It is time to meet one of the friendliest mixed dogs in the doggy world. These dogs come from two purebred dogs that are well-known for their openness and friendly nature.
This is a mixed doggo, and it is truly a big dog with the gentlest soul. If you are looking for a large dog to take up more than half of your bed at night, and a dog that will go great with other dogs and pets — the Bernese Retriever is the one for you!
Of course, with such a large dog comes big responsibilities and a lot of grooming. Not to mention the amount of food they will need to keep them strong and healthy.
If you are interested in learning more about this friendly giant — keep on reading. We’ll talk about their looks from head to toe, along with their temperament and health.
By the end of it, I am sure you will get a clear picture of what exactly this mixed dog is, and if it is the dog for you.
Let’s meet the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix…
What Is A Bernese Mountain Dog Golden Retriever Mix?
A dog that has two purebred dog parents is called a designer dog (or a hybrid dog). The breeders deliberately wanted to make this mixed breed dog so that they could have all the good qualities of both parent breeds in one dog.
They thought it would be amazing to mix two incredible purebred dogs that are some of the friendliest and most loyal dogs. And, they were correct! It is an interesting and gorgeous-looking crossbreed.
Just like any other mixed dog breed, they will inherit physical and temperamental traits from both dog parents. That’s why we need to take a look at the parents before we can talk about the characteristics of a mixed dog.
We need to understand how the parents look, and where they come from so that we can create a better picture of what our Golden Mountain dog puppy looks like.
Is it going to be brown or golden? Will it drool a lot or just a little bit? Let’s see the parents to find out the answer to these questions.
Who Are The Parents?
The dog parents of the mixed dog we are talking about today are two European dogs. They can both be put under the name tag “big fluffy dogs”, but the Bernese Mountain dog deserves that name 100%.
One thing is certain – both dogs used for crossbreeding are friendly, happy, and great family dogs. Both are accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and both are primarily used as family pets, not as working dogs.
But, in the beginning, these dogs were not just family members, but dogs that worked with their humans on a farm or participated in hunting.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The first dog parent breed is the big and strong Bernese Mountain dog. This dog breed originated in today’s Switzerland — in the Bern canton; hence, the name.
They were used as protectors of the sheep and as pulling dogs. Their immense strength allowed them to pull weight that was double their size, all thanks to their muscular back legs.
But, even though they are strong and serious herding dogs that were made to protect the flock from wolves, these dogs are gentle-natured and laid back.
They might behave like sweet and cute pooches, but they are big dogs — they can weigh more than 110 pounds, and they can be taller than 27 inches.
These dogs are also double-coated, with medium-length hair. It’s a lot of fur and fluff to hug and love. But, don’t mistake their size and laid-back nature for lack of energy. This is a dog breed that has high activity levels.
They will need their space not just because they are literally big, but because they need to run around and spend all their high energy on something useful and fun.
Golden Retriever
The other parent dog breed is the famous Golden Retriever. Even though they were originally bred as a retriever breed (especially to retrieve birds), they are well-known as the best friend dog for families all around the world, not just in the U.S.
They have recognizable golden fur, even though Golden Retrievers can come in other shades and coat colors — dark golden, light golden, and golden. These are the coat colors accepted by the American Kennel Club.
But, these lovely dogs can come in five different coat colors, including the white Golden Retriever. This dog is medium-sized to large. They can be up to 24 inches tall, and they can weigh around 75 pounds.
As you can see, they are smaller than the first dog parent, but the difference is not that big to cause breeding problems. The mixed dog we are talking about will be a proportional doggo with lots of energy levels.
Why? Because not only does the Bernese Mountain dog have a lot of energy — the Golden Retriever has it, too! Both dogs need space to run and satisfy their daily activity needs.
What Do They Look Like?
This was short info about our mixed dog parent breeds. Because the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix is a designer dog (or a designer breed of dog), they will inherit physical traits from both parents.
This means we cannot be 100% sure what the puppies will look like. As always, we can guess the size and the color, but we will have to wait for the puppies to be born to actually know what they look like.
