Potential Challenges With Berners In Apartments
First, it is important to remember how large these pooches grow up to be! Their height can get up to 75 cm (30 inches) with an impressive weight of up to 50 kg (110 pounds). It is just something to be mindful of if you are new to the breed and your living space is really compact.
If you are planning to welcome a Bernese Mountain puppy, living in a very small apartment may be a temporary challenge. It is not just that they are very large puppies, they are bubbly and clumsy and could bump into stuff quite a bit. That is not breed-specific, of course! Puppies of all breeds are not particularly graceful, Berners are just some of the biggest ones.
The excellent guard dogs they are, Berners can be very vocal. They do not usually bark incessantly or without a reason, but it is common for a Berner to bark at noises. Your dog may be tempted to bark every time someone knocks on the door, for example. A Berner’s voice reflects her formidable size, so even occasional barking could become an issue for close neighbors.
Separation anxiety is not any more typical for Bernese Mountain dogs than most other breeds. But Berners are very attached to their families, and being left alone for long hours and not having enough to do may lead to barking, howling, and destructive behavior.
If you have to leave your dog alone regularly and for long periods of time, provide her with some toys or dog puzzles. Try leaving some of the usual sounds on, such as the TV, in order to keep the environment similar to when everyone is home.
Bernese Mountain dogs are an active breed. Once they get past the 2-year milestone, they do settle down and become less hyperactive.
If you are committed to providing your pet with the walks and games she needs, being in an apartment for the rest of the day should not be an issue.
Arthritis and other problems with elbows, knees, and hips are some of the most common health issues Bernese Mountain dogs experience. Help your pup by feeding her a high-quality diet and not overfeeding her. Berners love food and are prone to obesity, which further compromises the integrity of their joints.
Even with excellent care, if you have to walk up and down a few flights of stairs on a regular basis, it could be a struggle for your dog, especially as she ages.
You can circumvent the stairs issue by either living on the ground floor or in a building with access to an elevator.
An expected problem with dogs with thick double-layer coats is that they shed profusely. Bernese Mountain dogs do shed a lot indeed. Of course, living in an apartment does not make them shed anymore but smaller spaces tend to make dog hair a lot more visible, just because it is so much more concentrated. So, be prepared to do a lot of cleaning regularly.
Why Bernese Mountain Dog lives better outdoors?
For starters, let’s get something straight. The Bernese originates from the Swiss Alps and as its name suggests, it really is a mountain dog. It was bred for farm keeping and not for apartment living. Its physique and fur coat are ideal for outdoor alpine environment.
The Bernese pup isn’t bred as an average lap dog that dwells well in an apartment based enclosure.
This breed reaches up to 120lbs in weight and 28 inches in height. It is indeed a large dog, which is as tall as the popular Labrador Retriever, only heavier. Big dogs and apartment living don’t go hand in hand, especially canines like the Bernese Mountain. They are destined to reside in the outdoors and to have lots of free space where they can roam freely, run, explore and exercise. Of course, you can look after any dog breed in an apartment as long as you take it outside as often as needed. But is it truly worth it to put such limitations on the puppy?
Bernese Mountain dogs have a strong physique with noteworthy tough leg muscles. It’s proven that the Bernie can pull up baggage 10 times heavier than its own body weight.
Throughout the years these dogs have been used for pulling sleighs and carts. They can’t be watchdogs due to their shyness and fear of abandonment, but they do love working on a farm. The Bernese Mountain adores open spaces, running, playing and pleasing its owner. As such, it needs to be taken for longer walks at least a couple of times every day. It also needs to socialize with other people and animals, otherwise it cannot overcome its shyness and reserved temper.
You must exercise the pup on daily basis and you need to be persistent with the training. Bernese Mountain dogs are susceptible to training, although they mature much slower than other breeds, and that makes the training process harder for them. They are prone to suffering from a number of health related issues, such as hip and joint diseases. This means they can’t use the stairs, especially while they’re growing up.
Can Bernese Mountain Dogs be left alone?
Generally, Bernese mountain dogs like to live with people. They love the companion of their owners. So, leaving them alone can make a negative effect on them.
But with training, they can learn how to live alone for some time. Bernese mountain dogs with good training can live alone for up to eight hours. But leaving them always for a long time can develop negative behavior in them.
Sometimes, the Bernese mountain dog can develop separation anxiety. So, if you want to leave your Bernese at home alone, you have to prepare first and make him comfortable in the house.
LIFE WITH A BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG!!!
People often want to know if there are large dog breeds that fit into their apartment life.
There are a couple of important factors when it comes to choosing the right dog breed for you personally besides renting versus owning.
A lot of shelters make it mandatory that you have yard space available and some even demand you own a house instead of just renting an apartment which is an incredibly limited view in my opinion.
However, that doesn’t mean that you’re good to bring every large dog into your apartment, it just means that you’re not good to bring large dog breeds home just because you’re living in a house with a yard.