Type your search keyword, and press enter

Tofu Chan the Shiba Inu!

Meet Tofu Chan!

Tofu Chan is a super famous dog known for his Instagram and YouTube accounts, which I HIGHLY recommend. Tofu is also a Shiba Inu, so keep reading below for more information on Tofu and Shiba Inus!

History

Like some of our other incredible dog breeds (cough  Pugs cough), the Shiba Inu is very old! In fact, experts believe Shiba Inus have been around since 300 BC. However, unlike the Pugs who are from China, Shiba Inus come from from the cold, mountainous, land locked part of Japan! “Shiba” actually is the Japanese word for brushwood, which could refer to the brush in the mountains where they are from or their fur color, and “Inu” means dog! Similar to most other breeds, Shiba Inus were originally bred to be hunt. During World War II, the Shiba Inus were almost extinct, but fortunately for all of us today, they were able to survive. Not only did they just survive, but they thrived! Today they are Japan’s most common breed, and they are increasing in popularity in America too as they are now ranked 44 out of nearly 200! Go Shibas!

Picture Credit

Care

Height 13-16 inches
Weight 17-23 pounds
Life Expectancy 13-16 years

I can’t sugar coat this one… Shiba Inus shed A LOT. But that’s okay! There are so many other redeeming qualities that make living with dog hair everywhere totally worth it! And there are things you can do to limit how much they shed. For example, many Shiba Inu owners recommend brushing their fur a lot during the heavy shedding seasons or using a blow dryer to remove loose fur. Don’t worry, as long as you don’t keep your hair dryer on a hot setting, it won’t hurt your Shiba at all. In fact, lots of Shibas are known to actually enjoy the blow dryer! Shibas require a moderate amount of exercise and typically enjoy walking with their humans.

Picture Credits

Famous Shiba Inus

Obviously, the best Shiba Inu is Tofu! Tofu is amazing not only because he is an adorable dog, but also because he is able to brighten anyone’s day, no matter how awful, I promise! I first discovered Tofu a few months ago. I had spent the entire weekend stressed because I was supposed to get a math exam back Monday morning, and I did not feel very confident in it. On Monday, I was sitting in class waiting for my professor to arrive when I got a text from my friend, Danielle. I saw a dog, so I immediately clicked on it. It was Tofu! Even though I was sitting there, almost in tears because of how stressed I was, Tofu made me smile and relax for a few moments. I am living proof of how much Tofu’s videos can impact someone! With that, here are some recommendations for my favorite Tofu videos. Trust me, you’ll want to save this list somewhere, so you can watch it when you’re sad.

This ^ is the video Danielle sent me!

 

For more information on Shiba Inus please visit:

AKC

P.S. My math professor didn’t even give us back our exams that day!!! But when he did finally give them back, I passed. But my dear friend Tofu helped me to relax while I was waiting to see my grade. Thanks Tofu!

Peaches the Wheaten Terrier!

Meet Peaches!

Okay, I know I’ve already declared Pugs to be my favorite breed, but that was actually a lie. Wheaten Terriers are actually my favorite breed because my dog, Peaches was a Wheaten. And she was the best doggo in the whole world, therefore all Wheatens must be wonderful. Keep reading for lots of info (and cute pictures) of my dog.

History

Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very closely related to Irish and Kerry Blue Terriers because they all come from… Ireland! However, ancient Irish people were quite foolish. They believed that all Terriers were inferior to hounds, (Side note: how can anyone say any breed is “inferior” to another??? All doggos are good doggos!) so only poor peasants owned Terriers. But that’s okay because at least the poor peasants who lived very hard, unfortunate lives had amazing dogs. Anywho, the earliest Wheatens normally worked on farms doing tasks ranging from working cattle to hunting foxes. Fortunately for us, the Wheatens came to America in the 1940s and we have been blessed with their presence ever since!

