This is a subject close to my heart — Bernese Mountain Dogs. Over 5 years ago I fell in love with this breed while photographing a litter of BMD puppies. They are gentle giants, great companions & wonderful family dogs. We have been blessed to have 3 Berner females as a part of our family.

I get asked often about the Bernese Mountain Dog breed and if they would be a good choice for their family. I am starting with the negatives first because if you answer YES to any of these questions then a Berner is not an ideal choice for you.
• If you don’t tolerate dog hair or have allergies — then this is NOT the breed for you.
• If you don’t have air conditioning or use it — Berners are not heat tolerant.
• If you are gone for 12 hour days and your Berner is left alone for long periods of time — Berners need lots of companionship and human contact.
• If will not take the time EVERYDAY to walk your Berner. They don’t need a tremendous amount of exercise like a Border Collie, however your Berner will me a much happier, calmer dog if they get regular exercise daily. One way to win a dog’s heart is by taking the time and walking them daily.
• If you do not plan on taking an Obedience Class. Taking a basic Obedience Class can create more of a bond with the owner and puppy. Berners are powerful dogs. Learning the basics of how to walk your dog without pulling is a must.

There is so many pluses to the Bernese Mountain Dog breed.
• Good tempered, easy going and loving.
• Easy to train and housebreak. They respond better to praise, encouragement and handled kindly.
• Just like humans they each have their own personality: energetic, calm, stubborn, sweet-natured, introverted, extroverted, serious or goofy.
• Good family dogs.
• They LOVE cold weather and snow.
• Berners thrive on companionship! They love being with people. When they are puppies it is important to make sure to socialize them often with other dogs and humans.
• Devoted to their family.
• Friendly to strangers.

This is something I need to stress to anyone considering getting a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy — make sure you go to a reputable breeder! Beware of Pet stores and backyard breeders. Breeders should have documents with the bitch & shires OFA’s, visit the breeder’s home a few times, clean whelping box & environment, the puppies have been socialized, the breeder spends time with you answering questions and getting to know you. Ask about health history, temperament and longevity of their ancestors. For more information on breeder referrals go to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America site for information. If you want recommendations of good breeders, you can drop me a line on the contact section of my blog.

We now have two lovable female Berners, Callaway (Cal) and Uta. They bring us so much joy! I smile every time I am with them or think about them. Cal is the happiest dog I have ever met. She is bold, in your face and quite a character. Cal also has a naughty streak, loving to tear up paper; toilet paper, magazines, my paperwork. Uta is calm, sweet and loves the outdoors. She is a “daddy’s girl” and adores John.

I had mentioned earlier that we had three Berners. Over two years ago we lost our first Berner, Tess, to Blastomycosis at a very young 3.5 years old. It was heartbreaking to see her fight this illness. Finally she lost her battle when the Blasto went to the brain. Tess was a handful as a pup, giving us lots of challenges with separation anxiety. She matured into a wonderful adult dog with a lot of patience along the way.

Often people assume all of the Berner images on my site and blog are my dogs – no they are not. Most of my dog work is of other dogs. Below are images of my “girls”. Usually Cal can be a handful in the studio. This one time she corporated with me.