Dog
Pronunciation:
greyt bur-neez
Breed Description:
The Great Bernese breed of dog is a large to giant sized breed that was developed by crossing the Bernese Mountain Dog with the Great Pyrenees. They should be a substantial dog that is muscular and sturdily built. It should be slightly longer than it is tall with a wide head, a thick muzzle with a well defined stop and a long tail.
The coat of the Great Bernese should be medium in length and consist of a dense undercoat and a thick top coat. The hair should be slightly shorter on the head, although some Great Bernese have long hair on the head as well, and there should be feathering on the chest, back of legs, ears and tail. They can be found in the traditional tri-color of the Bernese Mountain Dog which is black with tan points and white markings, or they can also be found in white with orange, orange with white, white with gray markings, white with brown markings, and pure white.
Temperament:
The Great Bernese breed of dog is a gentle breed that is usually very happy and affectionate. They are excellent with children and also do well with other dogs and family pets. Occasionally, the Great Bernese can be territorial and they are usually very protective of their family. They are usually reserved with strangers but are very playful and loyal to their own family. They are not the easiest breed to train and do need a strong and confident owner who will give them clear rules and consistent training.
Height:
The average weight of a Great Bernese is between 23 to 32 inches.
Weight:
The average weight of a Great Bernese is between 110 to 140 pounds for a male and 90 to 110 for a female.
Health Problems:
The Great Bernese breed of dog has no known health problems, however, there are a number of problems seen in the parent breeds so it is important to read up on both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Great Pyrenees to determine what health problems your puppy is at risk for.
Living Conditions:
The Great Bernese breed of dog is a very large dog and while they may not have as much energy as other breeds, they do require a large space to live in. They are not recommended for apartments and do much better in a home with a large fenced yard. They do better in cooler climates and can suffer from heat exhaustion in warm weather.
Exercise:
The Great Bernese breed of dog does not require a lot of exercise to meet their energy needs but they should have about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise each day at the least. This breed can gain weight very quickly and it is important to make sure they don't put on any excess weight.
Life Expectancy:
6 to 10 years
Grooming:
The Great Bernese breed of dog requires a large amount of grooming and you should expect to brush your dog 2 or 3 times per week and daily during shedding times. Their thick coat can become matted very easily and it is important to remove debris as soon as possible. The Great Bernese should be bathed once or twice a month and the ears should be kept clean. The hair around the feet should be trimmed as well to prevent matting and infection.
Origin:
The Great Bernese is a designer `hybrid`breed that has become popular over the last decade or so. There is no actual origin for the breed and if you are interested in learning more about the Great Bernese, it is important to read up on both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Great Pyrenees. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
