BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPY GROWTH

 A common question new Berner owners ask: "Is my puppy the 'right' size for how old

he/she is?

The answer is: size of adult Berners varies; so naturally the size of Berner pups at any

given point in their development will vary.

If your puppy looks smaller or larger, is taller or shorter, has heavier or lighter bones or

a slighter or bulkier build, a longer or shorter coat than a Berner puppy of the same age

you met somewhere - DON'T WORRY. Focus on keeping your puppy happy, healthy,

work on training and on providing a nurturing, supportive environment. Your pup will

grow up. Genes your pup

inherited from his mother and

father and ancestors control

how your dog will look as an

adult. Make the most of the

genetic potential your pup

inherited. Provide your pup

with adequate nutrition and

physical conditioning

(exercise) during

development.

This photo shows the same

Berner as a young adult and a

mature adult.

Bernese are SLOW MATURING DOGS. Most Berners do not reach their adult height

and weight until they are 2 or 3 years old. Berners continue to 'flesh out' and add

substance and bulk well into their middle years.

Often during the first year to 18 months of age puppies look gangly, leggy or

unbalanced, and gawky. How puppies walk or run during the first year might look mildly

uncoordinated - especially when a big growth spurt occurs. It is not uncommon for

Berner puppy's skeletons to grow unevenly. A growing puppy's rear end (butt) may be

an inch or 2 higher than the front end at certain times during development. NOT TO

WORRY! BE PATIENT!!! If you think about it, people look very different at 30 or 40

years of age than they looked when they were 12, 16 or 20.

BERNESE PUPPY GROWTH GUIDE ~ 8 - 10 WEEKS

Typical Bernese pups weigh from 12 - 24 pounds at 8 - 10 weeks. Puppy weight at this

young age is sometimes a refection of litter size, with large litters tending to have

smaller puppies and litters with fewer members having larger sized pups. Sometimes

puppy weight is a reflection of the size pups a particular dam or sire is apt to produce.

It is not uncommon to see a wide range of sizes and builds in pups produced by any

dam, sire or breeding pair. Just because the sire of a litter is a BIG dog doesn't mean

all his offspring will grow up to be big dogs. Same can be said for the size and shape of

pups produced by any given dam. Relative size of a puppy or members in a litter may or

may not carry through to adulthood. The smallest pup sometimes is the same size as an

adult as his larger littermate. Typically puppies will gain somewhere between 2 - 4

pounds a week during the first few months.2/1/2009

FIRST STEPS FOR NEW OWNERS

Pups have to learn what is expected and they rely on you to provide direction. The first

few weeks with your puppy will revolve around getting puppy used to your house's

schedule, setting up planned feeding times, setting up a housebreaking routine, and

crate training if you choose to use a crate. During the first couple of weeks, focus on

creating bonds between puppy and everyone in the household.

Teach your baby puppy that human touches are

good.

Just handling a pup, GENTLY, by examining or

brushing teeth, feeling legs and paws, touching the

ears, belly rubs, touching rear quarters and testicles

teach a dog to be comfortable with human touches.

Trimming nails, bathing and brushing are part of

training that should be practiced. Do not over bath

and dry out skin and coat - a tepid bath with a mild

dog shampoo every 3 - 4 weeks, or as needed to

keep the coat clean is correct care. Pups usually

have to relieve themselves immediately following the

excitement of a bath or brushing so plan on making

a trip outside. If you have given a bath in a cold

weather climate, please remember that pups can

chill easily so make sure the pup is fully dried before

allowing her to spend an extended time outside.

INTERACTION WITH OTHER DOGS

NO PUPPY SHOULD EVER BE PERMITTED TO

ROUGHHOUSE WITH ADULT, larger or more

physically adept DOGS! Young dogs can and will overexert themselves in play.

Slamming, racing around and wrestling can cause serious and even lasting injury to

muscles and ligaments in growing pups. All play periods or exercise should be

monitored by a responsible adult to avoid injuries to tender puppies.

