BERNER FAQs
What to Expect from a Reputable Bernese Breeder
What Kind of Health Problems Do They Have?
Should I Get a Male or Female?
How Can I Find a Reputable Breeder?
What Does a "Puppy Back" Mean?
So, you've decided you want a Bernese Mountain Dog. I am assuming you've already been honest with yourself and realize that bringing a pet into your home should be done with a great deal of care and thought. A pet should not be an impulse buy. You should research the breed that you're interested in. Find out all you can about the breed. What are its health problems? What kind of temperament does it have? Is it suitable for your lifestyle? Keep in mind you are purchasing a companion for you and your family - a living, breathing, creature that requires love, time, energy and care. Take the time to make an informed choice - you are purchasing more than a pair of shoes here. An informed buyer is a wise buyer. Shelters are full of bad decisions made by humans. Sadly, the losers are always the dogs.
A Word About Health Clearances and the Berner-Garde
I cannot stress enough the importance of heath clearances for all Bernese Mountain Dogs, but most especially the ones used for breeding. Some breeders, such as myself, use institutions that do not have searchable databases to confirm that certain health tests have been done. One such institution that I use is the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM - located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada - part of the University of Saskatchewan). I use this college for such health test as hip and elbow clearances. One way that the puppy buyer can verify that these clearances have actually been issued by the WCVM is to crosscheck the information in the Berner-garde (www.berner-garde.org). The Berner-garde has a searchable database and responsible breeders and owners alike will submit any and all health data (plus other information) to the BG so that it benefits the entire berner population. Any person can search this database. If you know the dogs registered name - simply plug it in and search. So - if you see a breeder claiming their dog(s) have hip and elbow clearances from the WCVM, go to the BG, plug in the dogs name and verify that these clearances exist. This database will also give you information on relatives - it's a wonderful tool for the puppy buyer and breeder alike! If the breeder does not have their dogs entered in the BG, you might not want to deal with them - perhaps they have something to hide.
What to Expect from a Reputable Bernese Breeder
All responsible breeders put the health and welfare of their own dogs and the puppies produced by those dogs first and foremost in all of their efforts. Being a breeder also means being responsible for the future of our breed.
A responsible breeder will have the following as MINIMUM standards:
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understand the breed standard and can easily discuss the finer points of it with you
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belongs to a regional and/or national breed club for their chosen breed
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will actively compete in at least one competitive event with their dogs (conformation, obedience, carting, tracking, flyball, agility)
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offer written sales agreements
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register all of the offspring of their breeding with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) or American Kennel Club (AKC)
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will not breed a dog more than twice out of three heat cycles (not more than once per year on average)
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provide you with complete information on parents and siblings
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allow you to meet the mother of the puppies (sires are often not on the premises)
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offer after-sales support for any questions that may arise after you purchase the dog
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will insist upon pre-puppy visits and screening
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provide you with a complete veterinary record of your dog
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will ask for non-breeding agreement to be signed by the new owner or do early spay/neuter on the puppies before going to the new home
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will do all essential medical clearances on parents PRIOR to breeding
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offer life-time sanctuary for any puppy they produce.
For Bernese Mountain Dogs essential clearances are:
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hips & elbow certification by a recognized agency (OFA, GDC, WCVC, OVC, PennHip)
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eye certification by CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation)
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heart certification by a recognized board-certified cardiologist.
Optional clearances are:
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thyroid function
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von Willebrand (bleeding disorder).
Typically, an adult male stands between 24 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 90 to 130 pounds. Average height is 26 inches with average weight between 110-120 pounds. Females stand between 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 60 to 110 pounds. Average female height is 24 inches and weight between 80 to 100 pounds. There are smaller and larger berners but they are not typical. Anything outside of these standards would be either oversized or undersized and not correct (or not within breed standard). That does not mean they are incapable of being a great companion though - they are quite able to love and be loved.
The breed is typically a dry-mouth breed, drooling only when they see you eating something yummy or if they are frightened or extremely stressed. There is the occasional berner that does drool constantly, but it is not the norm.
