Bernese Mountain dogs are a large breed that were originally breed for use on a farm and are still seen as one of the traditional farm dogs, they were also used to pull carts due to their size and strength. As a breed they are known for being well natured, placid and happy dogs although like any breed this can vary from each individual dog.

As they were first bred for working outside they are a breed that is at its happiest when playing outdoors, this means that they require a lot of exercise and are likely to enjoy a good run about off from you, but with good training they will come back when called. They might sometimes get over excited when allowed to run about and end up in a situation getting them a few scratches, so it’s always useful to have pet insurance for them just in case.

As a breed they are actually quite healthy although they don’t have a particular long life span, most will live up to around 8 years old, sometimes over, this is slightly younger than other breeds of the same sized dogs. The only disease that is really linked with the breed is cancers like; fibrosarcoma, this is when a tumour occurs most commonly in their mouths and also in some cases as a rare bone tumour. Treatment ranges from radio therapy to chemo and depending on the level of the cancer and how they respond to the treatment will depend on if they survive or not.

They can also suffer from musculoskeletal problems; these can be a number of problems that can affect their muscles and bones resulting in them having problems moving. The most common problems the breed tends to suffer from are hip dysplasia and arthritis; both mainly seen in older dogs and can be treated/helped through medication.

Overall Bernese’s tend to suffer from the same problems as other large breeds of dogs do, as long as you look after them properly will plenty of exercise, a healthy diet and give them lots of love you will have a healthy pet. Lifelong pet insurance is a good cover to take out with a Bernese as it means you don’t have to think about it unless you need it, allowing you to stay calm for your dog not having to worry about whether you can afford to pay out for treatment if it’s needed.