(AKC Working Group)
Height: 25 1/2 to 28 1/2 inches (male); 23 1/2 to 27 inches (female).
Size: Large
Weight: 110 to 145 pounds (male); 85 to 105 (female).
Availability: Very difficult to find.
Size: Large
Weight: 110 to 145 pounds (male); 85 to 105 (female).
Availability: Very difficult to find.
ORIGIN : Switzerland.
UTILIZATION : Originally watch- and draught dog. Nowadays also
companion, guard- and family dog.
companion, guard- and family dog.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : In 1908, at Langenthal, on the
occasion of the jubilee show to mark 25 years of existence of the
“Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft†(Swiss Kennel Club)
SKG, two short-haired Bernese Mountain Dogs were presented to the
great promotor of the Swiss Mountain Dogs, Prof. Albert Heim. He
recognized them to be representatives of the old, vanishing, large
Mountain Dog or butcher’s dog, whose ancestors had in the past been
widely spread across Europe, bred as guard-, draught- or drovingcattle
dogs. In 1909 they were recognized by the SKG as a separate
breed being registered in volume 12 of the Swiss Stud Book. In 1912,
the club for “Grosse Schweizer Sennenhunde†was founded in order to
promote this breed and keep it purebred. The first standard was
published by the FCI not before February 5th, 1939. Today these dogs
are also bred in other European countries, they are especially
appreciated as family dogs due to their calm, reliable temperament.
occasion of the jubilee show to mark 25 years of existence of the
“Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft†(Swiss Kennel Club)
SKG, two short-haired Bernese Mountain Dogs were presented to the
great promotor of the Swiss Mountain Dogs, Prof. Albert Heim. He
recognized them to be representatives of the old, vanishing, large
Mountain Dog or butcher’s dog, whose ancestors had in the past been
widely spread across Europe, bred as guard-, draught- or drovingcattle
dogs. In 1909 they were recognized by the SKG as a separate
breed being registered in volume 12 of the Swiss Stud Book. In 1912,
the club for “Grosse Schweizer Sennenhunde†was founded in order to
promote this breed and keep it purebred. The first standard was
published by the FCI not before February 5th, 1939. Today these dogs
are also bred in other European countries, they are especially
appreciated as family dogs due to their calm, reliable temperament.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : A tricolour, sturdy, heavy boned and
well muscled dog. In spite of his size and weight, he presents
endurance and agility. The difference between the sexes is distinctly
obvious.
well muscled dog. In spite of his size and weight, he presents
endurance and agility. The difference between the sexes is distinctly
obvious.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
• Body length (measured from the point of the shoulder to the
point of the buttock) to height at withers = 10 : 9.
• Depth of chest to height at withers = 1 : 2.
• Length of skull to length of muzzle = 1 : 1.
• Width of skull to width of muzzle = 2 : 1.
BEHAVIOR /TEMPERAMENT : Self-confident, alert, watchful
and fearless in everyday situations. Good-natured and devoted
towards people familiar to him. Self-assured with strangers. Medium
temperament.
and fearless in everyday situations. Good-natured and devoted
towards people familiar to him. Self-assured with strangers. Medium
temperament.
HEAD : Strong corresponding to the body, but not heavy. Dogs
stronger in head than bitches.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Flat and broad. The frontal furrow beginning at the stop
gradually runs out towards the top.
Stop : Hardly pronounced.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : Strong, longer than its depth. Must not be pointed, seen
either from above or in profile. Nasal bridge straight, without furrow.
Lips : Barely developed, well fitting. Black pigmentation. Not
pendulous.
Jaw/Teeth : Strong jaws; complete, strong and regular scissor bite.
The absence of two teeth (premolar 1 and/or premolar 2) is tolerated.
Absence of the molars 3 (M3) is not taken into account.
Eyes : Almond-shaped, of medium size, neither deep set nor
protruding. Hazel to chestnut brown, with alert, friendly expression.
Lids close fitting. Eye rims dark.
Ears : Of medium size, triangular and set on fairly high. In repose
hanging flat and close to the cheeks, but raised forward when
attentive. Well covered with hair, both inside and outside.
NECK : Strong, muscular, rather thick-set. Without dewlap.
BODY : Slightly longer than its height at the withers.
Back : Moderately long, strong and straight.
Loins : Broad and well muscled.
Croup : Long and broad. Gently sloping. Never higher than the
withers or abruptly slanting.
Chest : Strong, broad, reaching to the elbows. Seen in cross section,
the ribcage is roundish oval shaped, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.
Forechest well developed.
Belly and underline : Belly and flanks barely tucked up.
TAIL : Set-on harmoniously following the croup, fairly heavy and
reaching to the hocks. Pendulous in repose; when alert and in
movement carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but never
curled or tilted over the back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Straight and parallel when seen from the front,
set rather broad.
