Bernese Mountain Dog: size, sleep, exercise and care

At a glance

Size

Large

Adult weight

32–52 kg

Height at the shoulder

58–70 cm

Life expectancy

7–10 years

Exercise needs

Moderate · 60 min per day

Sleep needs

Typical total sleep per 24 hours, including naps.

Puppy18–20 h

Adult12–14 h

Senior12–15 h

06121824 h

These are general life-stage ranges for dogs from the AKC and Hill's; no study gives a separate figure for the Bernese Mountain Dog. Individual dogs vary, and a sudden change in how much your dog sleeps is worth mentioning to your vet. With a typical lifespan of 7–10 years, Berners often show senior sleep patterns earlier than smaller breeds.

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Exercise needs

PDSA advises at least an hour a day and The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour, so around 60 minutes suits most adults. Split it into two walks, avoid hard exercise in warm weather because of the heavy coat, and keep puppy exercise short and gentle while the large joints develop.

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Potty training

Berner puppies are big but their bladders are still puppy-sized, so follow the same frequent schedule as any young dog: out after sleeping, eating and playing, and regularly in between.

Carrying a growing puppy down steep stairs gets hard quickly, so plan an easy route to the toilet spot from the start. Most Berners are eager to please and respond well to calm praise outside.

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Feeding

Choose a food made for large-breed puppies, which controls growth speed, and avoid pushing fast weight gain. Feed three to four meals a day early on and keep two meals a day for life.

The Bernese is a large, deep-chested breed, so bloat (GDV) is worth knowing about. The AKC notes that dogs fed one meal a day are more likely to bloat than dogs fed two; many vets also suggest a calm rest around meals instead of hard play. Learn the warning signs, such as a swollen belly and unproductive retching, and treat them as an emergency.

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