Bernese Hound

Overview

The Bernese Hound is one of four varieties of Swiss scenthound recognized as separate breeds by the FCI. It's a medium-sized, elegant tricolor hound bred to work steep alpine country on hare, fox, and roe deer. The breed carries centuries of Swiss hunting tradition and is still popular with hunters in the Bernese Oberland and neighboring cantons.

As a companion the Bernese Hound is affectionate, quiet in the house, and steady with family. Outdoors it's a serious working dog with a soft musical voice and an unshakable nose. It's rare outside Switzerland and almost never seen as a pet in North America. Owners who hunt or run scent trials get a rewarding partner.

History & origin

Scenthounds have hunted in Switzerland for at least two thousand years, with Roman mosaics from the region depicting hounds resembling modern Swiss types. By the medieval period each Swiss canton had developed its own regional hound. The four surviving Swiss Hound varieties, Bernese, Jura, Lucerne, and Schwyz, all trace back to this cantonal system.

The Bernese Hound was formalized as a distinct type in the late 1800s as Swiss dog clubs began writing standards. Early crosses with French hounds, particularly the Petit Chien Courant Francais and later the Bloodhound, refined the working type. A rough-coated variety developed in parallel and is registered as the same breed under the FCI standard.

The FCI recognized the Bernese Hound under Standard No. 59 in its modern form. The AKC does not recognize the breed. Working use continues throughout Switzerland, with the breed favored for its calm demeanor, careful work, and adaptability to steep terrain. The smaller Bernese Hound also exists as a separate breed called the Small Bernese Hound or Berner Niederlaufhund, standing under 15 inches.

Appearance

The Bernese Hound stands 19 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 33 to 44 pounds. The build is longer than tall, with a deep chest reaching to the elbows, well-sprung ribs, and a level topline. Legs are straight and well-boned, and feet are compact and cat-like for grip on rocky ground.

The head is long and lean with a slight stop and a straight muzzle. Ears are long, thin, and folded, set below eye level and reaching to the tip of the nose. Eyes are dark and mild. The coat is short, thick, and smooth in the standard variety, or harsh and wiry in the rough-coated version with a beard and bushy eyebrows. Color is white ground with black patches or saddle and rich tan on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the chest, and under the tail.

Temperament

The Bernese Hound is a calm, gentle, and biddable scenthound. At home it's quieter than many hounds, affectionate with family, and reserved but polite with strangers. It gets along with other dogs and typically accepts household cats it grows up with.

On scent it becomes another animal. The drive is intense, the nose is precise, and the voice is musical and used generously. Recall is unreliable in the presence of game scent. Owners who accept this trait and manage exercise accordingly get along fine with the breed. Owners who expect off-lead obedience in interesting country will be disappointed.

Living with one

The Bernese Hound suits rural or semi-rural homes with secure fencing and daily access to varied outdoor exercise. Apartments are possible only if the owner commits to long daily walks and scent enrichment. A fenced yard is essential because the breed follows its nose over any low barrier.

Weather tolerance is broad. The double coat handles cold and wet weather well, and the breed enjoys snow and rain. In hot weather it needs shade, water, and exercise scheduled for cooler hours. The rough-coated variety handles cold slightly better.

Exercise needs are high. An adult wants 90 minutes or more of daily activity, ideally including scent-driven walks, off-lead running in fenced areas, and mental work. The breed excels at tracking, scent trials, and hunting-related sports. Under-exercised individuals become restless and vocal.

Alone-time tolerance is limited. Bernese Hounds are companion-oriented pack dogs and prefer human or canine company. A well-managed adult can handle six hours if properly exercised, but chronic isolation produces barking, howling, and destructive behavior. Two hounds together often settle better than one.

Noise level is moderate at home and high on scent. The breed uses its voice freely when tracking and bays at unusual sounds around the house. Neighbors in close quarters may take issue if the dog is left alone or under-exercised.

Training & exercise

Bernese Hounds are more biddable than many scenthounds but still fundamentally hunting dogs. Basic obedience is achievable with reward-based methods, and the breed responds well to gentle handling. Off-lead reliability on scent is another matter, and most owners rely on long lines and secure fencing rather than expecting textbook recalls.

Socialization is important from puppyhood. Early exposure to people, other dogs, livestock, novel surfaces, and varied environments builds the confident adult the breed can be. Puppy classes, controlled meetings, and steady practice with new situations before four months of age pay off for the life of the dog.

Common training mistakes are heavy corrections and expecting biddability comparable to a working retriever. Compulsion shuts the breed down. Reward-based methods with patience, consistency, and creative use of scent as reinforcement produce a responsive Bernese Hound.

In sport the breed competes successfully in tracking, blood tracking for wounded game, and mantrailing. In the field it works hare, fox, and roe deer either singly or in pairs. It's rarely seen at conformation shows outside Switzerland.

Grooming & care

The smooth Bernese Hound needs weekly brushing with a rubber curry or bristle brush. Shedding is moderate year-round with heavier seasonal drops. The rough-coated variety needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping every three to four months to keep the wire texture correct.

Bathing every two to three months, or after muddy hunts, is enough. Ears need weekly checks because the long drop leather traps moisture and debris. Nails need trimming every three to four weeks. Dental care with regular brushing supports lifelong tooth health. Working owners check paws and skin daily during hunting season.

Health & lifespan

Bernese Hounds typically live 12 to 14 years. The working population is generally healthy, with the small overall breed size limiting the amount of published genetic data.

The most common concern is ear infection from the long pendant ears, which trap moisture and debris. Weekly ear cleaning prevents most problems. Hip dysplasia occurs at low rates. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) is a risk with any deep-chested hound, and owners should learn the warning signs.

Other reported problems include entropion, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism at low frequency. Skin injuries from hunting in rough terrain are more common than genetic disease. Responsible breeders test hips and share health data with buyers.

Weight management is straightforward because the breed burns calories quickly during work. Working hounds need higher protein and fat rations during hunting season. Older dogs benefit from joint supplements and shorter, more frequent outings once mobility declines.

With kids & pets

Bernese Hounds are gentle with children and tolerate normal handling from kids who understand dog manners. Very small children need supervision because the dog's size and enthusiasm can knock them over. Older children who enjoy long walks find the breed a rewarding companion.

First-time owner note

A challenging first breed outside its Swiss home. Rare in North America, hard to source, and requiring hunting-hound experience for full use. Better matched with active rural households familiar with scenthounds.

Fun facts

• The four Swiss Hound varieties are all considered one breed by some Swiss hunters, though the FCI treats them as separate.
• The Bernese Hound has a musical, bell-like voice distinct from the deeper bay of larger hounds.
• A short-legged version, the Small Bernese Hound, is registered as a separate FCI breed.
• The rough-coated Bernese was almost lost during the twentieth century and was rebuilt from a small breeding pool.

Famous & in culture

• The breed has no widely famous individual dogs, reflecting its regional working status.
• Swiss hunters credit Albert Heim, a nineteenth-century Swiss cynologist, with formalizing the four Swiss Hound standards.