YESSS!!!!!! If hair on your clothing, carpets, food - every nook and cranny is something you cannot stand, then this is NOT the breed for you. Regular grooming will help minimize the hair floating around, but you will always find a bit of hair somewhere. We have a saying, "you can't crack an egg without finding a berner hair in it".
Generally, berners like to be around and close to their families, however, given the opportunity, they most certainly will and can wander away if they are not kept in a secure, fenced yard. Don't take the chance. I know of too many berners that have wandered away never to be found, or ones that have been hit by cars.
Berners can stand a fair amount of cold weather, snow, and rain. They do not tolerate heat very well. It's ok to leave your berner in a safe, secured run while you are at work - an area that they can get out of the wind and weather or sun. But, a berner should not be confined to the outside on a permanent basis. Berners do not do well being left isolated from their human family. They will become destructive and noisy if they are not given attention. Berners should be included in your home and your family life. That doesn't mean they have to sleep on your bed or be on your furniture, but they should be allowed access into your home and be able lie by your feet while you watch TV or relax in the home. A life of solitary confinement, outside away from their humans is a dismal life for any dog, but particularly hard on the temperament of a loving bernese.
What kind of health problems do they have?
They can have many health problems. Some will be plagued with problems and some will live a long, healthy life. Doing your homework and finding a breeder who does health tests and knows their lines will help minimize the likelihood of health problems, but, as with any living creature, they can have problems with their health. No breeder can guarantee that your dog will never be sick or have problems. Don't walk away from a breeder because they admit they have had health problems - every breeder eventually will have some kind of problem. Instead, find out what they do to minimize these problems.
Should I get a male or female?
Males are larger. They like to mark their territory so they will be marking on your trees or on your plants in the garden. Even neutered males will do this. Females are usually smaller. While they do not tend to "mark" their territory, they do squat and this leaves patches of burned grass on the lawn. You can train your dogs to do their "duty" in a designated spot, thus eliminating these problems. Apart from that, I really don't find a huge difference between males and females. Unlike other breeds, males are not more aggressive than females. I find the males to be more sucky than females and they can be more "in your face" or pushy - they certainly complain more of little things (typical male). Males are more impressive looking, due to their large size and long flowing mane of hair. If you are not a confident trainer, a female may be better suited, as they are a bit smaller and easier to handle - males can take advantage of a less confident person and run the household...but I also know of some females who do that too!
How can I find a reputable breeder?
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
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read and learn as much as you can about the breed
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learn how to ask the correct questions and more importantly know how to interpret the answers
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go to dog shows, especially ones that have large entries for bernese and chat with the breeders
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pick up dog magazines and read about "how to buy a puppy"
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"Dog's Annual - Canada" and "Dog's Annual - USA" are great magazines for helping a person locate breeders. They come out every fall and can be purchased at most bookstores. The contain a classified section listing breeders.
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surf the NET for breeder sites
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check out the Canadian Kennel Club websites and the American Kennel Club websites.
So, you've found a breeder and you start a dialogue about purchasing a puppy. I'm assuming you've got my "checklist" (see what to expect from a reputable bernese breeder) out and are using that. However, once you start talking, the breeder starts to be evasive about questions or says things like "we don't test for xxx because it's not in our bloodline; or, our stock is from Europe and they don't have that problem"; or some such lame excuse. DO NOT BELIEVE it for one minute. Every breeder will have problems some time in the course of their breeding programme. What you want to know is how they deal with the problems. What steps have they taken to help minimize the problem (most problems are genetic and cannot be totally eliminated unless we have a DNA test for it that actually tells us who the carriers are).
Red flags would be:
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we don't test for xxxx problem because our stock comes from Europe and only North American dogs have that problem (this is total BS). All berner stock originated from Europe.
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we have never had any hip dysplasia in our lines. Well, how many litters have they had? This could be true with a handful of litters, but unless every single puppy in every litter has been xrayed and certified free and clear of hip dysplasia, then no breeder can make that kind of statement.