Care

Height 17-19 inches
Weight 30-40 pounds
Life Expectancy 12-14 years

Trust me, Wheatens are SO easy to take care of! If you prefer the long, traditional Wheaten hair style, then they do need to be brushed two or three times a week. Otherwise, if you keep your Wheaten’s hair short, like Peaches, then it needs to be brushed much less frequently. Wheatens are relatively energetic dogs, so they do need moderate amounts of daily exercise. But that’s a great thing because they’re excellent companions to go on a run with! Wheatens are known for chasing just about any living creature, so you should consider having a fenced in yard or keeping them on a leash.

Famous Wheaten Terriers

Now the moment everyone has been waiting for. Or, at least, I’ve been waiting for! Obviously the most important Wheaten Terrier on the entire planet is Peaches! So she deserves this entire section about famous Wheatens, and hopefully all these stories will convince you to get your very own Wheaten.

Peaches was the most perfect dog. Ever. I know everyone thinks their dog is perfect, but Peaches really was. First off, she was ridiculously smart. My Dad used to take Peaches for a walk every night around 9pm. Her two favorite things were going for walks and pancakes. My Dad would always joke that he needed to teach Peach how to read clocks because she would start to get antsy normally 15 minutes before he was ready to walk her. First off, I totally believe that she would actually have been able to read clocks because she was just that smart! But second off, she could basically already tell time anyway because she just instinctively knew when it was almost her walk time. My Dad always wears slippers in our house, and he has to take his slippers off and put on real shoes to walk her. Boy, when Peach saw the slippers coming off, she would run around in circles because she knew it was time for her walk! She really was extremely intelligent.

Walks and pancakes were her two favorite things, but licking and getting belly rubs are only a tiny bit behind. Once she convinced you to lay on the ground and rub her, that’s it. You were stuck there. She would trap your hand with her paw and lick it until you were covered in slobber. And if you tried to stop rubbing her, you could feel the tension in the air. Sometimes Peaches would sleep on my bed with me, and I would rub her until I was too tired to do it anymore. But then, she would always wake me up because she would pick her head up and turn and glare at me until I rubbed her again!

I have a million stories I could tell about Peach, but above all, she truly was my best friend. I actually used to call her my sister! Somehow, even though neither of my parents wanted a dog, she managed to wiggle her way into all of our hearts. She was so easy to love and she loved us back even more than we could ever love her. My favorite story is actually the day after we got her. We got Peaches on a Friday when I was in 4th grade and she was already six years old. She was absolutely terrified that first day. She slept in the laundry room that night, and I vividly remember getting up at the crack of dawn to be with her. I sat under our nasty mudroom sink with her for hours before anyone else woke up. At first, she was scared of me, but after a few hours, she got used to me and it was clear that we were going to be best friends.

For more information on the best breed ever, please visit:

AKC

Illusion the Poodle!

Meet Illusion!

Illusion is a pretty, pink Poodle! Even if pink isn’t your color, you should definitely keep reading to learn all about the sophisticated Poodles!

History

Although it’s hard to believe when you look at Poodles today particularly ones like Illusion, Poodles were originally duck hunters in Germany! Over 400 years ago, the Poodle was designed to have fur that could withstand all kind of weather conditions. The traditional style often visible today with certain body parts shaved and other parts with fluffy fur (referred to as pompons), was also originally for hunting purposes too! The locations with pompons, chest, hip, and leg joints, were considered to be vital, so they needed the extra fur to keep these parts warm. Poodles are also impeccable swimmers and they are known to be one of the most intelligent breeds. In fact, the Poodle is the only non sporting breed which is allowed to participate in AKC hunting tests! However, shortly after the Poodle was born, their charm and eloquence converted them into luxury dogs, which is much more similar to how we know them today.

