Bernese Mountain Dog: Size, Coat, Lifespan and Genetics
The Bernese is a gentle Swiss farm dog with a striking tricolour coat and, sadly, a short life. Here's its size and coat genetics, what studies in Switzerland and the U.K. found about lifespan and cancer, and what that means for owners and Bernedoodle buyers.
By PuppyGenes · How we research and write our guides
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, long-coated Swiss farm dog with a black, rust and white tricolour coat, and Canada's ninth most popular breed. It's known for a calm, devoted temperament and, sadly, a short life: a Swiss study of 389 Bernese found a median lifespan of 8.4 years, with tumours the most common cause of death.
At a glance
| Trait | Bernese Mountain Dog |
|---|---|
| Size | 56 to 70 cm and 31.5 to 49.5 kg |
| Coat | Medium-long, soft and silky, over a short, soft undercoat |
| Colour | Jet black with rust or deep tan markings, and white on the feet, face, chest and tail tip |
| CKC group | Working |
| Origin | The canton of Bern, Switzerland; brought to North America in the 1930s |
| Median lifespan | About 8 to 8.4 years in Swiss and UK studies |
| Popularity | No. 9 in Canada |
A Swiss farm dog
The Bernese is one of four Swiss mountain dog breeds that share the same markings, and the only one with a long coat, according to the CKC's breed page. It drove livestock and pulled carts of produce to market, mainly in the Swiss canton of Bern. When machines made that work obsolete, fanciers worried the dogs would vanish and set up a breeding colony in 1892. The breed reached North America in the 1930s and is now Canada's ninth most popular, as our list of the most popular dog breeds in Canada shows.
The tricolour coat
Every Bernese wears the same pattern, built from three layers of colour genetics:
- A black base: the coat makes black pigment.
- Rust tan points: the markings on the cheeks, over the eyes and on the legs and chest come from the tan-points version of the agouti gene, which a dog usually inherits from both parents, as a 2011 study of the pattern showed.
- White markings: the blaze, chest cross, feet and tail tip come from white-spotting genes.
Breeders select for that exact pattern, so Bernese look remarkably alike. Our coat colour hub explains how these genes interact. The long coat is unusual among the Swiss mountain dogs; in most long-coated breeds, long hair comes from recessive variants of the FGF5 gene, as our guide to long coats explains. The Bernese sheds, and the CKC recommends vigorous brushing to keep the coat glossy.
That thick, double-layered coat suits the Bernese to cold weather, and it appears on our list of the best dogs for Canadian winters.
Why Bernese Mountain Dogs live shorter lives
The clearest data come from Switzerland. A study of 389 Bernese born in 2001 and 2002 found a median lifespan of 8.4 years, with females living longer than males: 8.8 years against 7.7. Tumours were the most common recorded cause of death, in 222 of 381 dogs that died, or 58.3%, though many of those diagnoses weren't confirmed with lab tests. The authors noted that earlier studies had found similar lifespans, and that the Bernese lives shorter than other breeds of similar size, such as Flat-coated Retrievers and German Shepherds.
A UK Kennel Club survey of owners points the same way. The median age at death of 78 Bernese was 96.5 months, about 8 years, among the shortest of the 25 breeds compared. Among those Bernese, unspecified cancer accounted for 17.9% of deaths, lymphoma for 10.3% and bone tumours for 7.7%, and the cancer categories together for at least half.
Size is part of the story, because bigger dogs tend to age faster, as our guide to why big dogs have shorter lifespans explains. But because the Bernese is short-lived even for its size, researchers have focused on cancer in the breed. If you're choosing a Bernese puppy, it's reasonable to ask a breeder about the ages and causes of death in the dog's family. The PuppyGenes report doesn't include genetic disease or health screening, so health questions belong with your vet.
Size and growth
The CKC gives a height of 56 to 70 cm and a weight of 31.5 to 49.5 kg. Like other large breeds, Bernese keep growing for longer than small dogs; our guide to when dogs stop growing covers the timelines.
Temperament
The CKC describes the Bernese as consistent and dependable, often deeply attached to its owner, and an excellent family companion with a strong desire to please. It's active and alert and needs plenty of exercise. Breed is still a loose guide to any one dog: a 2022 study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9% of behavioural differences between individuals.
Bernedoodles
The Bernese is one parent of the Bernedoodle, its cross with the Poodle. Our guide to Bernedoodles explains how the tricolour pattern and the Poodle coat combine, and our guide to whether mixed breeds are healthier covers what the research says about crossing. If you're weighing a test, our guides to whether dog DNA tests are legit and where to buy a dog DNA test in Canada cover what to check before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
- How long do Bernese Mountain Dogs live?
- About 8 years on average. A Swiss study of 389 Bernese found a median of 8.4 years, and a UK Kennel Club survey found about 8 years.
- Why do Bernese Mountain Dogs die young?
- Cancer is the biggest factor in the research: tumours were the most common cause of death in a Swiss study, and cancers made up at least half of Bernese deaths in a UK survey. Large size plays a part too, but the Bernese lives shorter than many breeds its size.
- How big do Bernese Mountain Dogs get?
- Adults stand about 56 to 70 cm at the shoulder and weigh 31.5 to 49.5 kg, according to the CKC.
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed?
- Yes. Their long coat and soft undercoat shed, and the CKC recommends vigorous brushing to keep the coat in good condition.
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good in cold weather?
- They were bred for work on Swiss farms, and their thick coat helps in the cold. Like any dog, they still need shelter and attention in extreme cold.
From general to personal
See how this applies to your dog specifically.
Our at-home Complete Dog DNA Test adds your dog's own results to these tips across six report sections: breed ancestry, coat colour, physical appearance, temperament and size predictions, genetic diversity and oral microbiome. The report does not include genetic disease or health screening.