The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America is dedicated to the health and welfare of the Bernese Mountain Dog breed while preserving our original breed’s function – that of a "working dog" and work to move our breed forward. A purebred Bernese offers to prospective owners the likelihood that they will be a specific size, shape, color, and temperament. The predictability of our breed comes from the selection of traits that are desirable and away from traits that are undesirable. Reputable preservation Bernese breeders work for the betterment and preservation of the breed. They know the history of many generations of the dogs that are part of their breeding program which is documented in Berner-Garde, an open database for breeders, owners and all who
love Bernese Mountain Dogs. They have spent years of research and thousands of dollars refining the lines of breeding stock to bring out the best qualities of the Bernese, and to improve the health while minimizing the less desirable qualities.

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A Bernese Mountain Dog, or other purebred, preservation breeder will not allow their dogs to be crossbred. Therefore, the dogs generally used to cross breed may be of unknown quality or heritage. A Bernese Mountain Dog should be sturdy and balanced. He should be strong, intelligent and agile. A Bernese Mountain Dog should be able to work all day, as per the breed standard. A reputable preservation breeder will work to put titles on their breeding stock in conformation and/or working events. Those titles indicate that their dogs have met the breed standard and excelled in the conformation ring and/or at working events. Reputable breeders do BMDCA recommended health and genetic testing prior to any breeding to make the optimal match and produce the best qualities in a Bernese Mountain Dog. Crossbred dogs are prone to all the genetic diseases of both breeds and offer none of the advantages that owning a purebred dog has to offer.

 

The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America is opposed to the deliberate crossing of Bernese Mountain Dogs with any other breed.

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Approved:

BMDCA Board of Directors, March 2025

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