Picture Credit

Care

Miniature Poodle:

Height 10-15 inches
Weight 10-15 pounds
Life Expectancy 10-18 years

 

Standard Poodle:

Height 15+ inches
Weight 40-70 pounds
Life Expectancy 10-18 years

As you might expect, the Poodle’s hair can only look beautiful if you take extremely good care of it. This means daily brushing! And not just a quick comb through. Poodles need to be thoroughly brushed every single day in order to prevent matting. Of course, many owners decide this is too much effort, so they elect to just keep their Poodles’ hair short instead. Then, the daily brushing is much less important. Poodles are also an excellent option for people with allergies as they don’t shed much and their “fur” is actually hair, so they are considered to be hypoallergenic!

Picture Credit

(Border Collies are the smartest!)

Although Poodles today might not share many similarities with the original Poodles, one common characteristic is that Poodles today still love to swim! As with all dogs, daily exercise is important, but you should consider letting your Poodle swim if that’s an option. If so, you will certainly have one happy Poodle!

Famous Poodles

One of the most famous Poodles is Moustache.

Poodles-16524

Picture Credit

Moustache, often called Mous, actively participated in both the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. During the Revolutionary war, Mous was able to save his regiment by barking to alert them to a surprise attack coming in the middle of the night (so never complain about your dog barking again)! Later during the Battle of Austerlitz, Mous discovered an Austrian Spy! People even claim that Mous suffered from an injury which required him to have his leg amputated, but Mous still continued fighting! Mous fought valiantly until he was killed by a cannonball Battle of Badajoz when he was 12 years old.

Picture Credit

Thanks for your service Mous!

For more information please visit:

AKC

Sophie the Yorkie!

Meet Sophie!

This is Sophie, the Yorkshire Terrier. Although the breed is better known as a Yorkie! If you want to get to know more Yorkies like Sophie, keep reading!

History

Although you might typically think of Yorkies as fashionable, girly dogs, their origin was actually anything but the stereotype associated with them today. The breed was created by Scottish weavers in the Northern English county of Yorkshire. The Yorkies are a mix of many small, tough terriers, who often worked in mills catching rats. In general, the size of the terriers made them the perfect breed to fit in all the small spaces to find these rodents. When the Yorkie came along, the workers mocked their long hair and felt that they would not be able to perform the same work as other terriers. Regardless, Yorkies spent several years catching rodents in coal mines before the English Kennel Club recognized them as a breed in 1886. After becoming an official breed, Yorkies quickly gained popularity among the fashionable English ladies.

Picture Credit

Care

Height 7-8 inches
Weight 7 pounds
Life Expectancy 11-15 years

Yorkies’ beautiful hair comes at a cost: it requires a lot of upkeep. In fact, experts claim that Yorkies’ hair is very similar to human hair meaning it requires daily brushing and at least weekly washing. Much like with the Shih Tzu, if you desire to keep your Yorkie’s hair long, their hair at the top of their head should be put in a topknot or trimmed to keep it from irritating their eyes. The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America website provides specific details about how to best manage your Yorkie’s hair.

Picture Credit

Even though Yorkies are small and known for being spoiled dogs, they still require daily exercise! Normally, two short walks a day should be sufficient exercise, but they also enjoy playing fetch or other activities that require short busts of more intense energy. Yorkies, particularly more than other breeds, have also been known to enjoy agility training or obedience classes. Don’t be fooled by their beauty! Yorkies are also extremely intelligent!

Famous Yorkies

As I previously mentioned, wealthy, fashionable people have often been attracted to Yorkies. As a result, there are countless famous people with Yorkies including President Nixon, Audrey Hepburn, Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman, Paris Hilton, and Missy Elliot to name a few!

Picture Credits

Although all these famous people have Yorkies, that doesn’t mean you can’t have an adorable Yorkie to spoil too!

For more information please visit:

AKC

Moo the Shih Tzu!

Meet Moo!

Moo is Professor Bedell’s Shih Tzu mix! While her other doggie sibling, Linus, is equally as cute as Moo is, I have sadly already written a post about the White Highland White Terrier, but still enjoy this super adorable picture of the doggo siblings.

So enjoy that picture, go reread the Westie article, and keep scrolling to learn about Shih Tzus!

