“How much do they shed?” If you are someone who cannot stand dog hair on your furniture, on you, and maybe even the odd piece stuck to a piece of food, then I hate to break it to you but a Berner is not the right breed of dog for you. Being that they come from watchdog beginnings many Berners can alert (quite loudly) to the presence of new people and stimuli at your house. A well-socialized dog quiets down quickly after the owner takes note and responds to the alert that the dog has given. They are not a dog who is well-versed in acknowledging personal space. They enjoy being as close to you as possible and will often follow you throughout the house. Many Berners can be exceedingly stubborn and require patience while training in order to ensure obedience. While Berners are young, they can often be exuberant and not recognize their size; often overwhelming guests. They are also quite mouthy while young which can be difficult for some young children and need to be taught bite inhibition. This can mean many bumps and scrapes until they learn appropriate play. Berners are not a dog park dog. Berners prefer a nice walk or hike with their family as opposed to being surrounded by high-energy, overwhelming dogs. While you may have seen videos or pictures online of Berners cuddling with their family and napping, this is a breed that was meant to work at a consistent pace all day. They love sustained exercise and do best when give the chance to have 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise. 

If you still think that a Berner could be a good fit for you and your family then here are some of the loveable traits amongst the breed. They have the ability to be stoic in times of need, but also the ability to have a sense of humour. Berners love to cuddle and are an excellent hiking companion as they generally like to stay close to their people. When well-socialized and trained, they make wonderful family pets that demonstrate appropriate manners. Their family is always the most important people to them and they almost seem to have a human-like capacity to their understanding of emotion. Bernese can turn into a reassured and confident adult that is a pleasure to take almost anywhere and is usually met with excitement and compliments as to their striking beauty.