Bernese Mountain Dogs and Heat

[ozjb]

I have adored these dogs forever! We almost got a puppy when we lived in Nebraska, but the breeder decided to keep him so we happily ended up with Golden Retrievers.

So now, MANY years later and several Goldens later, we are thinking new puppy. Saw a Bernese at the vet and yesterday at a lunch found myself sitting across from a really nice lady who happens to have a couple of Bernese. So, I started thinking of them again.

BUT. We now live in Australia. There are breeders here (good ones) but I worry about the heat. We live near Canberra so it actually does get cold here (not snow cold or Nebraska cold, but cold for Oz)but would it be fair to have one of these dogs here?

Our Golden had a great heavy coat and we simply had him clipped a couple of times each summer. The lady I met said she clips her Bernese as well, so that would be an option.

I would love advice and opinions about this, especially from those who know the breed better than I do.

Thanks so much!

[vxf111]

All the ones I have known do get REALLY HOT in the summer and seem pretty miserable outside. Do you have A/C in your house? If so, I think it’s fine. You can keep your dog inside most of the time in the summer.

[LadyBug]

I grew up with Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and my parents still have one now. Same family as the Bernese, but short hair. Much easier to deal with around the barn, so that may be a better option for you! Ours always preferred the winter over the summer, but they did fine and found shady spots around the barn and house when they were outside.

[hlra11]

I have a mix. I live in Ky in the summers and south Florida in the winters. He adores being outside with us on the farm but does get hot much quicker than my collie and is absolutely the first one in any body of water, puddle, or mud pit to cool off which makes for a pretty nasty long hairs dog at the end of the day…

I did try shaving once but it ended up making him much more uncomfortable. I shaved due to a nasty skunk and burr matted combo, not for heat per say but I did notice he was no cooler with a shaved coat.

[shayaalliard]

For most double coated breeds shaving makes them MORE hot not less- and can ruin the coat forever.

[ozjb]

Very interesting about clipping and the heat. I did not know that.

Good to know my dog won’t be totally miserable if we decide to pursue looking for one. Thanks so much.

[In1]

Boy - I don’t know that I’d have a Berner if I was in Australia. I had two when I was in Maryland - and they lived inside, plunked on any cold surface they could find, with the AC blasting. In fact, the winter thermostat was set to 68 (much to my chagrin) for the dog’s comfort.

I second Shayaa’s comments about clipping a double-coated dog. It doesn’t work like you think it would.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=In_;8590893]
Boy - I don’t know that I’d have a Berner if I was in Australia. [/QUOTE]

I agree; I might look for a breed that would be similar in temperament but different in coat. Not sure what that leaves; most of the working breeds have heavy coats for protection from the cold…Boxer? Or, think of the reasons you like Berners and see if there are dogs outside of the working group that have similar traits? (E.g. friendly easy going nature…? Maybe a hound or sporting dog?)

[ozjb]

This is what I am also considering . . . I really DO think it’s too hot here for them.

What I am thinking is a lazy dog. We have a Labradoodle and I adore her. She is a GREAT dog, more “poodley” than lab. But she thinks nothing of hopping over the fence if the mood strikes her. The Golden (whom we recently lost) simply couldn’t be bothered.

We live on a rural property with horses. Neighbours have chickens who come for a visit every day. Labradoodle thinks they are a hoot and have come for a play, Golden figured they must just belong here. Sheep are the same. Maybe I just want a not so smart dog?