BERNESE PUPPY GROWTH GUIDE ~ 10 - 16 WEEKS

From 10-16 weeks puppies continue to grow. Usually Bernese pups weight somewhere

in the range of 24 - 45 pounds. Often puppies that appeared short and stocky at an

earlier age start to put on length of

leg. They look taller and have a less

bulky body. Pups can begin to be

housetrained, but will not be reliable

about asking to go outside to

eliminate. Early socialization is a must

for Bernese. The first puppy

socialization class can be started

during this time frame.

Pups of this age are babies and will be

looking to you for guidance. One of

the most important aspects of puppy

rearing is - remember to reward and

praise your puppy each and every time

she does the right thing. Give your puppy lots of opportunities to do the right things. For

example give her toy to play with if you catch her chewing on an electric cord or the

furniture, and remember to praise her for focusing her chewing on the toy. If your pup

eats all her food, praise her. Or if she comes to you when you clap your hands give her2/1/2009

a treat as soon as she arrives as a reward. Young puppies have no ability to anticipate

the results of their actions so owners must be constantly vigilant. Pay very close

attention your puppy to see that she does not get into mischief or get into a dangerous

situation. Take your pup outside regularly to relieve herself.

BERNESE PUPPY GROWTH GUIDE ~ 4 - 8 MONTHS

Pups at this age usually weigh around 45 - 85 pounds. Larger males may weigh more.

Puppies begin to lose their milk teeth between 4 - 5 months. Chewing or mouthing may

become more intense when puppies lose their teeth. Also, eruption of teeth may result

in tender gums and a lack of interest in food. Soaking food in water to soften it may

make eating a more comfortable experience for a pup with tender gums. Also many

puppies are beginning to lose their puppy coats by four - five months. Don't be

surprised to see lots of puppy fuzz in the brush when grooming. A Berner is changing

over to an adult coat when a strip of very shiny coarser looking black coat runs down

the center the dog's back. The adult coat will continue to come in over the course of

several weeks. Fuzz often remains around the ears. Some owners like to trim ear fuzz

with scissors or hand strip it out.

It is easier to start gaining your dog's confidence

and attention when the pup is still young. Trying

to instill good behaviors in a hundred pound dog

that has not received direction or training during

the formative months is a tough row to hoe.

Continue to socialize and train. Bernese are often

very easy going and tractable as baby pups which

can lull novice owners into a false sense that

their pup does not need training and socialization.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As the

pup continues to grow from 45 pounds upwards to

100 pounds or more, spending time to teach your

dog self control becomes an essential if you plan

to own a canine good citizen.

Sometimes during these months a Berner puppy's

growth becomes a bit uneven. The rear quarters

may appear higher for a week or longer and then

the front quarters grow to catch up. Uneven

growing may extend to 12 months of age or

beyond depending on how individuals or a given

family of dogs develops. Uneven growth spurts

are not in and of themselves a cause for alarm. Dogs can appear a bit uncoordinated

during growth spurts.

BERNESE PUPPY GROWTH GUIDE ~ 8 MONTHS - 1 YEAR

They are still BIG puppies

8 - 12 month old Berners are not physically or mentally mature. The family of dogs a

pup comes from will have a significant bearing on whether the dog appears filled out or

is still a gangly teenager by a year of age. Typically dogs between 8 - 12 months of age

weigh around 70 - 110 pounds. By this time a good idea of the finished size of your

Berner can be predicted. Dogs that weigh 100 pounds at a year may gain another 10 -

30 pounds of bulk over the next 2 - 3 years. Females that weight 70 pounds are likely to

gain another 10 - 25 pounds of weight. A female weighing 85 pounds at a year might

finish at around 95 - 100 pounds.2/1/2009

Young Berners rarely carry as much coat as their mature counterparts. Coats on both

males and females usually continue to lengthen as they age. Leg feathers are just

beginning to grow on many yearling Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are young adults from 8 months to a year of age. Reproductive

hormones can affect behavior during this time frame. Many owners choose to spay or

neuter their companion dogs prior to their reaching reproductive maturity. Hormones

associated with reproduction can cause a dog to act out in ways that are undesirable

and unacceptable in the home or in social settings. The puppy that was so obedient and

tractable at an earlier age may become more self involved - 'brain dead, forgot

everything they learned, won't listen, girl crazed, boy possessed, dingy and oblivious'

might be a better way to describe some dog's behavior. Males acting on hormonal

instincts can become extremely difficult for novice owners to handle. It is especially

important to offer males firm direction and guidance during these months. Reinforce

everything that has been learned. Continue to build your dog's confidence through

encouragement and praise when behavior is to your liking.

