Bernese Hounds

For whom the Bernese hound is a suitable dog

Although this is a hunting breed previously bred only for work in the forest there is a number of possibilities we can offer to the dogs today. The Bernese hound will be overjoyed to run with your bicycle, go for long walks and devote to various “non-hunting” activities; under all circumstances, however, its need for exercise must be satisfied since the dogs are active (for instance my dogs love exercise on the hurdles).

Although this is a hunting breed previously bred only for work in the forest there is a number of possibilities we can offer to the dogs today. The Bernese hound will be overjoyed to run with your bicycle, go for long walks and devote to various “non-hunting” activities; under all circumstances, however, its need for exercise must be satisfied since the dogs are active (for instance my dogs love exercise on the hurdles).

Hunting hounds today

Bernese hounds rank amongst traditional hunting breeds: what is their condition and destiny today? Hunting dog breeds diminish and for hounds, particularly, the bell tolls; the breeding of dogs in low-numbered populations has its specific features and must follow strict guidelines; it is impossible to make do without a uniform breeding programme and its assurance at any cost (even at the cost of temporarily forgoing individual requirements); at the same time it is necessary to avoid all individual interests.

It is desirable to use each and every sire and each and every breeding bitch for at least one litter of puppies, avoid repeating the same siring etc. This is associated with the optimum stipulation of conditions for inclusion in the breeding; in the professional circles it is not considered reasonable to reduce the selection opportunity (e.g. by insisting on obligatory hunting exams in a situation when the extinction of the breed is looming and only a fraction of the population is really used for hunting). The danger resulting from the fact that the genealogical distance between individuals is becoming shorter and smaller in each generation increases in intensity.

We cannot but acknowledge the reality: today, it is necessary to create conditions for the breed to become, in accordance with its great nature, a favourite family dog. It is here that we see the space for ourselves – we want to prove that the Bernese hound has a disposition to become the ideal dog for families with an active life style.

Bernese Hounds

(abbreviated text of an article published in the Animals’ Planet Magazine, year 2005, issue 11)

Bernese hounds are hunting dogs classified as Group 6 by the FCI – hounds and bloodhounds; this is a medium-size hound.

A bit of hunting hound history

Hunting scenes with dogs can be found deep in the history; already in the tombs of ancient Egypt we can see hunting scenes and similar finds were discovered also at other places, e.g. in Sweden, Spain and Southern France. As we can learn from the work of Greek (Xenofon) as well as Roman (Columela) writers, in the classic age dogs were already divided between hunting, shepherds’ and guard dogs. Good hunting hounds received high acknowledgement with ancient Germans who punished the theft or killing of a hunting hound severely.

Hunting gradually became a privilege of the free; hunting hounds were kept mainly by noblemen. For instance in France the breeding of hunting hounds was of quite a high level until the 18th century; a change was brought on only by the Great French Revolution. The idea of breeding dogs in a manner similar to breeding noble horses (that is, with a pedigree) was asserted in England in the 19th century. There, the main perspective was no longer the dog’s usability but also the noble appearance. Exhibitions of dog beauty started and, gradually, the first standards originated for individual breeds.

Hounds

The majority of today’s hound breeds originate from the south and it is believed that they arrived to central and northern Europe from the Mediterranean. The Celts probably kept hounds since they enjoyed hunting and gradually inhabited not only the territory of present day France, Spain and western Switzerland but also the British Isles. Germans who arrived to the territory of today’s Switzerland and southern Germany also had game courses and, as ensues from ancient German laws, the Leges barbarorum (5th to 9th century), they overtook the Celts’ dogs. Of the original Latin dog names the various designations originated that are used up to the present day, for instance the segugio, sabueso, or braka.

„The Golden Era“ of the great hunts was in the 17th and 18th centuries which was a time of parforce hunts; that meant a prime time and further development of hunting hound breeds all over Europe (for instance in France a number of noble families kept kennels of hunting hounds and were proud of their own “breeds”). Parforce hunts were very expensive and, originally, followed a strict ceremony. However, in the course of time they degenerated and became rather dubious entertainment.