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we don't have any cancer in our lines. At some point, every breeder will have a dog die from cancer - there are no cancer-free lines. Ask them how long they have been breeding - if it's only been 2 or 3 years, then the dogs just haven't been around long enough. Unless every dog is given a post mortem (PM) to determine cause of death, no one can say conclusively what a dog died from. So, many dogs that have died without receiving a PM could very well have died from cancer.
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we don't show our berners in conformation because it's too political. No, they don't show their berners because they don't want their dogs evaluated and found lacking. Or they bought "companions" are not supposed to be in the showring (and should not be bred either). While there is a degree of politics at dog shows, it is still a good tool for evaluating breeding stock and networking with other breeders.
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if you want your dog registered it will cost more. This is against the Animal Pedigree Act and is illegal in Canada. Any dog represented as purebred MUST be supplied with registration papers at NO extra cost to the purchaser. The breeder cannot charge you more for registration papers. You can report such a breeder to the RCMP. Furthermore, most people who are perpetuating this fraud usually are using dogs that were bought as "companion" (or pet stock) and should not be breeding these dogs at all. That's probably why they don't show their dogs - they are NOT good examples of the breed. You would be paying Big money for an INFERIOR dog.
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Beware of the breeder who will sell you a puppy without ever asking you any questions. While it's great to get a pup with no strings attached, you also will not get that breeders support once the puppy leaves their home. All they are interested in is your money. If they don't care who buys one of their puppies, maybe they don't care how it was bred either. To them it is just a money making item.
In Canada, the price starts at $1,200.00. Some breeders put a premium on breeding/show potential. Some sell all puppies at the same price, for example, I do. The purchase price, however, is just the beginning. Keep in mind, you will also have costs for food, vets, toys, grooming equipment, leads/collar, dishes, new vehicle (to carry your dog), camera, crates, more toys, beds, and of course, you'll fall deeply in love with the breed so you'll buy another one.
NOTE: If the parents of the puppy do not have a championship or performance title then you should not be paying top dollar for that puppy. Don't be giving money to people who only bred their dogs because they happened to be intact and there was a ready market for the pups.
What does a "Puppy Back" mean?
Some breeders will sell you a breeding/show potential at a premium price and also demand a puppy, or several puppies back, (sometimes entire litters) and also tell you what stud dog you must use (sometimes it will be their own stud dog) - they will take complete control of the breeding, without doing the work or paying the expenses. Do you really want a puppy that badly? Just how much do you have to pay? Think about it - you are in reality, paying this breeder for the privilege of raising one of their puppies; you are expected to show this dog at your expense and be responsible for all breeding costs, including the stud fee in addition to just the everyday expenses of owning a dog. Then after all your hard work, time and money, you have to hand over "PICK" puppy or at least a show/breeding potential (sometimes more than one) back to the breeder. Why? Because they bred the dog you "bought"? I can tell you that many people who find themselves in this situation wind up very upset once they realize just what they've agreed to. They feel used and taken advantage of. The sad reality of this type of situation is that it perpetuates this puppy back scenario with that new breeder. They want to recoup their loss and think - well I had to do it, so I'm going make my puppy buyers do it too.
A better alternative. Some breeders will sell you a breeding potential without putting a premium on them - meaning they are the same price as their companions. However, only if you decide to breed them (after all pertinent health tests and breeders conditions are met), then the breeder will stipulate in the contract/sales agreement that they get back ONE puppy of breeding quality at no charge. This is far different than the first scenario. First - you are not paying extra for that puppy, and secondly you are not forced to breed it, and thirdly you are not forced to use the breeders stud. It's a much fairer way.
Or, even better yet - you may enter into a contract with a breeder where that breeder stipulates in the contract that they can buy a breeding potential puppy back from you for a set price, should you end up breeding the puppy you bought from them. The price may be the same you paid for the puppy or it could be lower, however, the great thing about this arrangement is that you are not "giving" a puppy back. You at least should recoup the cost of raising that puppy.
So - before you agree to a puppy's back clause in your sales agreement - be sure you know what is expected of you.