Character & Temperament

Bernese Hounds are naturally active and lively dogs with a friendly and outgoing nature. They are known for their endurance and desire to run and explore, making them excellent companions for active people. They love being part of the family and are known for their affection and people-oriented nature. Their temperament is active rather than calm, meaning they need regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. They are intelligent and willing to learn, which increases their trainability and makes them a good choice for dog sports such as agility or obedience. Bernese Hounds can stay alone well if they are properly prepared and trained. However, they tend to develop separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. It is therefore important that they spend enough time with their family and are not left alone for long periods of time. Despite their friendly and outgoing nature, Bernese Hounds can display strong hunting behavior. They were bred to hunt and therefore have a strong prey drive. This means that they should always be supervised when going on walks or playing outside to ensure that they do not run off to pursue an interesting smell or movement. Bernese Hounds are also known as vigilant dogs that protect their family and home. They are not aggressive, but can be wary of strangers until they are sure they do not pose a threat. This makes them good watchdogs, alerting their family to possible threats. Overall, Bernese Hounds are lively and active dogs that need a loving and active family. They are intelligent and willing to learn, making them well suited to a variety of activities and sports. Their friendly and open-minded nature makes them wonderful companions who fit well into a family and can lead a fulfilling and happy life.

What Awaits You

The Bernese Hound is a friendly and enduring hunting dog, valued for its good nose and balanced character. It requires regular exercise and mental stimulation to remain balanced. Bernese Hounds are family-friendly and usually patient when dealing with children. Due to their hunting background, they are active and need consistent but loving training.

Housing & Care

The Bernese Hound's active lifestyle and hunting instinct make it more suitable for rural areas or houses with large gardens than for city life. He needs a lot of exercise and activity and enjoys long walks or runs in nature. Although Bernese Hounds generally get along well with children and other pets, they should always be kept in mind due to their hunting instincts. They are naturally friendly and tolerable, but as with all dog breeds, any interaction between dogs and children should always be supervised.

Training & Education

Because of their intelligence and active temperament, Bernese Hounds are suited to a variety of activities and sports. They are willing to learn and enjoy mental and physical activity, which is why they are well suited to dog sports such as agility or obedience. Despite their willingness to learn new things, there is a possibility that they will become "ball junkies." if they are overly occupied with ball games. It is therefore important to offer them a variety of activities and help them learn frustration tolerance and impulse control.

Nutrition & Care

The Bernese Hound's diet should be high quality and balanced to support his active lifestyle. A mix of high-quality dry and wet food enriched with fresh meat, fruit and vegetables can support a healthy diet. It's important to adjust the amount of food according to your dog's activity level and size to ensure a healthy weight. In terms of care, the Bernese Hound is quite easy to care for. He has a short, dense coat with no undercoat that requires minimal grooming. A weekly brushing is usually enough to remove dead hair and keep the coat clean and shiny. Despite the lack of undercoat, the Bernese Hound copes well with the German climate. However, since it originally comes from the temperate zones of Switzerland, you should take additional precautions in extreme heat or cold.