Bernese Mountain Dog - BREED STANDARDS
What are Breed Standards? Breed standards are created by various parent breed clubs and accepted officially by international bodies (AKC & FCI) that govern over purebred dogs matters. Standards describe the ideal specimen of the breed. Breed standards cover topics including a breed's purpose, appearance, temperament, and structure. Standards define qualities that set one breed apart from every other, or the breed's essence, are referred to as breed 'type'.
The AKC and FCI Breed Standards for the Bernese Mountain Dog are not identical. AKC standards are typically based on the FCI breed standards. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America developed the breed standard in the format required by the AKC. Access to the Breed Standards for Bernese is available at the links below. Both Breed Standards are shown on this page for comparison and educational purposes.
The AKC Bernese Mountain Dog Breed Standard
*Working Group American Kennel Club Breed Standard*
General Appearance
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a striking tri-colored, large dog. He is sturdy and balanced. He is intelligent, strong and agile enough to do the draft and droving work for which he was used in the mountainous regions of his origin. Dogs appear masculine, while bitches are distinctly feminine.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Measured at the withers, dogs are 25 to 27.5 inches; bitches are 23 to 26 inches. Though appearing square, Bernese Mountain Dogs are slightly longer in body than they are tall. Sturdy bone is of great importance. The body is full.
Head
Expression is intelligent, animated and gentle. The eyes are dark brown and slightly oval in shape with close-fitting eyelids. Inverted or everted eyelids are serious faults. Blue eye color is a disqualification. The ears are medium sized, set high, triangular in shape. gently rounded at the tip, and hang close to the head when in repose. When the Bernese Mountain Dog is alert, the ears are brought forward and raised at the base; the top of the ear is level with the top of the skull. The skull is flat on top and broad, with a slight furrow and a well-defined, but not exaggerated stop. The muzzle is strong and straight. The nose is always black. The lips are clean and, as the Bernese Mountain Dog is a dry-mouthed breed, the flews are only slightly developed. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault. Dentition is complete.
Neck, Topline, and Body
The neck is strong, muscular and of medium length. The topline is level from the withers to the croup. The chest is deep and capacious with well-sprung, but not barrel-shaped, ribs and brisket reaching at least to the elbows. The back is broad and firm. The loin is strong. The croup is broad and smoothly rounded to the tail insertion. The tail is bushy. It should he carried low when in repose. An upward swirl is permissible when the dog is alert, but the tail may never curl or be carried over the back. The bones in the tail should feel straight and should reach to the hock joint or below. A kink in the tail is a fault.
Forequarters
The shoulders are moderately laid back, flat-lying, well-muscled and never loose. The legs are straight and strong and the elbows are well under the shoulder when the dog is standing. The pasterns slope very slightly. but are never weak. Dewclaws may he removed. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes.
Hindquarters
The thighs are broad, strong and muscular The stifles are moderately bent and taper smoothly into the hocks. The hocks are well let down and straight as viewed from the rear. Dewclaws should be removed. Feet are compact and turn neither in nor out.
Coat
The coat is thick, moderately long and slightly wavy or straight. It has a bright natural sheen. Extremely curly or extremely dull-looking coats are undesirable. The Bernese Mountain Dog is shown in natural coat and undue trimming is to he discouraged.
Color and Markings
The Bernese Mountain Dog is tri-colored. The ground color is jet black. The markings are rich rust and clear white. Symmetry of markings is desired. Rust appears over each eye, on the cheeks reaching to at least the corner of the mouth, on each side of the chest, on all four legs, and under the tail. There is a white blaze and muzzle band. A white marking on the chest typically forms an inverted cross. The tip of the tail is white. White on the feet is desired but must not extend higher than the pasterns. Markings other than described are to he faulted in direct relationship to the extent of the deviation. White legs or a white collar are serious faults. Any ground color other than black is a disqualification.
Gait
The natural working gait of the Bernese Mountain Dog is a slow trot. However, in keeping with his use in draft and droving work, he is capable of speed and agility. There is good reach in front. Powerful drive from the rear is transmitted through a level back. There is no wasted action. Front and rear legs on each side follow through in the same plane. At increased speed, legs tend to converge toward the center line.
Temperament
The temperament is self-confident, alert and good-natured, never sharp or shy. The Bernese Mountain Dog should stand steady, though may remain aloof to the attentions of strangers.
Disqualifications
Blue eye color. Any ground color other than black.
Approved February 10, 1990 Effective March 28, 1990
The FCI Bernese Mountain Dog Breed Standard
FCI - Fédération Cynologique Internationale
FCI-Standard N? 45 / 05. 05. 2003 / GB
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
(Berner Sennenhund, D?hler)
TRANSLATION : Mrs. Peggy Davis, revised by Elke Pepper.
ORIGIN : Switzerland.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 25.03.2003.
UTILIZATION : Originally used as a guard-, draught-and cattle dog on farms
in the Canton Bern, today also family dog and versatile working dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type-Molossoid breeds-
Swiss Mountain and Cattle-Dogs and other breeds.
Section 3 Swiss Cattle Dogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Bernese Mountain Dog is a farm dog of ancestral
origin which was used as a guard and draught dog and for driving cattle in
the prealpine regions and in the midland areas around Bern. Originally he
was named D?hler according to the name of the hamlet and of the inn of
D?h, near Riggisberg in the Canton Bern where these long-haired tricoloured
farm dogs were especially numerous. In 1902, 1904 and 1907 specimen of this
breed had already been exhibited at dog shows, and in 1907 some breeders of
the region of Burgdorf decided to promote the pure breeding of these dogs
by founding the Schweizerischer D?h-Klub, and fixing the characteristic
traits of the breed. In 1910, at a show in Burgdorf where many farmers of
that region brought their D?hler dogs to, already 107 specimen were shown.
