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An excellent breed to own but there are buts.
Firstly socialisation is a must saying that Ollie was socialised and he has always been a shy berner he needs time to get to know people loves his family but is very wary of strangers even in the house, but it is maaegable. His parents were excellent in temperament we met them many times before waiting for a litter and purchasing our Ollie.
Training never harsh must be quiet calm and patient never shout or raise your hand to them. They can be stubborn you have to learn to outwit them or go along with them. Training can be tiring and time consuming but when they learn something it is amazing.
Exercise the rule is especially for large breeds 5 minutes for every month of their life usually with berners till 18 months. Example 5 months old 25 minutes exercise. They do not need lots of exercise some will tolerate it and even love it mostly at their pace others are very laid back and do not need much at all you need to learn to gauge your dog. They are a breed quick to epend their energy so will probably get off the lead have a good 5 minute run and that is is then they like to potter. They were not bred for stamina in the form of running, there stamina comes from moving quielty and calmly pulling carts.
If you are looking for high energy dog a berner is probably not for you.
Be prepared while they are young to keep them off the stairs and furniture.
Shedding be prepared for tumble weeds of fur round the house and plenty of grooming.
Insurance is a must they can be expensive if ill. Good high quality food not too many grains. Grains do not sit well with this breed.
Be prepared for heart ache.
Ollie recently lost the use of his back legs and is still having mobility problems even after extensive expensive tests and 10 days in a vet school we have no firm diagnosis only that it is neuro muscular. He is doing ok but is on a high dose of steorids 50 mg a day has been for 5 weeks and although walking has improved he can only go out for 2 minute strolls twice three times a week. Yesterday was too much for him and he had a nose bleed to boot, so we are now wondering what else is going on.
He has severe muscle wastage round his head and face also and we are not sure if when we lower the dose of steorids he will be able to continue to walk as well as he is at the moment. When he came home he needed lifting to be able to rise and to be steadied when going out to the toilet he needs that help no more but he does have a ramp up to his garden as he cannot negotiate steps anymore. So in that respect he is 100% better than he was. But overall not doing well.
So all in all be prepared for a dog that will break your heart even quite young Ollie is 41/2. Be prepared to put the work in if they become ill. Buy from a reputable breeder as we did and make sure parents are health tested and meet both parents if possible if not at least one usually the dam.
There are no guarnatees even doing it this way we did and we have problems with Ollie now and know we do not have him for years possibly months only. All of his breeders dogs live to their early teens usually but there are no gaurantees in life.
If you read this and still want one you are defintaly right for a berner. All this has not put us off the breed and we would do it all again to have one of these beautiful dogs in our lives.
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