Bernese's are extremely affectionate guys who love to be around their families. Their slow maturing also means that they are fairly playful and puppylike for the first few years of their lives! Their intelligence does make them a relatively easy doggy to train although this needs to be done early so as to produce a well-rounded doggy, capable of behaving well in the house! These guys are also fierce protectors of their families and although not aggressive, are weary of strangers. It’s therefore vital you socialize these doggies from a young age, so that you can have guests around without your doggy acting in an un-friendly manner to them!

These doggies have ancient ancestors, including the Molosser, who is thought to have been the major influence on Mastiff-type doggies and the Berner! It’s thought they were developed by crossing fam dogs with the Molossers and that the Romans then bought them with them when they decided to invade the Alps in the first century B.C. it’s most likely that these doggies went onto working on Swiss farms in the Alps assisting in pulling carts, guarding properties and livestock, as well as providing companionship for their ‘hooman’ families. However, by 1888, it’s thought that only 36% of the country were working in agriculture and therefore there was a lessened need for the Berners. It wasn’t until 1899 that the country became interested in protecting the breed and eventually a dog club was founded for them. After WW1, Bernese's started to be exported around the world, including the UK and in 1968, after a near extinction due to WW2, the breed has increased in popularity!