Hounds in Switzerland

I cannot but start with a quote from Hans Räber’s book “Encyklopedia – Dog Breeds”: “Swiss hounds rank amongst the oldest hound representatives and it is a shame that the numbers of the wonderful dogs diminish steadily.“

Originally there were five independent types of hounds in Switzerland and it is maintained that the types were kept absolutely separately for quite a long time. At the Aarburg exhibition in 1882 a number of various hounds were presented – the individual types differed in colour, size and type; one could see 5 basic forms there.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries it seemed that it was the end of the Swiss hound; in 1903, however, a special club for hound was established in Switzerland and the club officials did everything to save the breed. The conditions improved gradually and since 1931 we can speak of a new breeding construction. In 1933 the first uniform standard was issued; at that time the individual types of Swiss hounds only differed in colour.

Now there are four colour varieties of Swiss hounds; each variety exists with two lengths of limbs (low-limbed and standard-height limbs). According to colour we distinguish

Bernese hounds (white and black with marbling),
Jura hounds (single-colour yellowish-brown to brown with a black saddle),
Lucerne hounds (blue or grey speckling with marbling) and
Schwyz hounds (white and red with yellowish red to deep red marbling or coat).

Bernese hounds

Bernese hounds owe their name to the Bernese Alps; they are specifically bred hounds to find deer in a pack; they catch the slot easily and announce it loudly. Swiss hunters have used the hounds for more than 900 years and the Bernese hound is considered a great work breed in its homeland. In the Czech Republic there are not many Swiss hounds; the most represented variety is the colour variety of the Bernese hounds (the first litter was bred in 1993), other types only have a marginal presence. However, the Bernese hound is not frequent either even at dog exhibitions.

The Bernese hounds’ colour is very attractive: the base is the white colour, black spots or black saddle, or sometimes “splatters” appear; pale to intense marbling located above the eyes, on the cheeks and inner side of the ears. The hair is short and lets the distinct musculature stand out. As concerns the typical nature, they are happy and active creatures absolutely non-confrontational and profoundly friendly. How often do they take home from the exhibition a sentence in the assessment that this is a likeable creature, nice being, friendly dog with an open nature (and the juror has no reason to exaggerate)! It is unlikely for a Bernese hound to start a fight with other dogs. The reason is definitely not cowardice but a certain nobleness that is innate to the breed. When I walk my dog in the residential quarter where the barking of dogs follows us from every garden my dog nobly walks on the pavement (however, if he is walking accompanied by “his” two young bitches he hints to the potential interested parties to remain out of reach in a brief but uncompromising manner).

Bernese hounds prefer company; they really do not enjoy loneliness. They adapt to the home routine easily and are grateful for any activity; they are incredibly cuddly although they are definitely not “couch dogs”. We must never forget their exercise. Fortunately this does not have to be work in a forest; my three happy dogs are a proof of that. In specialised literature it is sometimes stated for some of the hunting breeds that they are dogs fit for families – the Bernese hounds belong in the group. Today there are so many opportunities for activity that we can offer the dogs an adequate substitute for the work on the course. The number of families living in a full-fledged active way is increasing and, therefore, the breed is beginning to find use as a family dog (the Bernese hounds are more than dear company for children).

Personally, I am of the opinion that the opportunities for the original utilisation of hunting hounds are far beyond their zenith and it is up to how compatible the character of the breed is with the human life styles in the third millennium. Today, hunting is not a method of obtaining food but an entertainment activity and the numbers of its fans are hardly going to grow. The efforts to maintain the highest species of game and the necessity to improve the living conditions of game results in a number of restrictions and bans contained in legal regulations. If today’s hunting dogs should be restricted exclusively to co-operation with huntsmen they would undoubtedly increase the list of extinct species. If the reduction of the hunting breeds is not stopped or slowed down it would be a loss of an immense dimension; the variety in the dog kingdom must be preserved in the largest scope possible.

Raising Bernese hounds is not difficult due to their fast understanding. We can always come to an agreement with them if we are equipped with patience, love and understanding; however, since they are so clever it is impossible to do without consistency in their education, primarily in the training of calling them. The Bernese hounds return our patience in an abundant measure; they love us immensely and include all our family that is their beloved pack in their enthusiastic affection. With the pack they are willing to endure whatever discomfort without complaining, however, they definitely want to participate actively in the family life and not wait for us at home.

october 2005

author: Radana Mensikova

breeding station BOHEMIA HILL