Bernese Mountain dog

Our Bernese Mountain Dogs

Epona Farm

We have had Bernese Mountain Dogs (Berners) since 1990 and support the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of
America and local clubs. Our dogs are house dogs and are kind enough to share it with us. Any litters we
have are raised in the home as part of the family. We look to place our puppies with people who are looking
for a family companion, where they are part of the family and daily activities. A Berner is most happy when
they are with their human(s)

"Berner Sennenhund" means Bernese Alpine Herdsman's Dog in German, translating to English as the
Bernese Mountain Dog. Developed from dogs found in the countryside around Bern, Switzerland, the early
Berners were farm dogs, guarding the farm, driving cows to and from their mountain pastures, and pulling
carts loaded with milk cans to the dairy.

Berners first came to America in 1926, and possibly even earlier. In 1937, the first of the breed was
registered with the AKC. Although becoming increasingly popular as a family dog. Berners are not for
everyone. Large, assertive animals with long flowing coats that shed continually won't fit in with many
lifestyles. Like other large breeds, Bernese Mountain Dogs are not long-lived, with many not surviving their
eighth year, mainly due to cancer and auto-immune diseases. The Swiss have a saying: "Three years a
young dog, three years a good dog, three years an old dog. All else is a gift from God."

If you are thinking of making a Berner part of your family, please consider the following as part of your
research:

1. Berners are good with children, however, an adult should be the primary trainer and supervisor of a BMD
puppy. A 15 to 20 pound eight-week old baby soon grows to a 50 pound junior, and at one year can reach
100+ pounds. Wild play and unsupervised teasing may not only result in permanent injury to puppy, but can
ingrain bad habits that will become unmanageable when that "puppy" weighs more than your children.
2. Berners want to be where you are: in your home, in your car, in your face. This is not a breed that thrives left
to its own in a backyard.
3. Berners have their share of health problems, some requiring a significant investment at your vets.
4. Berners are innately reserved and need a lot of socialization as pups to help them grow into well-adapted
adults. Socializing takes time. Pups should be introduced to new people and new situations on a daily basis.
5. If you are looking for a jogging partner, consider another breed. While many Berners can and do enjoy a
daily outing, for the most part they do not enjoy long runs in warm weather.
6. Berners shed a lot. If having animal fur in the house bothers you, don't buy a Berner.
7. They are big dogs. A large male can be 27 to 28" tall and weigh 110 pounds or more. A Berner's tail is a
barometer for his happy nature and can spell disaster for your treasures set on low tables.

Past litters
4 week puppies
7.5 wk puppies