But, the good thing is that both dogs used as parent breeds have certain physical traits that are similar. This means, for example, that their offspring cannot have pointy ears. They will have floppy ears just like both of their parents.
Taking both dog parents’ traits into consideration, let’s see what we can expect from the Golden Mountain dog puppies. What will they look like?
Size And Body
You’ve probably already guessed it… these crossbreed puppies will be large dogs.
They can weigh from 80 to 100 pounds, and they can be up to 27 inches tall. As you can see, you will need a large doggy bed for this mixed doggo. But, don’t worry – they are not fussy when it comes to where they sleep.
They will be perfectly fine sleeping on your bed or trying to sleep on your lap. That’s right — they don’t think there is a problem with sitting on your lap. It’s a big-dog thing. They just can’t seem to fathom how big they are.
As for their body, there aren’t a lot of differences in the shape of the body of the Bernese Mountain dog and the Golden Retriever. Both dogs have a deep chest, firm and strong legs, and a muscular body. These are the physical traits to expect from their offspring, too.
Head
The shape of their head is easier to predict. This is because of the fact that both dog breeds used for making this crossbreed dog have similar head shapes.
There are Show Golden Retrievers and Field Golden Retrievers, as well as a difference between the American and English Golden Retrievers, but in essence — they all have a broad head with a long muzzle and floppy ears.
These traits are the same for the Bernese Mountain dog — a flat and broad head with a long muzzle. So, if you were wondering what the mixed puppy’s head will look like, just imagine a Golden Retriever’s head. That’s generally it.
I have already mentioned that the puppies cannot have pointy ears. They will have floppy ears, just like both of their dog parents.
Coat Type And Grooming
Another reason why the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix is such a brilliant crossbreed is because of so many physical similarities between the parent breeds.
Both parent breeds have a double coat, with medium-length hair. This is the coat type of the Bernese Retriever puppies, too. It is a double coat perfect for cold weather.
The outer coat is longer, and it can be water-repellant if the puppy inherits this trait from the Golden Retriever. Whether it’s water-repellant or not, it will require weekly grooming. The grooming needs are higher during the shedding season.
Generally speaking, Golden Retrievers shed quite a lot, and they will need a slicker brush and weekly grooming. But, they don’t shed as much as Bernese Mountain dogs shed.
All of this means that their mixed offspring will be shedding year-round. That further means you will have to get used to brushing your dog at least twice a week in order to avoid having dog hair everywhere.
Regular brushing also helps keep both the outer coat and undercoat healthy and without tangles. You should also check the dog’s ears and clip the dog’s nails during grooming sessions.
Coat Color
We already talked about the coat colors of the Golden Retriever. There are five colors, of which three are accepted by the AKC.
When it comes to the coat colors of the Bernese Mountain dog, there are two standard coat colors:
- Black, rust, and white
- Black, tan, and white
But, besides these standard AKC-accepted coat colors, they can also be jet black, or rich rust with usual coat patterns or markings that are a trademark of this large Mountain dog.
Our mixed dog will usually inherit the coat markings from the Bernie dog. That means they will have “eyebrows” or rust or tan patches above the eyes, on the side of the face, and on the legs, and they can have a white mark on the chest.
But, a Bernese Retriever can be:
- Black and white
- Black and rust
- Tri-colored
- Golden
- Black, with a white patch on the chest
Tail
Once again, the similarities between the physical characteristics of both parent breeds help us understand the possible physical characteristics of the Bernese Retriever.
The mix of the two dogs we mentioned so many times already will have a bushy tail that is moderately long. It’s a thick and muscular tail that is not curled, but with a light upward curve.
It can be more bushy if it comes from the Bernese genes, or it can be less bushy — more similar to the other dog parent.
What Is Their Temperament?
It is already quite clear that the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix puppies will be friendly doggies. Because both parent breeds have very good behavior, this is something to be expected from their offspring, too.
Of course, when we talk about the temperamental traits of dogs, we have to understand that every dog is unique. There can be some deviations that are normal.
For example, Golden Retrievers are well-known for their friendliness, but there are some people who think these dogs are aggressive. That is because each dog has its own unique characteristics that are influenced by external factors — humans.
