Care should be taken not to over-feed or over-exercise a young dog. Berners are not fully mature until about the age of three. Knowledgeable owners will seek to learn about the stages of growth and the amount of exercise needed to maintain a healthy body while not overdoing anything.
It is very important that you allow your new puppy to exercise at his own pace. If he becomes tired, allow him to rest and rejuvenate the needed oxygen flow to the muscles. All puppies need frequent rest periods and should never be deprived of them. Many well meaning, first time Berner owners have unknowingly brought on dysplastic conditions by taking the young dog on long hikes or jogging with them, not allowing needed rest periods. For a puppy, walking a block can be too much. Remember, if you hike or jog – as an athlete you know the importance of building and training your body for these activities. Your Berner is no different. Also remember that dogs have no sweat glands, and cannot perspire.
Cancers are the number one cause of death in all dogs. The Bernese Mountain Dog is not exempt from some cancers. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America has a cancer research study in which information is collected from all Berner owners, compiled in a database and shared openly with all breeders. Approximately 9.7% of Berners get cancer. The average age at which cancer is diagnosed is 6.21 years.
Most young Berners have a never ending appetite and will generally overeat if food is made available at all times and they have been known to resort to food stealing (kitchen counter, garbage, etc.). You must closely monitor your new Berners food intake, feeding measured amounts three times a day for a young puppy and twice a day for the rest of his/her life. Over feeding your Berner pup will cause your pup to exhibit diarrhea. Please, it is very important that you do NOT over-feed your Berner!
Bernese want to please a fair and consistent owner. Bernese do very well in obedience because of their great desire to please. Here at Cranbury Brook Farm, praise training has proven to be the best method for the Berner. They respond readily to a happy voice and a loving hand. Harsh training methods will discourage your Berner and they will hesitate and be over-cautious when near you. If you ever become frustrated, tired, angry or rushed while training, quit and try again another time. Your Berner is a soft-hearted canine that becomes crushed if he feels he has failed your expectations. Despite their large size, Berners are gentle and attentive dogs and do not do well, nor do they need, harsh corrections.
Further studies by Guide Dog Foundations verified that early neutering avoids hormone driven instinctive behaviors and increases the trainability of the dog. Today, most of the larger shelters are neutering and spaying cats and dogs at 8 weeks of age as a population control procedures. And, the American Kennel Club (AKC) promotes early altering as the best deterrent to unwanted breedings.
Does this mean that someone looking for an outstanding pet should pay the difference to get a show quality dog? Absolutely not! When you buy a show quality dog, you are buying several things in addition to the animal itself. All my dogs are quality bred from quality parents. You do not need to purchase “show” to get a wonderful representative of the Bernese.
If you purchase a pet quality dog from a breeder, do you get one that is better suited to being a family companion? Absolutely not! “Pet Quality” only refers to the lack of features that make a dog a good candidate for the show ring ONLY. It has absolutely nothing to do with his temperament, type, health, and his ability to be a loving companion. ALL Bernese Mountain Dogs make wonderful companions, but not all Berners have the features that make them a show dog!
It is my hope that you find your perfect companion … if I can help you further, please feel free to contact me.
Cranbury Brook Farm Bernese Mountain Dogs
Cranbury Brook Farm Bernese Mountain Dogs
Main Page (Puppies for Sale)
308 Federal Road
Monroe Township, NJ 08831-5947
Farm: (609) 918-0351
Email: NewJerseyFarmer@aol.com
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