Shoulders : Shoulder blade long, strong, well laid back, close-fitting to
the body and well muscled, forming a not too obtuse angle with the
upper arm.
Forearm : Heavy boned and straight.
Pasterns : Firm, seen from the front in straight line with the forearm;
seen from the side almost vertical.
HINDQUARTERS : Straight and not too close when seen from the
back. Metatarsus and feet turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws must
be removed except in countries where their removal is forbidden by
law.
Upper thigh : Fairly long, broad, strong and well muscled.
Stifle : Forming a distinctly obtuse angle.
Lower thigh : Fairly long.
Hock : Strong and well angulated.
FEET : Strong, pointing straight ahead, with well-knit, well arched
toes and strong nails.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : In all gaits, balanced movement with good
reach. Free stride reaching well out in front with good drive from the
hindquarters. At the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a
straight line.
COAT
HAIR : Double coat consisting of thick, outer coat of medium length
and dense undercoat. The latter as dark grey or black as possible.
Short outer coat permissible if there is undercoat.
COLOR : Typically tricolor. Main color black with symmetrical,
reddish-brown (tan) markings and clean white markings. The reddishbrown
colour is situated between the black and the white markings on
the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of
the forechest, on all four legs and underneath the tail. The white
markings are on the head (blaze and muzzle), running down unbroken
from the throat to the chest, also on the feet and the tip of the tail.
Between the blaze and the reddish-brown markings above the eyes, a
band of black should remain. A white patch on the neck or a white
collar around the neck are tolerated.
SIZE :
Height at withers for males : 65 – 72 cm,
Height at withers for bitches : 60 – 68 cm.
stronger in head than bitches.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Flat and broad. The frontal furrow beginning at the stop
gradually runs out towards the top.
Stop : Hardly pronounced.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : Strong, longer than its depth. Must not be pointed, seen
either from above or in profile. Nasal bridge straight, without furrow.
Lips : Barely developed, well fitting. Black pigmentation. Not
pendulous.
Jaw/Teeth : Strong jaws; complete, strong and regular scissor bite.
The absence of two teeth (premolar 1 and/or premolar 2) is tolerated.
Absence of the molars 3 (M3) is not taken into account.
Eyes : Almond-shaped, of medium size, neither deep set nor
protruding. Hazel to chestnut brown, with alert, friendly expression.
Lids close fitting. Eye rims dark.
Ears : Of medium size, triangular and set on fairly high. In repose
hanging flat and close to the cheeks, but raised forward when
attentive. Well covered with hair, both inside and outside.
NECK : Strong, muscular, rather thick-set. Without dewlap.
BODY : Slightly longer than its height at the withers.
Back : Moderately long, strong and straight.
Loins : Broad and well muscled.
Croup : Long and broad. Gently sloping. Never higher than the
withers or abruptly slanting.
Chest : Strong, broad, reaching to the elbows. Seen in cross section,
the ribcage is roundish oval shaped, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.
Forechest well developed.
Belly and underline : Belly and flanks barely tucked up.
TAIL : Set-on harmoniously following the croup, fairly heavy and
reaching to the hocks. Pendulous in repose; when alert and in
movement carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but never
curled or tilted over the back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Straight and parallel when seen from the front,
set rather broad.
Shoulders : Shoulder blade long, strong, well laid back, close-fitting to
the body and well muscled, forming a not too obtuse angle with the
upper arm.
Forearm : Heavy boned and straight.
Pasterns : Firm, seen from the front in straight line with the forearm;
seen from the side almost vertical.
HINDQUARTERS : Straight and not too close when seen from the
back. Metatarsus and feet turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws must
be removed except in countries where their removal is forbidden by
law.
Upper thigh : Fairly long, broad, strong and well muscled.
Stifle : Forming a distinctly obtuse angle.
Lower thigh : Fairly long.
Hock : Strong and well angulated.
FEET : Strong, pointing straight ahead, with well-knit, well arched
toes and strong nails.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : In all gaits, balanced movement with good
reach. Free stride reaching well out in front with good drive from the
hindquarters. At the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a
straight line.
COAT
HAIR : Double coat consisting of thick, outer coat of medium length
and dense undercoat. The latter as dark grey or black as possible.
Short outer coat permissible if there is undercoat.
COLOR : Typically tricolor. Main color black with symmetrical,
reddish-brown (tan) markings and clean white markings. The reddishbrown
colour is situated between the black and the white markings on
the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of
the forechest, on all four legs and underneath the tail. The white
markings are on the head (blaze and muzzle), running down unbroken
from the throat to the chest, also on the feet and the tip of the tail.
Between the blaze and the reddish-brown markings above the eyes, a
band of black should remain. A white patch on the neck or a white
collar around the neck are tolerated.
SIZE :
Height at withers for males : 65 – 72 cm,
Height at withers for bitches : 60 – 68 cm.