Small Bernese Hound Rescue Dogs for Adoption

If you would like to adopt a Small Bernese Hound, you are giving a second chance to an exceptionally affectionate, people-oriented companion. These scent hounds, which come from Switzerland, form a very close bond with their people, are good with families, and enjoy shared adventures just as much as quiet hours at home. There are usually understandable reasons why such a treasure ends up in rescue, waiting for a new home, and they have nothing to do with the dog’s wonderful character.

With a height at the withers of 35–43 cm for males and 33–40 cm for females, and a weight of 13–18 kg, the Small Bernese Hound looks compact and manageable. It is precisely this size that sometimes leads to false expectations in everyday life. Originally bred for hunting small game with great stamina over rough terrain, it has a high energy level. It is less well suited to life in the middle of a cramped city.

What’s more, although these dogs are intelligent and willing to learn, as scent hounds they have a certain independence. Training takes patience, a sense of humour and loving consistency. If the previous owners’ circumstances then change – for example through career upheavals, illness or a move to a small city flat – it becomes hard to give the dog enough exercise and mental stimulation. Handing the dog over to a shelter is then often a difficult but honest decision made in the animal’s best interests.

A rescue dog comes with a history of its own. Precisely because the Small Bernese Hound is so devoted, it often suffers from losing the people it was attached to. In the first few weeks, expect a sensitive four-legged friend who needs your reliable guidance to regain trust.

Its health also deserves a close look. Small Bernese Hounds have a life expectancy of 12–15 years and have plenty of stamina, but their distinctive build brings breed-typical weak spots affecting the back, joints, eyes and ears. Known issues include chondrodystrophy and hip dysplasia (HD), as well as eye diseases such as cataract and the generalised form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). A health-focused breeder has the parents’ hips (as a baseline examination), spine and eyes checked by X-ray and clinical examination, and also pays attention to well-ventilated ears and clear lines, to reduce the risk for the offspring. In a shelter, by contrast, the dog’s origins are often unknown. If the dog originally came from irresponsible puppy farmers, the parents will not have had these health screenings. So ask the shelter team specifically about the dog’s current health status.

For a puppy from a breeder, the price range for a Small Bernese Hound is between 1,200 and 2,500 EUR. If you instead take in a Small Bernese Hound from a shelter, you pay a considerably lower adoption fee. This usually already covers vaccinations, a microchip and an initial veterinary check-up; ask to see the relevant paperwork and check it carefully.

Set aside the money you save straight away for good-quality starter equipment and a financial cushion for the vet. A well-padded orthopaedic dog bed, a well-fitting harness to relieve strain on the spine, and a warm dog coat for cold, rainy days – since the short, smooth coat has no undercoat – are sensible investments.

• Protect the back and joints: From day one, pay attention to a healthy weight and joint-friendly exercise. Avoid stairs and wild leaps into the car – use a dog ramp instead.
• Establish regular ear care: Check and clean the long, floppy ears regularly to prevent painful infections.
• Nose work for bonding: Even though the breed is often not especially driven by its hunting instinct, a scent hound loves working with its nose. Search games together in the woods give it appropriate exercise and mental stimulation, and bring you closer together.
• Offer calm and structure: At first, don’t overwhelm your new charge with too many visitors. Fixed feeding and walking times give it a sense of security.