Reproductive hormones can be quite a disruptive force in a dog's life.

Females may become skittish and

nervous prior to their first heat cycle,

which typically occurs between 8 - 14

months. Some girls may begin to

have heat cycles as early as 6

months or as late as 16 - 18 months.

Every female will have her own way

of expressing herself during heat

cycles. Some girls will be very

excitable while others become less

active. Sensitivity to human touches

on the rear end during heat cycles is

common. Girls may tend to urinate

more frequently or mark their

territory as they get closer to

ovulation and during the time they

are ready to accept a male. Some

intact bitches have developed

pyometra (inflammation and infection

in the uterus) during or after heat

cycles which can be a life

threatening condition. Vaginal

discharges with a foul odor or of a

pussy, or tomato soup consistency

should be checked out promptly by a vet. A bitch may miss a meal or two during the

time she is in season or when ovulating. Any continued refusal to eat especially in

combination with frequent urination over more than a few days may require further

investigation by a vet. It is advisable to spay your female between 6 - 8 months of age if

you do not plan to breed her.

Some males have a very strong reproductive drive while others do not. Berner males

can start to lift their leg when urinating as early as 6 months; but it is normal for males

to not begin to lift legs until they reach 18 months. It is advisable to neuter your male if

you do not plan to use him for breeding at around a year to 18 months of age. Distract

intact males with a game of catch or a walk if they become inappropriately amorous and

attempt to mount and hump other dogs, pets or people. When reproductive hormones2/1/2009

kick in some male Bernese may start to show aggressive behaviors towards other dogs,

other male dogs especially. Males can be territorial and some react unfavorably to

another dog invading their space. Tight quarters where a group of intact overly excited

males have the opportunity to bump into each other can pose a risk to other dogs and

to people. Inappropriate behaviors or signs of aggression like jumping on the back of

another dog, placing the head over the shoulders of another dog, pulling while on leash

and straining to move towards another dog, growling or charging should be met with

calm and a mind towards placing the aggressor under control. If the dog is not on a

leash - he should be - and he should be under control. Dogs that are not behaving with

good sense and proper manners should be directed to sit or lie down. The command

must be enforced. Do not permit an out of control dog to continue or accelerate his

inappropriate behavior. Remove the dog from the situation if he is unresponsive to

basic commands like down or sit. A time out and separation can prevent a dog that

displays no self control from starting a fight.

EXPECTATIONS

With the large, impressive size of a young adult Bernese, often owners expect their

yearling to act like a fully matured dog. Pups of this age that have been offered

consistent guidance, have been socialized and have been taught to go outside to

eliminate should know how to follow commands with reasonable consistency. A yearling

Bernese should be housebroken when provided with consistent opportunities at 4 - 8

hour intervals to visit the outdoors; but that does not mean accidents can't happen.

Yearling Berners are still puppies and will behave as such. It is not realistic to expect

more of your pup than the maturity at a year of age allows. Pups of this age have

energy and curiosity. Some will still chew and find inappropriate ways to entertain

themselves. A young bored Berner will get into mischief. Berners can be exceptionally

creative in finding an outlet for pent up energy - counter surfing, hole digging, house or

yard plant eating, feather pillow destruction, TV remote control ravaging, garden hose

evisceration, newspaper shredding, and other devilish antics we humans are not

amused by can tickle a young dog's fancy. "My Berner is up to no good" you say. -

These antics are the dog's way of letting owners know they need to pay more attention

and provide direction.

'OLD SWISS SAYING'

The Swiss saying, "Three years a puppy, three years a good dog, three years an old

dog and the rest is a gift…" is an accurate description of the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Bernese Mountain Dogs will continue to lay down bone, put on width and substance,

and heads will continue to broaden well into the second and third year of life. Young

dogs are rarely as together structurally, appearance or behavior wise as mature three

or four year olds. By the time individual dogs in this breed reach 5 - 7 years of age,

they should be in glorious in coat; their structure set; they should be calm and self

assured; they are in full body and are, ideally, in the prime of their lives