Bernese Cattle Dog
Hybrid Breed Description
The Bernese Cattle Dog is a cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Australian Cattle Dog. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing a Bernese Cattle Dog. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, sturdy working breed with males standing 25 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder and females measuring 23 to 26 inches tall. Males typically weigh between 80 to 115 pounds, while females range from 70 to 95 pounds. The breed is slightly longer than tall, creating a well-balanced, powerful silhouette. They possess a broad, flat skull with a moderate stop and a strong, straight muzzle. The triangular ears are medium-sized, set high, and hang close to the head. Their dark brown, almond-shaped eyes convey an intelligent, gentle expression that reflects their sweet temperament. The Bernese Mountain Dog's most distinctive feature is its striking tricolored coat, which is long, thick, and silky with a natural sheen. The base color is jet black, adorned with rich rust or tan markings on the cheeks, over the eyes, on all four legs, and on the chest. White markings form a blaze between the eyes, a white muzzle band, and a characteristic white Swiss cross on the chest. The tail tip is white, and the feet have white markings. This beautiful double coat consists of a longer outer coat and a dense undercoat that provides excellent insulation against cold weather. The coat is moderately long and can be straight or slightly wavy, with longer hair around the neck forming a slight ruff. The breed's body structure reflects its working heritage, with a deep, broad chest, strong shoulders, and muscular hindquarters. The neck is strong and moderately long, flowing smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. The back is firm and level, supported by a broad, muscular loin. Legs are straight and parallel with round, compact feet. The bushy tail is carried low and should not curl over the back. The overall appearance conveys strength, agility, and the capability to perform the draft and driving work for which they were originally bred in the Swiss Alps.
Key Characteristics
Bernese Mountain Dogs are gentle, affectionate, and devoted family companions known for their sweet, calm nature. These dogs form exceptionally strong bonds with their families and are particularly patient and tolerant with children, often taking on a protective, watchful role. They are famously described as gentle giants who crave physical closeness and often lean against their owners or become "velcro dogs" that follow their favorite person everywhere. Despite their large size, Berners are typically sensitive souls with soft personalities that respond poorly to harsh corrections. They thrive on positive reinforcement training and gentle handling. The breed exhibits a moderate energy level and enjoys participating in family activities without being overly demanding. While they appreciate daily walks and playtime, Bernese Mountain Dogs are equally content relaxing indoors with their families. They are intelligent and eager to please, making them relatively easy to train, though they mature slowly both physically and mentally, remaining puppyish for several years. Early socialization and consistent training are important to develop good manners given their eventual size. These dogs excel at draft work, pulling carts, and herding activities that tap into their working heritage. Bernese Mountain Dogs can be somewhat aloof or reserved with strangers but are rarely aggressive. They make excellent watchdogs, alerting their families to unusual activity with their deep bark while maintaining a non-threatening demeanor. The breed generally gets along well with other dogs and household pets when properly socialized. However, they do not tolerate being left alone for extended periods and may develop separation anxiety or destructive behaviors if isolated. Berners need to be included as valued family members and prefer cold weather climates due to their thick coats, though they can adapt to warmer regions with adequate cooling and shade.
Bernese Mountain Dogs have a tragically short lifespan of only 7 to 10 years, even compared to other large breeds, with many dogs succumbing to health issues before reaching double digits. Cancer is the leading cause of death in the breed, accounting for up to 67 percent of all deaths according to health studies. Histiocytic sarcoma, a particularly aggressive and malignant cancer, is the most common form affecting Berners and is believed to have a strong genetic component. Other cancers including lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and osteosarcoma also occur with elevated frequency. There is currently no effective treatment for histiocytic sarcoma, making early detection and responsible breeding practices crucial. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are prevalent orthopedic conditions in the breed, affecting between 15 to 28 percent of Bernese Mountain Dogs. These hereditary joint malformations cause pain, lameness, and progressive arthritis, potentially requiring surgical intervention. Proper nutrition during the growth phase, maintaining a healthy weight, and obtaining puppies from health-tested parents can help reduce risk. Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive neurological disease affecting the spinal cord, leads to hind limb paralysis and is more common in this breed. Genetic testing is available to identify carriers of the responsible gene. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) poses a life-threatening emergency risk for this deep-chested breed. Feeding multiple smaller meals and avoiding exercise around meal times can help reduce occurrence. Eye conditions including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and entropion affect the breed with varying frequency, and regular ophthalmologic examinations are recommended. Von Willebrand's disease, a blood clotting disorder, and hypothyroidism are manageable conditions that can be identified through testing. Heart conditions, particularly subvalvular aortic stenosis, can cause sudden death without warning. Prospective owners should seek breeders who conduct comprehensive health testing including hip and elbow evaluations, cardiac examinations, eye certifications, and genetic testing for known hereditary conditions.
