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 he 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 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 prospective owners. 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 of the Bernese, while minimizing the less desirable qualities.

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The genetic makeup of a Bernese with a non-Bernese is a combination of genes from both parents. Crossbreeding does not guarantee the "best" of both breeds; genetics just don't work that way. You cannot predict which traits, characteristics and health issues will be passed to the next generation due to undocumented history of the generations and little or no health testing. The dog that results from crossbreeding may be any size, color, coat texture and temperament. You may spend a lot of money for this dog and come away with a dog that has no predictability in health or temperament. The breeding could result in a combination of the worst of the two breeds.
 

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Preservation Bernese Mountain Dog or Poodle breeders will not allow their dogs to be crossbred. Therefore, the dogs generally used to breed doodles are 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 breeder will work to put titles on their breeding stock in conformation or working events. Those titles indicate that their dogs have met the breed standard and excelled in the conformation ring 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 of a Bernese Mountain Dog. The crossbred dogs can be prone to the genetic diseases of both breeds and offer none of the advantages that owning a purebred dog has to offer.

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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, April 2020

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