History

The history of Shih Tzus is actually quite a mystery! There are several opposing theories about their origin, but the one that seems most popular is very similar to that of the wonderful Pugs. Many experts actually believe one of the dogs bred to make the Shih Tzu was a Pug! In China, over 1,000 years ago, the emperors’ royal breeders were given the task of designing the Shih Tzu for the emperors. The breeders would compete to create the most beautiful dog, and the winner would be rewarded with lavish gifts. Then, the Shih Tzu would live with the emperor and his family where it would be absolutely spoiled. The emperors were especially known for dressing their Shih Tzus in long silk robes. However, much unlike the Puggo, the Shih Tzu was completely reserved for the emperor. In fact, the outside world didn’t even know that the Shih Tzu existed until the 1930s! But ever since the world was exposed to the adorable charm of the Shih Tzus, they’ve attained global popularity.

Picture Credit

Care

Height 9-10.5 inches
Weight 10-16 pounds
Life Expectancy 10-18 years

Okay, I can’t really sugarcoat this one. Shih Tzus require a decent amount of work to maintain their gorgeous hair. It’s important to brush their hair with a high quality wire brush with flexible pins, and make sure you remember to brush their mustaches and topknot. In general, you frequently see Shih Tzus with their hair in a topknot because otherwise their lengthy locks will irritate their eyes. If you dislike the style of the topknot, you can just keep the hair trimmed short. There are several plus sides to having to take care of the long hair including that they don’t shed that much and they don’t require much exercise!

Famous Shih Tzus

There are many famous people who have Shih Tzus including Bill Gates, Mariah Carey, and the Dalai Lama. However, the most important dogs in Shih Tzu history aren’t nearly as famous as they should be, so I’d like to highlight them! In the early 1900s, Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi was in charge of the Shih Tzu breeding program. Her untimely death in 1908 coupled with the Communist Revolution meant that the breeding program fell into shambles. Fortunately, a few members of the breeding program realized the severity of the situation and saved seven male Shih Tzus and seven females to recreate the breed. Now, every single Shih Tzu alive can be traced back to those 14 dogs who saved the entire breed! So Shih Tzu lovers everywhere should thank those dogs for allowing your precious doggo to exist today!

Picture Credit

Thanks Shih Tzus! And just to help make your day a little better, here’s some more pictures of Moo and Linus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information please visit:

AKC

 

 

 

Rutter the Dachshund!

Meet Rutter!

Rutter is delightful little Dachshund! Keep reading below for more information about Dachshunds!

History

Dachshund is actually a German word meaning “Badger Dog” which explains a lot about the history of this cute breed. The origin of these dogs date back some 600 years ago when they live d in now present day Germany. Dachshunds were bred to have long and low bodies, perfect for digging into badger holes and scaring the badgers away. Dachshunds are also known for having very loud barks, which was ideal for their companions to be able to locate the Dachshunds while they were underground. There are actually 3 different kinds of hair that a Dachshund can have- smooth, wire, or long. Wirehaired Dachshunds were bred to be able to run through thorns while hunting the badgers, and  longhaired Dachshunds were designed for hunting in colder locations.

Picture Credit

During World War I, Dachshunds were seen as a symbol of Germany as they were frequently used in German propaganda and Kaiser Wilhelm II owned many Dachshunds. As a result, the popularity of Dachshunds in America steadily decreased until the AKC tried to rebrand the breed by calling them “Liberty Pups.” Their tactic certainly worked because today the Dachshund is the 13th most popular breed according to the AKC.

Care

There are two sizes of Dachshunds- standard and mini.

Standard:

Height 8-9 inches
Weight 16-32 pounds
Life Expectancy 12-16 years

Mini:

Height 5-6 inches
Weight Less than 11 pounds
Life Expectancy 12-16 years

Regardless of whether you have a standard or mini Dachshund, it is extremely important that your Dachshund is not overweight. Obesity puts lots of stress onto the Dachshund’s long back which can ultimately lead to herniated discs. All Dachshunds require minimal grooming, but of course the longhaired Dachshund requires slightly more frequent brushing.

