernese Mountain Dog standing in a field at sunset with its mouth open, seen from the side
October 11, 2026 Aaron Seminoff

Bernese Mountain Dog History: Berner Dog Breed Facts

The Bernese Mountain Dog comes from the Swiss Canton of Bern in Switzerland. The AKC calls it “one of four mountain-dog breeds who were long at home in the canton of Bern,” and says the AKC recognized the breed in 1937. This page covers where the dog came from, what it did on Swiss farms, how the breed was rebuilt, and how it reached America. It then covers size, barking, exercise, and lifespan, using the AKC, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), and the FCI breed standard.

The FCI standard gives the breed's use as “Originally used as a guard-, draught-and cattle dog on farms in the Canton Bern, today also family dog and versatile working dog.” That second half is how most households meet the breed now, as a companion for many families. The BMDCA breed standard describes the colors. The ground color is “jet black,” the markings are “rich rust and clear white,” and “A white marking on the chest typically forms an inverted cross.”

What a Bernese Mountain Dog looks like

The AKC lists males at 25 to 27.5 inches and 80 to 115 pounds, and females at 23 to 26 inches and 70 to 95 pounds. The BMDCA standard gives the same heights, measured at the withers: dogs are 25 to 27½ inches and bitches are 23 to 26 inches. It calls the coat “thick, moderately long and slightly wavy or straight.”

A Bernese Mountain Dog lying in grass with its mouth open and tongue out, showing the white blaze, rust eyebrows and rust cheeks, with yellow wildflowers in the foreground

The AKC says the Bernese shares similar distinctive coloring with the other varieties of Swiss Mountain Dog, but is “the only one of the four to have a long, silky coat.” That long coat sheds. The AKC gives the breed a 5 for shedding and says “Berners shed a fair amount, even more so during shedding season, which occurs twice a year.” For more on the coat, read our guide to Bernese Mountain Dog shedding.

Bernese Mountain Dog Origin

The AKC says the ancestors of the Bernese dogs “were brought into Switzerland over two thousand years ago by the invading Roman soldiers.” The AKC also says the dog is known in its native land as Berner Sennenhund.

The FCI lists Switzerland as the country of origin and puts the breed in Group 2, “Pinscher and Schnauzer type-Molossoid breeds- Swiss Mountain and Cattle-Dogs.” Its standard says the dog was first named Dürrbächler, for “the hamlet and of the inn of Dürrbach, near Riggisberg in the Canton Bern where these long-haired tricoloured farm dogs were especially numerous.”

The BMDCA history page describes the same region. It says the Bernese Mountain Dog has been “a farm dog of the midland regions of Switzerland, mostly around the city of Berne.”

What the dogs did on the farm

The AKC says “Berners earned their keep by droving cattle, guarding farmyards from predators, and serving as gentle companions when the hard work of the day was done.” It adds that perhaps their greatest claim to working-dog fame is their ability to pull many times their own weight as drafting dogs.

The FCI standard names three jobs, guard dog, draught dog, and cattle dog. The BMDCA history page says the dog was “primarily used as a companion and watchdog to the farmer and his family.” It says the dog “may have been used to accompany cows to pasture” and “may have been used as a dog to pull a cart.” It also says “The BMD was not a herding dog for sheep and goats as these animals were not kept usually on Bernese farms except in very small numbers.”

How the breed was rebuilt

The AKC says that by the late 1800s “the Berner's numbers were dwindling and the quality of the surviving dogs left something to be desired.” In 1892 a Swiss fancier named Franz Schertenleib went looking for good specimens to use as breeding stock. Then in 1907, the AKC says, “a Swiss breed club was formed under the leadership of Professor Albert Heim.”

The FCI standard gives a second account of 1907. Some breeders in the region of Burgdorf decided to promote pure breeding of these dogs and founded the “Schweizerischer Dürrbach-Klub.” In 1910, at a show in Burgdorf, “already 107 specimens were shown.” The FCI says the breed was later renamed Bernese Mountain Dog, “following the example of the other breeds of Swiss Mountain Dogs.”

