Legacee Bernese Mountain Dogs

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of a group of four Swiss working dogs. Also known in swiss as Berner Sennenhund (sennen being an alpine herdsman) or Bouvier Bernoise they originated from the Canton of Bern.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the most beautiful dog breeds in the World. To have a Bernese as part of your family is something to be treasured.

They are not a dog that likes being left outside as they love personal attention and being with you as part of your family. They form strong attachments to their human family and offer so much of their love to one and all.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are very addictive and once you own one you will find that you would like another.

Bernese Mountain Dog ANKC Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE- Strong, sturdy working dog, active, alert, well boned, of striking colour.

CHARACTERISTICS - A multi purpose farm dog capable of draught work. A kind and devoted family dog. Slow to mature.

TEMPERAMENT - Self-confident, good natured, friendly and fearless. Aggressiveness not to be tolerated.

HEAD AND SKULL - Strong with flat skull, very slight furrow, well defined stop; strong straight muzzle. Lips slightly developed.

EYES - Dark brown, almond shaped, well fitting eyelids.

EARS - Medium sized; set high, triangular shaped, lying flat in repose, when alert brought slightly forward and raised at base.

MOUTH - Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK - Strong, muscular and medium length.

FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders long, strong and sloping, with upper arm forming a distinct angle, flat lying, well muscled. Forelegs straight from all sides. Pasterns flexing slightly.

BODY - Compact rather than long. Height to length 9:10. Broad chest, good depth of brisket reaching at least to elbow. Well ribbed; strong loins. Firm, straight back. Rump smoothly rounded.

HINDQUARTERS - Broad, strong and well muscled. Stifles well bent. Hock strong, well let down and turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws to be removed.

FEET - Short, round and compact.

TAIL - Bushy, reaching just below hock. Raised when alert or moving but never curled or carried over back.

GAIT/MOVEMENT - Stride reaching out well in front, following well through behind, balanced stride in all gaits.

COAT - Soft, silky with bright natural sheen, long, slightly wavy but should not curl when mature.

COLOUR - Jet black, with rich reddish brown on cheeks, over eyes, on all four legs and on chest. Slight to medium sized symmetrical white head marking (blaze) and white chest marking (cross) are essential. Preferred but not essential, white paws, white not reaching higher than pastern, white tip to tail. A few white hairs at nape of neck, and white anal patch undesirable but tolerated.

SIZE -
Height: Dogs 64-70 cms (25-27½ ins)
Bitches 58-66 cms (23-26 ins)

FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Legacee Bernese Mountain Dogs