Picture Credit

It is also extremely important that Dachshunds get enough exercise so they can build up muscles to support their long backs. The recommended amount of exercise is two moderate length walks each day. Also make sure to never let your Dachshund jump from high elevations such as stairs or furniture as it is easy for them to ignore their short legs. As long as you keep your Dachshund healthy, expect to have a long term companion since they have one of the longest life expectancy’s of any breed!

Famous Dachshunds

There are many of famous Dachshunds including Picasso’s Lump,  Wayne Gretzky’s Clyde, and Andy Warhol’s Archie and Amos. However, one particularly famous Dachshund is Waldi because he helped inspire countless others to love Dachshunds as well. In 1972, Waldi was the first ever Olympic Mascot!

Picture Credit

That year, the Olympics were held in Munich and the advertisements with Waldi were everywhere! The Olympic officials loved Waldi and Dachshunds so much in fact that they designed that year’s marathon route to be in the shape of a Dachshund!

For more information please visit:

AKC

A Slightly Different Post…

I am so disappointed in all of the Penn State community. In the past 5 months that I have been here, and been actively searching the campus for dogs, I have never seen my favorite dog breed. So this post will be slightly different than the usual format. There is no dog for you guys to “meet.” Instead, consider this a PSA that someone needs to get a Pug and bring it to Penn State ASAP!!!

Meet the Pug!

Picture Credit

History

Pugs date way back to ancient China as early as 551 BC when Confucius wrote about them. These dogs were frequently pets of the Chinese emperors, and they were often given their own palaces complete with servants and guards (which FYI is the way that every dog deserves to live). Pugs were so special in fact that ordinary citizens were not allowed to own a pug unless it was a gift from the emperor.

Picture Credit

(This will be my house at some point in the near future.) 

As many European traders explored the Chinese ports, they became enthralled with the Pug as well. Many sailors brought their loved ones back in Europe Pugs as souvenirs. The Pug’s popularity quickly spread throughout all of Europe during the 1600s, but Pugs did not make the voyage over to America until shortly after the Civil War. Fortunately, the Pugs have been blessing America with their beauty ever since then. Hopefully, the Pugs will be able to journey over to Penn State soon!

Care

Height 10-13 inches
Weight 14-18 pounds
Life Expectancy 13-15 years

Now I will explain to you why Pugs are the ideal breed. If their adorable scrunched up faces are not enough to convince you that you need to go adopt one right now, then maybe this will. Do you live in a city or in the middle of the country? No worries! Pugs don’t care! Do you have little children running all over the house or would your dog be alone for hours at a time? Still, Pugs don’t care! Do you have others dogs or maybe even cats? Your Pug still wouldn’t care! Pugs are adaptable and able to thrive in all these situations!

Picture Credit

Pugs also require minimal grooming. They only need a bath if they happen to get into some messy trouble, they only need to be brushed about once a week, and they don’t shed that much! See, Pugs are perfect! Pugs only need a moderate amount of exercise each day. A short walk should be sufficient exercise, especially during hotter months when Pugs are susceptible to the heat. Pugs LOVE to eat, so you do need to watch their weight to make sure they are not becoming obese. But overall, Pugs are easy to take care of, they love to snuggle, and they’re so adorable! There’s no excuse for not getting a Pug!

Famous Pugs

In this section, I could write about the Pugs that were owned by Chinese Emperors, Queen Victoria, or even Billy Joel. But instead, I’m going to enlighten you about the Pug who should be the most famous Pug of them all. Meet Mr. Toad. This Pug is the reason why I love Pugs. Several years ago, I was reading the wonderful Snapchat story, the “Dodo” when I stumbled across this dog available for adoption.

The description for him said, “This senior citizen is deaf, missing an eye, and brimming with sass. Likes to be the center of attention at all times. If he feels at all excluded, he’ll let out his signature old man pug scream.” So tell me, after reading that description, and looking into that adorable eye, are you really going to pretend to not be obsessed with Pugs?