From that day onward this dog, renamed Bernese Mountain Dog following the
example of the other breeds of Swiss Mountain Dogs, became rapidly appreciated
all over Switzerland and in the neighbouring parts of Germany. Today the Bernese
Mountain Dog is well known and appreciated all over the world as a family
dog thanks to its striking tricoloured coat and its great adaptability.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Longhaired, tricoloured, strong and agile working dog,
of above medium size, with sturdily built limbs; harmonious and well balanced.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
Height at withers : length of body (measured from the point of the shoulder
to the point of the buttock) = 9 : 10, rather compact than elongated.
Ideal relation of height at withers : depth of chest = 2 : 1.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Self-confident, attentive, vigilant, fearless in
every day situations; good-natured and devoted to his own people, self-assured
and placid towards strangers ; of medium temperament, docile.
HEAD : Strong. In size balanced to general appearance, not too massive.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Viewed from the front and in profile little rounded. Frontal furrow
hardly marked.
Stop : Well defined, but without being too pronounced.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : Strong, of medium length; nasal bridge straight.
Lips : Close fitting; black.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong, complete scissor bite (molars 3 (M3) are not taken into
consideration). Pincer bite accepted.
Eyes : Dark brown, almond-shaped, with close fitting eyelids. Neither too
deep-set nor prominent. Loose eyelids are faulty.
Ears : Medium-sized, set high, triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the
tips, in repose hanging flat and close to the head. When alert, the rear part
of the set-on is raised while the front edge of the ear remains close to the
head.
NECK : Strong, muscular, of medium length.
BODY :
Topline : From the neck running slightly downwards to the withers in a harmonious
line, then running on straight and level.
Back : Firm, straight and level.
Loins : Broad and strong; seen from above slightly less broad than the chest.
Croup : Smoothly rounded.
Chest : Broad and deep, reaching to the elbows; forechest distinctly developed;
ribcage of wide-oval section extending as well back as possible.
Underline/belly : Slightly rising from chest to hindquarters.
TAIL : Bushy, reaching at least to the hocks; hanging straight down when at
rest; carried level with back or slightly above when moving.
LIMBS : Strong bones.
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs seen from the front straight and parallel, standing
rather wide apart.
Shoulders : Shoulder blade long, strong and well laid back, forming a not
too obtuse angle with the upper arm, well attached to the chest, well muscled.
Upper arm : Long, set oblique.
Elbows : Close fitting; neither turned in nor out.
Forearm : Strong, straight.
Pastern : Seen from the side almost upright, firm; seen from the front in
straight line with the forearm.
Forefeet : Short, roundish; with well-knit, well-arched toes. Turned neither
in nor out.
HINDQUARTERS : Seen from the rear straight and parallel, not too close.
Upper thigh : Long, broad, strong and well muscled.
Stifle : Distinctly well bent.
Lower thigh : Long and oblique.
Hock joint : Strong, well angulated.
Metatarsus : Set almost vertically. Dewclaws to be removed (except in those
countries where it is prohibited by law).
Hind feet : Slightly less arched than forefeet, turned neither in nor out.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Sound and balanced movement in all gaits covering a lot
of ground; free stride reaching well out in front, with good drive from behind;
at the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a straight line.
COAT
HAIR : Long, shining, straight or slightly wavy.
COLOUR : Jet black main colour with rich tan markings on the cheeks, above
the eyes, on all four legs and on the chest, and with white markings as follows
:
Clean white symmetrical markings on the head : blaze extending towards the
nose on both sides to a muzzle band; the blaze should not reach the tan markings
above the eyes, and the white muzzle band should not extend beyond the corners
of the mouth.
Moderately broad, unbroken white marking on throat and chest.
Desirable : white feet,
white tip of tail.
Tolerated : small white patch on nape of neck,
small white anal patch.
SIZE :
Height at withers : for dogs : 64-70 cm,
ideal size : 66-68 cm.
for bitches : 58-66 cm,
ideal size : 60-63 cm.
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.
Unsure behaviour.
Fine bones.
Irregular set of the incisors provided that the bite remains correct.
Absence of any other theeth than 2 PM1 (premolars 1); the M3 (molars 3) are
not taken into consideration.
Coat :
- Distinctly curly coat.
- Faults of colour and markings :
- Absence of white on head.
- Blaze too large and/or muzzle band reaching noticeably beyond the corners
of the mouth.
- White collar.
- Large white patch on nape of neck (maximum diameter more than 6 cm).
- White anal patch (maximum size 6 cm).
- White markings on forelegs reaching distinctly beyond half-way of pasterns
(boots).
- Disturbingly asymmetrical white markings on head and/or chest.
- Black ticks and stripes within the white on the chest.
- Dirty white (strong spots of pigmentation).
- Black coat with a touch of brown or red.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
Aggressive, anxious or distinctly shy.
Split nose.
Undershot or overshot mouth, wry mouth.
One or two blue eyes (wall eye).
Entropion, ectropion.
Kinky tail, ring tail.
Short coat, double coat (Stockhaar).
Other than tricoloured coat.
Other main colour than black.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.