No dog is born aggressive – people are the ones who make dogs aggressive. Treating a dog with respect and lots of love, and socializing the dog from an early age will turn it into the sweetest dog whether it’s a Chihuahua or Cane Corso.
Family Life
If you were wondering whether a Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix is a good dog for a family with small children, the answer is — yes.
These dogs go well with children of all ages. They are patient and gentle giants. The Bernese Retrievers are simply said to be friendly dogs! They don’t have problems with strangers or other dogs.
Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix dogs are very affectionate, and they love to show that they love you. But, they need you to show them love back! It’s all about the cuddles!
These traits make them perfect dogs for any kind of dog owner. Whether an experienced or a novice owner — they can fit in great with anyone.
Also, a very important fact is that they go great with other dogs. Of course, all dogs need some kind of socialization to make them calm and confident in unknown situations or places, but generally speaking — you won’t have problems with this dog’s behavior.
They are perfect family dogs.
Trainability
Another wonderful trait of these big dogs is that they are easy to train. It all comes down to genes. Both parent breeds are very trainable, so their puppies will be, too.
This mixed dog wants to please its owner, and it will happily listen to instructions, which makes dog training easy. Don’t get me wrong — they can’t speak English, so you will have to use other ways to teach them what to do or not to do.
You will need to use positive reinforcement if you want to make the training as quick as possible. Yelling, shouting, or hitting a dog is out of the question! Patience and positive reinforcement, a treat, and a pat on the head are all it takes to teach these dogs how to behave or what to do.
Socialization
This is something that all dogs need to go through. It is a process that starts from day one. Puppies need to learn what is normal and how to behave in certain situations and places. It doesn’t matter if you have a very friendly dog, they still need to get used to some sounds and smells.
For example, introducing your puppy to cats during its puppyhood will help it grow into an adult dog that has no problem with other pets. They won’t chase the cats or act on their prey instincts. They will learn that the cats (or other pets you introduce them to) are friends.
Also, introducing puppies to all kinds of noises that are normal for a household is a great thing. That’s what all responsible breeders do. They help the puppies get used to laughter, a TV, music, children, vacuum noises — whatever they consider important for the puppies to get used to.
A well-socialized dog is a calm, friendly, and confident dog that won’t act aggressively or defensively when faced with a new dog, a stranger, or with a loud sound.
Socializing An Adult Dog
It will be harder to teach a dog that is already wired to act in a certain way, but it can be done.
There are ways to socialize an aggressive dog, a shy dog, or a defensive dog — whatever the reason is for their undesirable behavior. But, you will have to be prepared that it is not a simple task, and most certainly — it’s not a quick one.
You will need a lot of patience, love, and positive reinforcement to do this. If you feel you lack the patience or time, then the best solution would be to hire a professional dog trainer.
Playfulness
The Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix is a playful dog that will require regular playtime! They can’t just lie down and stretch out on the floor or the sofa. They need to run or go for a walk every day.
Don’t worry – they won’t require the same amount of exercise as Border Collies, but these dogs come from two dog breeds that were made for the outdoors. If you want to keep your dog happy and healthy, give him enough space and time to run around.
A dog has to have its zoomies! And, when you have a large dog like a Bernese Retriever — it is best to give them space for their zoomies.
If you want to keep your dog in the best shape and happy, you have to take it for a 30-minute walk every day. The perfect solution would be an hour, but… if you don’t have time, half an hour is alright.
Although these dogs will be happy with that half-hour walk, you should think about whether this is a good choice of dog for you and your lifestyle. If you can’t give them proper exercise, then maybe you should consider getting a low-energy dog.
The other solution is to have a yard for this dog to play in. If you make sure the dog cannot go outside the yard, and that there are no harmful things in it, then a back yard is the perfect solution for these big dogs.
What Are Their Health Issues?
Both parent breeds of our mixed dog are generally healthy dogs. They don’t have a lot of health problems, but just like any other large dog breed, they are prone to bloat.