For more information please visit:

AKC

Annabelle the West Highland White Terrier!

Meet Annabelle!

Annabelle is a West Highland White Terrier, more commonly known as a Westie! For more information on this breed, keep reading below!

History

Westies were originally known as Poltalloch terriers. This is the name of the estate in Scotland where they were first bred. In the 1700s, Westies were bred to help control the rat infestation in the grain storage areas. During this time, most of the Westies were actually a sandy tan color, very different from the snow white we are used to seeing today. Westies were often presented to royalty as a sign of respect, and it was well known that kings and queens preferred this tan color over the white. However, George Campbell of Scotland appreciated the white Westies so he established a breeding program to preserve the white Westies. In 1896 as Westies were attending dog shows all over Scotland, the name switched from the Poltalloch terriers to the West Highland White Terrier.

Picture Credit

Care

Height 10-11 inches
Weight 15-20 pounds
Life Expectancy 13-15 years

Westies are known for their gorgeous white coats, but that beauty can require some work. If you plan on showing your Westie, then you need to pluck the old hairs every day. However, if you do not plan on showing your dog, then just a trip to the groomer’s every four to six weeks should suffice. Regardless of whether or not your Westie will be a show dog, you need to comb its hair daily. Because Westie’s have hard coats, they should not be bathed too often or else it will actually damage their coats. So the less frequent baths makes up for the daily hair brushing!

Picture Credit

Westies require regular exercise, but it does not need to be strenuous. A nice walk or a game of fetch is adequate exercise for your Westie. Since they are chasers by nature, Westies do best on a leash or with a fenced in yard as they will run after everything! Westies are known for having a very loud bark. While they are too friendly to make great watch dogs, be prepared to listen to your Westie bark a lot!

Famous Westies

Westies are everywhere! The Cesar brand of dog food uses a Westie also named Cesar as its mascot.

Picture Credit

In the television show King of the Hill, Doggie is a Westie. Anyone like me who grew up playing with American Girl Dolls knows that Coconut is a Westie too! Other companies such as the Juicy Couture and Black and White Whiskey feature Westies in their logos. Many celebirities also have Westies including Scarlett Johansson, Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew McConaughey, and Jennifer Aniston to name a few. Given the Westie’s adorable appearance it’s easy to understand why the list of famous Westies is so long!

Fidget the Chow Chow!

Meet Fidget!

Fidget is a Chow Chow mix! Keep reading for more information on this fuzzy breed!

History

Chow Chows are one of the oldest breeds. Chow Chows are featured in art from the Han Dynasty in China (shout out to AP World History!), but experts argue that this breed existed long before then. Unfortunately, the earliest Chow Chows in China were actually used as food. While there is much debate about the name “Chow Chow,” some experts claim that it is actually derived from the ancient Cantonese word meaning edible, thus they were called the “Edible Dogs.” Later, Chows were known for being companions to the Chinese emperors. One emperor of the Tang Dynasty was rumored to have owned 5,000 Chows. Eventually, the Chows started to serve as watch dogs, hunters, and haulers.

Picture Credit

Another theory for the origin of the name Chow Chow include the pidgin-English word meaning random knick-knacks from the East. While it was normally used to describe dolls, and other small items, experts claim that the British traders were so confused by the abnormal looking Chow Chows, so they just categorized them along with the other knick-knacks.

Care

Height 17-20 inches
Weight 45-70 pounds
Life Expectancy 8-12 years

Although Chow Chows have notoriously long and fluffy fur, they only need to be brushed two or three times a week. It is incredibly important to be careful with your Chow around water. Since they have so much fur, if the fur gets wet, it becomes heavy and can prevent your Chow from being able to swim easily. Chows require moderate amounts of exercise. Their heavy fur coat means Chows do not fair well in hot weather, so be mindful about exercising your Chow during the hottest periods of the day.

