Laravel

The beautiful and majestic Bernese Mountain Dog is a versatile and intelligent working breed from the mountains of Switzerland. They are one of the four mountain dog breeds from the canton of Bern, which refers to a large agricultural region dedicated to the dairy production needed for exports of Swiss chocolate and cheese.

One of the facts about Bernese Mountain Dogs is that they were originally farm dogs. “The Berner” was bred to be an all-purpose farm dog that was able to herd livestock, stand guard over the farm, pull carts of produce to market, and still have the capacity to be a loving companion to their family.

Breed numbers were dwindling by the late 1800s and the quality of the dogs left was decreasing as well. Professor Albert Heim, one of the most respected, if not the most respected, European dog men of his generation, started a Swiss breed club in 1907 to revive the breed. It didn’t take long for the Berner to reclaim their spot as a favored farm dog and also as a popular household companion.

A Kansas farmer is credited with bringing a pair of Berners to the United States in 1926. From there, they quickly caught on with other U.S. farmers and with people looking for a large, friendly family companion. The American Kennel Club recognized the Bernese Mountain Dog as a member of the Working Group in 1937.

In addition to being beloved family companions, they can still be found working as all-around farm dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and more. They are also considered one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs.