Mans Best Friend: The Bernice Mountain Dog

The Bernice mountain dog is also known as The Little Bear of Switzerland makes for a great protector and an even better companion. For the most part they all have black fur on the majority of their bodies, while almost all have a white chest and rust (light brown) coloring on the insides of their legs, lower face and above their eyes. The Bernice mountain dog is a beautiful animal with a loving, loyal temperament toward people.

One of the most endearing qualities this breed has is their ability to stay close to their owners side. While they are known for being able to run quickly and do need lots of exercise: They prefer a light to brisk pace, over running to and fro like many other breeds do. This trait is due to their history, as they were developed for watching over farm animals, while conserving energy for times when they're needed to chase of predators.

The Bernice mountain dog is also slower than other breeds to reach mental maturity. This is a great quality for those of us who love to have fun with our animals, or have children. The Bernice will still have puppy-like enthusiasm and playfulness well into their second year. While they are an extremely strong and protective breed: They don't respond well to negative training practices that more aggressive breeds like Rottweilers and Pitbulls. A Bernice tends to be best trained with positive stimuli, such as treats, or physical (petting) and verbal praise.

On average they tend to live two years less than other dog breeds and it's best to watch out for issues like hip dysphlasia and early onset arthritis. It's best to have them checked at your vet regularly and to start feeding them a specialty mobility formula after they've grown into an adult.