Picture Credit

Chow Chows are known for being stubborn and hostile to strangers. Most Chows who experience these qualities simply behave this way because they only feel a strong attachment to one person, their owner, and they tend to the be weary of all other people. However, it is very easy to prevent this behavior in your Chow. Chows just need proper training and early socialization in order to become friendly companions to all people!

Famous Chow Chows

Sigmund Freud had a Chow Chow, Jofi, who would accompany Freud to his sessions. Jofi was known to make the patients, especially children, feel more relaxed. Freud’s Chow was even able to help him during his assessments because he could judge people’s characteristics based on the way Jofi treated different patients. Inspired by Jofi, Freud wrote, “Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate in their object relations.”

Picture Credit

Martha Stewart is also quite fond of Chow Chows and her dogs were often featured on her shows. She has had many Chows including, Genghis Khan, Paw Paw, Chin Chin, Max, and Zu Zu!

For more information please visit:

AKC

Bear the Bernese Mountain Dog!

Meet Bear!

Bear is an adorable, fluffy, and massive Bernese Mountain dog! Don’t let his name deceive you! Bernese Mountain dogs only have one thing in common with bears- their size! This Bear is certainly the sweetest “bear” I’ve ever met! Here’s some more information about Bernese Mountain dogs.

History

The Bernese Mountain dogs are from Bern, Switzerland where they were historically used as cheaper alternatives to horses. Bernese Mountain dogs make great draft dogs (AKA cart dogs) because they are so muscular they can pull several times their own weight. In Bern, these dogs were mostly transporting cheese and milk throughout the region. Without the Bernese Mountain dogs working so hard to move these dairy product there would be no Swiss chocolate! They also worked to drive cattle, protect the farm, and provide companion to the farmers after a long day of work.

Picture Credit

Despite their functionality, the Bernese Mountain dog almost became completely extinct in the late 1800s. As the popularity of the St. Bernard rose in Switzerland, most people forgot about the previously beloved Bernese. Fortunately, some farmers still continued to use these dogs, and one man, Franz Schertenleib, was particularly crucial in helping bring the Bernese Mountain dogs back into the spotlight. Shortly after they began spreading across Europe again, they came to America in 1926 and have been soaring in popularity ever since.

Care

Height 23-27.5 inches
Weight 70-115 pounds
Life Expectancy 7-10 years

The Bernese do have a very long coat, so they are quite prone to frequent shedding. Even though you should brush your Bernese 2-3 times a week, it will still shed a considerable amount regardless of the season. Your Bernese requires 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise, but they love having the occasional opportunity to go on more outdoor adventures. Bernese Mountain dogs make great hiking, backpacking, and camping companions. Especially if you have young children, you should consider letting your Bernese pull the kids in a wagon on a walk! However, they do not need this kind of exercise on a daily basis, so as long as you have a yard for your Bernese to play in for 30 minutes, it will be perfectly content spending the rest of the day sleeping inside next to your feet!

Picture Credit

Bernese Mountain dogs are very eager to please their owners, so they are relatively easy to train. However, they get upset quite easily, so they respond poorly to harsh training methods. Bernese make excellent companions dogs, so especially during training, you should not leave your Bernese alone for extended periods of time. They just want to be with their family so they can make you happy!

Famous Bernese Mountain Dogs

Honestly, there are not many (or any according to Google) famous Bernese Mountain dogs and that needs to change! The only thing Bernese Mountain dogs aren’t good at is living in apartments because they’re too big for the small spaces! Since the Bernese are good at everything else- they’re affectionate, good with children, intelligent, eager to please, and the list goes on and on- why can’t they be movie stars too?? I’m officially starting the movement for Bernese Mountain dogs to be featured in more movies, television shows, everything! C’mon look at this cute face and tell me you wouldn’t immediately go watch a movie if you saw this cutie in the commercial!

Picture Credit

For more information please visit:
AKC

Skip to toolbar