Bloat happens when the stomach quickly fills with food or liquid (or gas), which makes the pressure rise. The stomach can twist and cause more pressure on the blood vessels, which consequently prevents the blood from going to the hind legs and abdomen in order to return to the heart.
This sends the dog into shock. The enlarged and twisted stomach can also cut off the blood supply to the pancreas and the spleen. Bloat (or GDV (Gastric Dilatation-volvulus)) is a serious health issue that can be fatal.
Other common health problems include Von Willebrand’s disease, and heart problems. Heart problems are usually connected with aortic stenosis or heart failure.
Joint Problems
It is very important to know that all large dogs, including the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix, have health concerns regarding their joints.
Both parent breeds can have a problem with joints. This is also a problem for their offspring — the Bernese Retriever.
The joint problems they can inherit from the dog parents are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
Both health problems can be prevented by testing the breeding pair. If the dogs used for breeding don’t have these joint issues, then the breeding can continue. But, if they come out as positive — they should not be bred.
This is a rule that all responsible breeders go by. It doesn’t matter if you get a Bernese Retriever from a breeder who has and breeds Golden Retrievers or Bernese Mountain dogs – they should test their dogs to see if they have joint problems.
Keeping Your Dog Healthy
The first step is, of course, getting a puppy from a responsible dog breeder. As mentioned, a responsible breeder is one who tests his dogs on various hereditary diseases.
The next step is taking your dog for regular vet checks. These checks should include regular deworming treatments and vaccinations.
Besides keeping the dog healthy, we have to walk our dog, play with it, keep it mentally and physically stimulated, and of course, we have to love our dog and show it affection.
Keeping the dog healthy means giving him high-quality dog food. High-quality food means it is rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates. This type of food can either be kibble or canned. The important thing is that it has more proteins than carbohydrates.
Good dog food should also have vitamins and minerals. We can always add some extra minerals and vitamins to our dog’s diet by giving them veggies and fruits that are safe for dogs.
Some of the veggies that are good for a dog are:
- brussels sprouts
- broccoli
- carrots
- green beans
Some of the fruits that are safe for dogs to eat are:
- Apples
- Peaches
- Pears
- Bananas
Vegetables and fruits are rich in fiber, which helps dogs with digestion, and are excellent natural sources of vitamins and minerals necessary for the proper work of the dog’s immune system.
What Is Their Lifespan?
The average lifespan of all mixed dogs depends on the average lifespan of the parent breeds used in crossbreeding.
The average life expectancy of Golden Retriever dogs is around twelve years. Bernese Mountain dogs have a little bit shorter lifespan — around ten years.
This means that the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix will have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Of course, this number can be higher.
If we treat the dog well, take it to the vet, satisfy its activity needs, keep it mentally stimulated, love the dog, and make sure that it is regularly vaccinated and dewormed — the dog can live up to 15 years.
But, unfortunately, no matter how well we look after our dogs, the big dog breeds often have a shorter lifespan. This is written in their genes, and there is not a lot we can do about it – at least, not yet.
Who knows… maybe in the next decade, we will see a scientific breakthrough that will allow us to prolong our doggies’ life without ruining the quality of its life.
The Conclusion
The bottom line is that the Bernese Mountain dog Golden Retriever mix is the perfect family dog. They are happy, friendly, and gentle large dogs.
These dogs go well with all family members — young and old. They are also a great addition to a household that already has other dogs or other pets. Just make sure the dogs are properly socialized to avoid any problem when it comes to small pets like hamsters.
It also doesn’t matter if you are an experienced or a new dog owner. The Bernese Retriever is a dog for everyone. They are easy to train, and they love to be obedient good boys.
You will have to be prepared for their size. Remember that this is a large dog, and that it will need space to fully shine. Also, they can eat quite a lot — another fact to take into consideration before getting yourself a Bernese Retriever puppy.
If you are wondering how big a dog between 80 and 100 pounds actually is, here is a link that can help you understand the possible size of a mixed dog: How to tell how big a mixed puppy will get.
But, if you have the space for them, and you have at least half an hour daily to go on a walk with them and let them run around and play — then this mixed doggo is the perfect dog for you!