Bernese Mountain Dog Blog

Having family pets can be a wonderful experience. Both children and adults can enjoy the unconditional love that animals provide their owners. In many situations, family pets become so loved that they are seen as members of the family rather than simply belonging to the family. When it comes to family pets, however, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Each family is unique in its personality and lifestyle. An animal that would make a fantastic pet for one family may not quite fit in with a different family. So choosing the best family pet for the specific family should take some careful consideration.

Another point to keep in mind when selection family pets is the costs involved in keeping them. Medical treatment for pets has made great strides over the last several years. In the past, when a pet became ill or was injured, there were very limited options available to assist it. Now pets have plenty of choices when it comes to healthcare, although this can be quite expensive. Fortunately, pet insurance coverage is available to help pay for some of the expenses.

Top 5 Family Pets That Should Be Considered:

1. Dogs.

Dogs are incredibly loyal and loving creatures. Many breeds are a perfect match for families with children. Dogs tend to be very active and protective of their owners. Families that are larger and busier are good for dogs. One thing to remember is that most dog breeds need sufficient room to move around in. People looking for affectionate pets will also appreciate the personality that most dogs have.

2. Cats.

Cats are a favorite for many families because they generally require much less attention than other types of pets. They will eat, go to the bathroom, and sleep when its most convenient for them. They also prefer to reserve showing outward affection until they are ready for it. This is ideal for people that don’t want a pet that constantly needs to be tended to.

3. Birds

There are so many different kinds of birds to choose from. From small parakeets, to large parrots. There is a specific bird for just about every type of personality out there. Some families would choose a bird as the family pet because birds live in cages, and are not typically running around loose like cats and dogs are.

4. Turtles.

Turtles and tortoises are great family pets for those family members that live life at a much slower pace. These pets are also well-liked by smaller children who would be overwhelmed by the energy of a pet like a dog. They are also very easy to take care of.

5. Hamsters

Children love hamsters because they are small and furry. There are many cage attachments and toys currently available that allows them to be played with in a variety of new ways. For parents, one benefit of their children having a hamster is the possibility to teach them about the cycle of life. Since most hamster don’t live past a couple of years, there is a good probability that they will die of old age. Parents can then teach their kids the value of appreciating life, and the reality that death sometimes happens.

Once a family pet is chosen, the next thing to ponder is how to pay for the medical costs of owning a pet. Buying food and other pet-related products can quickly add up each month. However, the costs of medical treatment, both for healthy pets and those that are ill or hurt, can be much more expensive than many pet owners plans for. It’s for this reason that pet insurance is becoming quite popular.

Depending on the level of coverage that a pet owner selects, pet insurance can assist in covering routine check-ups, accidents and illnesses, and on-going medical treatment. As with all types of insurance, the amount of the deductible will influence the monthly cost of a pet insurance policy.

Finding the perfect family pet can be a joy. That being said, in order to minimize any future stress and properly plan for the unexpected, getting pet insurance can be a wise decision.

If you had a dog when you were a child, you will want your own children to experience the same positive feelings and you will get your children a dog. If you did not, you just have to read My First Best Friend to find out what an amazing thing a dog can be in a child’s life. Not only does a dog teach children responsibility, but it also helps them develop a healthy personality and a balanced emotional life.

However, bringing a dog into the family is not always a smart thing to do. You need to make sure that both the children and the adult members of the family are ready for a furry friend, otherwise someone is likely to get disappointed over time. You also need to make sure that you are selecting the right breed and you are treating your dog in a way that guarantees your children’s safety.

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If you live in a house with a large, fenced yard and would like to share this with a furry companion, then Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the best choice for you. These dogs require daily walks and play for at least half an hour per day and in return they will give you much love, politeness and devotion towards you and your whole family.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are big in size (around 25 inches height) and they have a very thick, black and brownish coat that requires daily care during their seasonal shedding. The breed is not that easy to train while they never respond well to harsh voices and hard-handed training. But of course with fairness, consistency and much praise the breed can learn herding, agility or tracking for example.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are excellent with children, but because of their big size, the best is if you never leave small children alone with the dog. The breed prefers to be the only pet in the family, because they do not get on well with other dogs and pets around them.

All in all, Bernese Mountain Dog is the best breed for big families with (older) children and a big yard to play, and in return they will be devoted to the family and will protect them in all cases in dangerous situations.

I hope this article will help you decide whether this breed is the right one for you.

As BMDs are normally calm and patient, it is certainly can be managed to have a Bernese in a family with children. But don’t except that you bring the dog home, introduce him to the child/children and everything will work our properly from the first moment.

You have to prepare your children for the arrival of the dog and you have to teach them how to behave toward the dog; you have to teach them how to respect the dog.

As dogs can’t talk, people have to learn how to communicate with them, how to read the signs the dog sends. That what your child has to do too, so accidents can be avoided. You should make your child understand that if he/she is torturing the dog (pulling the hair, staring/screaming in the face, pulling the tail or legs, etc) no matter how patient the dog is, it will get bored once. This is the reason why you should never leave a dog and a child together without supervision. You have to wait until your child reaches and age when he/she understands the responsibility of owning a dog.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very intelligent breed, which is ready to do anything for people. We can get used to its impressive appearance, but its high intelligence will surprise us again and again. Bernies can be perfect working dogs, but also require the attention of the family. Its always important to call the attention to the fact that you should only buy puppies from reputable breeders. We’d like to help you in your investigation and suggest a site, which have already proved that they only sell healthy puppies from reputable breeders.

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Bernie. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Bernese Mountain Dog for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Bernese hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Bernese used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Bernie will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Bernese feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Bernie as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

Finding the right Bernese puppy isn’t a very easy task. As it shouldn’t be! There must be enough time, effort and patience to sort and sift through numerous sources to find a reputable breeder that symbolizes quality. When we speak of quality of a purebred canine, this means that the dog corresponds or mirrors the correct breed type that clearly defines its physical traits from another as stated in its standards. For example, Bernese Mountain Dogs grow between 24-28 inches and weigh approximately 85 to 110 pounds, have a tri-colored double coat of jet black with white and rust markings and even a white crest on their chests.

These are only a few of many aspects that a quality breeder makes sure are passed down to develop a perfect Bernese puppy. However, as a prospective owner, one should also take the time to research on the breed itself and how to determine if the breeder is genuine. Here are some red flags to be aware of when buying a Bernese Mountain Dog: Read the rest of this entry »