Dog's Name & Age:
Bonaparte
In a Word, My Bernese Mountain Dog Is…
Happy, loving, trusting goofball
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Eager to please; gentle; affectionate
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
His size (it was also one of things I loved about him)
When, Where and How I Got My Bernese Mountain Dog:
Bonaparte was purchased from a breeder by a family who was unprepared to handle a puppy of such size. They surrendered him when he was 8-months old (and weighed almost 80 pounds). We had heard about him through our vet, and swept in to adopt him as soon as he was dropped off at the local SPCA.
He was still very much a puppy - a huge puppy - but had not received any training nor much in the way of social skills. He was suffering from undiagnosed food allergies. We had our work cut out for us. Fortunately, he was eager to please and very trainable. Once the food allergies were controlled, he settled down a lot.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Bonaparte was a big lovable goof ball, one of the most loving and trusting dogs I have ever known. He was a leaner; he liked to have physical contact with his people. If you sat on the floor, he would try to sit on your lap - I don't think he truly grasped just how big he was. He could be intimidated by a dog a fraction of his size.
Unlike the breed description in this article, he was not especially intelligent - and I say this with great affection. Unlike our other dog (a mutt), he could never figure out how to open a gate, for example.
He was active, but not hyper. He liked to run and race around with our other dog. He also like to carry things around in his mouth. He was not much of a drooler.
Advice
- Since Berners are not a common breed, it is essential that you work with a breeder who will provide parent's health records and access to the parents. Bonaparte had food allergies. But, more tragically, he died at age five of cancer, which our vet suspected was a genetic predisposition.
- Realize just how big Berners are! We had to Bonaparte-proof our home. He was just the right height that his (always wagging) long tail would sweep items off cocktail tables.
- They need room to run! A yard large enough to do some serious running around in is important.
