What are the Best Dog Foods for Bernese Mountain Dogs?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a loyal, affectionate friend. A breed that bonds deeply with its family, keeping the Bernese Mountain Dog in good physical condition is a high priority for every owner of this charming dog type. Whether you share your home with a puppy, a mature adult, or a senior, our list of top quality diets will help you select the right food to fuel your Bernese Mountain Dog’s health and lifestyle.
AKC Classification: Working
Exercise Required: 60-90 minutes/day
Ideal Weight:
Healthy Male Weight: 80-115 lbs
Healthy Female Weight: 70-95 lbs
Breed Summary
A working breed that hails from Switzerland, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a delightful family companion. Its original purpose included herding livestock, pulling carts, and keeping watch over its family’s home and hearth; jobs at which this dog type excelled.
The Bernese Mountain Dog takes its name from a small village known as Bern where the breed was developed. This dog is easily recognizable by its beautiful tri-colored coat that is predominantly black in color. Its chest prominently displays a white marking commonly referred to as the “Swiss cross.”
Affectionately nicknamed the “Berner,” this beloved dog type is substantial in size but is friendly by nature. A breed that is not known for excessive hyperactivity, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a laidback creature that enjoys an active lifestyle whether it is involved in dog sports, conformation events, working trials, or simply enjoying hikes with its family.
This breed is well renowned for its intelligence and willingness to learn new things. However, the Bernese Mountain Dog has energy to spare, and if not properly exercised on a daily basis, can become overly exuberant.
The Bernese Mountain Dog loves to use its voice and finds great pleasure in chasing after small creatures such as squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, and even cats. A large dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog is unaware of its size, often playing too rough for children or small animals.
Fun fact: The Bernese Mountain Dog is an ancient breed, tracing its roots to over 2000 years ago when it is believed the Romans brought the earliest prototypes of the dog to the Alps in Switzerland.
Physical Traits
Strong, energetic, sturdy, active, muscular
Personality Traits
Friendly, loyal, intelligent, gentle, playful
Health Considerations for Bernese Mountain Dogs
To help determine which food is ideal for a Bernese Mountain Dog, it is always wise to consider the dog’s age, activity level, and health problems that can be common to the breed. Since Bernese Mountain Dogs are a working breed, they are highly active, making weight gain of no concern to owners of this distinguished looking pooch.
Every dog breed is predisposed to certain illnesses that are common to that particular dog type. Among the health issues that can affect the Bernese Mountain Dog are cancer, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), panosteitis, and portosystemic shunt.
Cancer
A breed with a heartbreakingly short life expectancy, Bernese Mountain Dogs are genetically predisposed to a number of different cancers. These can greatly abbreviate the dog’s life and may affect the dog at a very young age. Many types of cancers respond favorably to dietary changes.
Hip Dysplasia and Arthritis
Hip Dysplasia is a genetic disease typically inherited from one or both of a dog’s parents. This is seen when the hip bone does not fit within the socket correctly, causing bone to rub against bone. Hip dysplasia is extremely painful and often leads to lameness. Arthritis is a common by-product for dogs suffering from hip dysplasia. In severe cases, surgery may be an option to provide relief. Maintaining a healthy body weight is an important component of not exacerbating the pain caused by this condition. To help support healthy hip function, we recommend foods that contain the following ingredients:
Eye Health & Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a disorder that affects the eyes. This condition occurs when the retina begins to degrade, affecting the vision of the dog. It is most commonly diagnosed when the dog loses its ability to see when it is dark outdoors. Over time, affected dogs lose their sight entirely. Supporting healthy vision is a vital help to stave off the effects of this condition. To assist with this, we recommend the following nutrients:
Panosteitis
Panosteitis, an ailment sometimes referred to simply as pano, is a type of lameness that restricts a dog’s ability to move freely. It most commonly appears between ages five to 12 months and is first evidenced by limping that affects only one leg. Though this condition is not life threatening, rest and limited activity may be required for optimal health and freedom from discomfort and pain. Diet can greatly aid with this condition. To provide support for dogs suffering from panosteitis, we recommend:
Portosystemic Shunt
Bernese Mountain Dogs can be predisposed to a health problem known as portosystemic shunt. When this occurs, blood vessels transport blood past the liver, leading to blood that is not properly cleaned of toxins. Symptoms of the condition most commonly surface prior to age two. Portosystemic shunt can result in such symptoms as unusual behavior, poor appetite, hypoglycemia, drug intolerance, poor growth, and both gastrointestinal and urinary problems. The best ingredients to provide support for dogs suffering from portosystemic shunt include:
Complete a nutritional assessment to view individualized diet recommendations specifically for your pet.
Foods We Recommend: Bernese Mountain Dog Puppies
When do Bernese Mountain Dogs grow out of the puppy stage?
2-3 years old
Bernese Mountain Dogs are a breed that have a very slow rate of maturation. As is common with large breed dogs, they reach full maturity between two to three years of age. To help fuel these important developmental periods, it is important to feed the Bernese Mountain Dog a high quality puppy food formulated to meet the needs of large breed dogs. This type of diet should be fed until the puppy is one year of age or until it has reached 75% of its full adult size. At this point, the dog should be transitioned to an appropriate adult dog food.
Care should be taken not to select a food that is too high in protein. The correct ratio of calcium to phosphorous is also important to prevent too rapid bone growth which could lead to permanent structural issues if not addressed when the problem becomes apparent. Our dietary recommendations include:
Foods We Recommend: Bernese Mountain Dog Adults
When do Bernese Mountain Dogs become adults?
2-3 years old
Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly active and require an excellent quality diet to fuel their daily energy levels. The ideal diet for this breed should include a minimum of 18 percent protein that is derived from an animal source. A minimum of 5 percent fat is preferable. Slightly higher amounts of protein and fat are also acceptable. Among the foods we recommend for adult Bernese Mountain Dogs are:
Foods We Recommend: Bernese Mountain Dog Seniors
When do Bernese Mountain Dogs become seniors?
6-7 years old
Senior Bernese Mountain Dogs enjoy a less active lifestyle than they did during the prime of their youth. As a result, they require a diet that is lower in calories but still power packed with all of the nutrients they need for continued good health and eating satisfaction. Diets based on lean proteins in moderate amounts are ideal for the senior Berner.
It is also a good idea to select a food that includes ingredients that are easy for elderly dogs to process and utilize well. Most foods for seniors also include supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joint function. Among the foods we like for senior Bernese Mountain Dogs include:
Affiliate Disclosure
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.