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a compact, muscular medium-sized breed built for endurance and agility. Males stand 18 to 20 inches at the shoulder while females measure 17 to 19 inches tall, with both sexes weighing between 30 to 50 pounds. This breed exhibits a balanced, symmetrical build with no exaggerated features that might limit stamina or working ability. The head is broad and slightly curved between the ears with a moderately tapering muzzle that gives them a determined, alert expression. Their oval-shaped eyes are typically dark brown and convey intelligence and watchfulness. The ears are moderately sized, wide-set, and held upright, enhancing their vigilant appearance. The breed's most distinctive feature is its unique coat coloring, which comes in two primary varieties: blue and red speckle. Blue dogs display blue, blue-mottled, or blue-speckled patterns with possible black, blue, or tan markings on the head, and tan points on the legs, chest, throat, and jaw. Red speckled dogs show an even distribution of red coloring throughout with possible darker red markings on the head. Puppies are born white with facial markings and develop their characteristic coloring as they mature. The coat is a short to medium length double coat, with a weather-resistant straight outer coat and a short, dense undercoat that provides insulation. The body structure reflects the breed's heritage as a tireless herding dog, featuring a level topline with a deep, muscular chest and strong ribs. The shoulders are well-laid back, and the loins are broad and muscular. Hindquarters are broad and powerful with well-developed thighs and strong hocks. The legs are straight with round, arched toes and hard, deep pads. The tail is set moderately low with a slight curve at rest. The overall build is sturdy and athletic, designed for quick movements, sudden direction changes, and the endurance needed for long days of herding work across rough terrain.
Key Characteristics
Australian Cattle Dogs are highly intelligent, energetic, and fiercely loyal working dogs with strong protective instincts. These dogs form intense bonds with their families, often attaching most strongly to one particular person, earning them the nickname "velcro dogs." They are devoted companions who want to be involved in all family activities and do not tolerate being left alone for extended periods. Their loyalty extends to being naturally protective of their people and property, making them excellent watchdogs who will alert owners to anything unusual, though they are not excessive barkers. While affectionate with their families, they tend to be reserved or wary around strangers until properly introduced. The breed possesses exceptional energy levels and requires substantial daily physical and mental stimulation to remain happy and well-behaved. Without adequate outlets for their intelligence and drive, Australian Cattle Dogs can become destructive, develop behavioral problems, or exhibit anxiety. They were bred to make independent decisions while herding cattle, resulting in dogs that are both highly trainable and somewhat stubborn. Training requires consistency, patience, and a confident handler who uses positive reinforcement methods. These dogs respond poorly to harsh corrections and need engaging, varied training sessions to maintain interest. Their herding instinct may manifest as nipping at heels, particularly with running children, requiring early training and socialization. Australian Cattle Dogs are bold, confident, and intensely focused when given tasks to complete. They excel in dog sports including agility, obedience, herding trials, and other activities that challenge both body and mind. The breed can coexist with other pets when properly socialized from puppyhood, though their high prey drive and dominant tendencies may create challenges with smaller animals or same-sex dogs. They can be good with children in their own families but may attempt to herd them. These dogs are best suited to active owners who can provide the structure, exercise, and mental stimulation they require to thrive.
Australian Cattle Dogs are generally a hardy, healthy breed with an impressive average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, significantly longer than many breeds. However, they are predisposed to certain genetic health conditions that prospective owners should understand. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a hereditary degenerative eye disease that leads to gradual vision loss and eventual blindness, typically manifesting around age three to five. While there is no cure, affected dogs generally adapt well to vision loss with consistent environments. Genetic testing is available to identify carriers before breeding. Hereditary deafness occurs in approximately 20 percent of Australian Cattle Dogs, with the condition linked to coat color genes. Dogs with minimal white facial markings or predominantly white coats show higher rates of hearing loss, which can affect one or both ears. BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing can identify deaf puppies as early as six weeks old. While deaf dogs can live fulfilling lives with appropriate training adaptations, breeders should test breeding stock to reduce incidence. Primary lens luxation is another inherited eye condition where the lens becomes displaced, potentially causing pain and vision problems requiring surgical intervention. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia affect Australian Cattle Dogs with moderate frequency, causing joint pain, lameness, and arthritis. Maintaining appropriate weight, avoiding over-exercise during growth periods, and selecting puppies from parents with good hip and elbow scores help minimize risk. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of position, can occur and may require surgical correction in severe cases. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a rare progressive neurological disease, typically appears in young dogs and has no effective treatment, though genetic testing can identify carriers. Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), a developmental joint condition, and Von Willebrand's disease, a blood clotting disorder, occur in the breed but can be managed with appropriate veterinary care. Responsible breeders conduct comprehensive health testing including hip and elbow evaluations, eye examinations by certified ophthalmologists, BAER hearing tests, and DNA testing for known genetic conditions. Regular veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, and adequate exercise contribute to the breed's overall health and longevity.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your Bernese Cattle Dog may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Australian Cattle Dog to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.