Bernese in history to present day

Then

Although there are various stories on how the Bernese Mountain Dog came to Switzerland, most followers firmly believe that the breed's ancestors first appreared as far back as during the Neolithic period of the Stone Age. As times progressed in and around the canton of Bern, what came to be known as the Bernese Mountain Dog was required to be a versatile all purpose dog, serving as watchdogs around farms, cattle drovers, draft dogs, and companions for the alpine herdsmen. Such qualities called for a dog that was strong, obedient, self-reliant, and fearless, never aggressive.

During the mid to late 1800's interests in breeds of other countries caused the Swiss farm dog to almost vanish. Fortunately, a few fanciers dedicated themselves to preserving and promoting the Swiss farm dog. In the early 1900's, the name of the breed was changed to Berner Sennenhund. The literal translation becomes the Bernese Alpine Herdsman's Dog. No one knows for sure when the breed first came to America. We do know that a farmer, Isaac Scheiss, of Florence, Kansas, imported a pair of Berner Sennenhunde from Switzerland in 1926. In 1937 the American Kennel Club recognized the Bernese Mountain Dog as a new breed in the Working Class.

Now

Today's Bernese rarely lives on a working farm in the United States. For the most part dogs serve as family companions. Many function as working dogs for those people who are interested in pursuing and competeing in activities including obedience, drafting, therapy work, agility, conformation and herding.

While Bernese may live on farms farm , the dogs retain a strong sense of nurturing and tolerance for other animals. Usually Bernese are not roamers or hunters. Most tend to stick close to their people. Many Bernese make good watch dogs and will bark or alert their owners to a stranger's approach. Bernese are a large dogs and their presense alone is quite formidable. The Bernese does not have the disposition to make them suitable as guard dogs.