How the breed reached America

The Bernese Mountain Dog breed first arrived in the US with a Kansas farmer named Isaac Scheiss in 1926, but the breed wasn't recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) until 1937.

The AKC tells it this way: “The breed's American history began in 1926, when a Kansas farmer imported a pair as all-around farm dogs. They caught on quickly, and the AKC registered its first Berner in 1937.”

How popular is the Bernese Mountain Dog?

In the AKC's 2022 ranking, the Bernese Mountain Dog was the 22nd most popular breed. On the AKC's 2025 list the breed is number 20.

Draft and carting

The AKC says that today the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) “sponsors drafting and carting events that test the working ability of these majestic mountaineers.”

One of the more amazing Bernese Mountain Dog facts is that these 100-pound dogs can pull a whopping 1,000 pounds. That's ten times their weight. That's also strong enough to pull you out of your burning home: ask Canadian Berner named Bella. She's now in Toronto's Purina Animal Hall of Fame.

Nico and the Ventura riptide

The New York Daily News reported that Nico, a 3-year-old Bernese, jumped into the dangerous water after a boogie-boarder was caught in a riptide at a beach in Ventura, California. In the paper's words, he “swam right up to the terrified woman.” It says he then rescued the woman's husband.

Do Bernese Mountain Dogs bark a lot?

The AKC scores barking at 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. On that scale 1 is “Only To Alert,” 3 is “Occasional,” and 5 is “Very Vocal.” The AKC scores the breed's watchdog and protective nature at 3 as well, with 5 labeled “Vigilant.” The BMDCA standard calls the temperament “self-confident, alert and good-natured, never sharp or shy.”

A Bernese Mountain Dog carrying a long branch in its mouth on a grassy lawn with trees behind it

On time alone, the AKC says “A Berner wants to be with his family, and undesirable behaviors can result if he is regularly left alone for long periods of time.”

Exercise and training

The AKC says Bernese Mountain Dogs “need at least a half-hour of moderate exercise every day to stay healthy and happy.” It adds that they are “definitely meant to live indoors with their human family,” and that Berners enjoy outdoor activities and “make great companions on long walks or hikes.” On the AKC trait scale the breed scores 4 for energy level, where 3 is “Moderate” and 5 is “High Energy.” It also scores 4 for adaptability, where 5 is “Highly Adaptable.”

For training, the AKC says “Berners are intelligent and eager to please, so they are usually easy to train.”

Lifespan and health

The AKC lists life expectancy at 7 to 10 years. The BMDCA health page says “Although we have many Berners living into their teens, we have far too many that don't. The lifespan of 7 to 8 years is too short for a large breed dog.” The AKC says “Berners are generally healthy dogs, and responsible breeders will screen their breeding stock for health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, some cancers, and progressive retinal atrophy.” Read more about Bernese Mountain Dog cancer.

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FAQ

What are Bernese Mountain Dogs known for?

The AKC describes the breed this way: “Big, powerful, and built for hard work, the Bernese Mountain Dog is also strikingly beautiful and blessed with a sweet, affectionate nature.” It also points to the dog's ability to pull many times its own weight as a drafting dog. For a look at what a pet can do for a person, Johns Hopkins Medicine has a page on how a pet can calm you down.

What is the Bernese Mountain Dog called in other places?

The AKC says the dog is known in its native land as Berner Sennenhund. The FCI says the first name was Dürrbächler, after Dürrbach near Riggisberg, and that the breed was later renamed Bernese Mountain Dog.

What health tests does the AKC list for Bernese Mountain Dogs?

Under “Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club,” the AKC lists a hip evaluation, an elbow evaluation, a cardiac exam, an ophthalmologist evaluation, a degenerative myelopathy (Bernese Mountain Dog variant) DNA test, an AKC DNA profile, and a degenerative myelopathy (common variant) DNA test.

How big is a Bernese Mountain Dog?

The AKC lists males at 80 to 115 pounds and females at 70 to 95 pounds. Male height is 25 to 27.5 inches and female height is 23 to 26 inches.

Sources

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