Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Good with Kids? Compelet Answer

Are you thinking about, “Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with kids?” Despite answering it as “yes,”  this question sounds controversial. 

The primary justification behind this question that seems controversial is that most dogs and puppies are considered man’s best friends. They are always treated as companions. And we all know how many people on this earth love to keep them as pets, whether what size they are or how much noise they create. 

They love you completely and are always there to support you, no matter what you are going through. 

A dog is simply too much for mankind, from being a nice buddy to being an obedient animal. Sometimes we feel as though we don’t deserve such selfless, wonderful beings.

But when it comes to newborns or kids, we still get a little scared whether these farm dogs from Berne will act well around kids or not. 

Children are fragile and require extra care from anything that might damage them, including medicines, crayons, toys, a full water bucket, or anything sharp. This list of harmful things may also include stray animals or even pets in some cases.

 So to ensure the safety of kids as a parent or guardian, you always look for ways to know about the pet you are going to adopt soon. Some of the questions that arise in your mind might include the following. 

• Contents

  Can Bernese mountain dogs be aggressive?

• Are Bernese mountain dogs a good match for first-time owners?

• Will Bernese Mountain Dog emotionally support my kids?

• Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Good Friends for kids like most other breeds?

• Are Bernese Mountain Dogs shy or playful around kids?

• Is Bernese Mountain Dogs one of the right Breeds to have at home with kids?

• Do Bernese Mountain Dogs get jealous of babies for attention?

• How do Bernese Mountain Dogs mentally affect your child’s growth?

• How beneficial are Bernese Mountain Dogs for paralyzed kids?

• Is it necessary to cut Bernese mountain dog nails to protect kids?

Huh, so many thoughts and questions!

So, let’s get to answering them.

Can Bernese Mountain Dogs be Aggressive?

I replied in a general context, then no. No, Bernese dogs are not aggressive at all. They are very obedient, friendly, playful in nature, and are a suitable dog breed for families. However, they react to certain circumstances with aggressiveness, such as the harsh behavior of owners during training sessions. 

Training sessions are usually hard pills for them to swallow as it takes time and persistency, making them burn out or tired.

Due to their soft sensitive breed nature, it’s usually thought to behave with them sensitively. So trainers adopt many different ways to train these furry heads to avoid losing their calm during sessions. 

The other reason for their aggressiveness may include a male presence of the same kind of breed in the territory that they don’t want to share with other males. If you’re adopting a male Bernese, you may also need to ensure that there are no other male Bernese around. However, the male Bernese adult does not feel aggressive towards young male puppies. 

The other factor for aggression is that a dog is aggressive, which is quite rare.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs A Good Match for First-Time Owners?

First-time pet owner struggles are known to everyone that has been through that stage, including me. But practically speaking, Bernese Mountain Dogs have amazing social skills and temperament, but you’ll need to train them.

They’re naturally good-natured and people-pleasers, so most of the time, they will try to be with you to please you in every manner. As compared to other dogs and other animals they are the best family dog or animal one should have. 

You won’t find them messing around with your rules once you properly communicate what you do and don’t like in your house. 

Their intelligence and energy level are pretty high, so they will retain most of the guidelines you give to them. 

However, you will have to take care of their mental and emotional state because most first-time owners cannot cater to their pets’ emotional and mental needs. Feeding them at proper timings doesn’t mean that they’re happy and content. Pets have physical, emotional, and mental needs that need to be fulfilled. Keeping them mostly separate can cause separation anxiety. 

As Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to severe health issues such as cancer, elbow dysplasia, and bone diseases, their life expectancy is significantly less. You will need to look after their medical state and make them perform sufficient exercise for bone and other diseases. 

Cold weather conditions can increase health problems for large breeds that should be closely supervised. Exercise needs should be met for mental stimulation especially in cold climates.

Ensuring that your dog or puppy doesn’t act like a couch potato will help it stay active during sickness. Trying to fulfill dogs’ exercise needs by performing enough exercise may increase life expectancy.

Keeping a Bernese Mountain Dog is undoubtedly expensive, but it can easily thrive with little care and love. Slowly and gradually, they will become part of your whole family and adhere to your rules even in front of strangers.

Will Bernese Mountain Dog Emotionally Support my Young kids?

Bernese is a playful and kid-friendly family dog. They can become good adult size emotional supporters for your young kids. They love being loved, and they also love loving kids. 

Because of the Bernese dog’s playful nature, there is no doubt they have strong bonding with kids. They love kids a lot. You may predict their attachment potential by considering that small children and dogs find small things fascinating. 

They may be different but not wholly incompatible. For parents, sometimes work doesn’t allow them to be with their kids and worry about their kids being alone at home. But these excellent family dogs save quite a lot of parents from this embarrassment and regret. 

Kids with good family emotional support will have a sense of self-assurance lacking in children who do not get family emotional support at all. Early emotional support determines many things that a child will have as an adult. It can also impact career choices, love life, and emotional trust levels that a person has. 

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Good Friends for Kids Like Most other Breeds?

Bernese dogs, like other companion dogs, are pretty modest. They can have a good time and also have the potential to become best friends with children for a great many years. 

Their calm disposition and protectiveness when it comes to kids are wholesome. To call a Bernese dog or a puppy just like other large dogs or small dogs would be an understatement. 

They love to please kids and may also share some of their toys no matter their age. However, it would help if you keep an eye out for any missing toys because they may misplace your kid’s toys, resulting in laments. 

They may also fight with your kid to have one of their toys. This fight may seem very childish, but obviously, why not?

They both adore cute little stuff that they can play with. So, much as humans fight with their buddies about silly things, your Bernese dog or puppy may strike your child for a toy. Don’t worry; in most cases, they don’t hit hard.

Because of its size, a Berner may inadvertently knock over your kiddos or toddlers. Berners puppies will often pursue, pinch, or bite as a sort of play to get their toy or chase it.

It might be difficult to teach kids how to respond to these innate responses of Bernese. Yet you must teach your children not to grip skin or hair, or pull on legs or tails.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Shy or Playful around kids?

Bernese enjoy being playful and active around people they love. You’ll never find them shy in front of family members unless something happens that makes them change their minds. 

Usually, kids are always out to play, so, likely, your Bernese indoor dog or puppy will also want to join some outdoor family activities with your kids. 

In this case, you may have to ensure that they don’t plan on something that might later become a bitter regretful memory, for instance running on the roadside and crashing into cars. 

You’ll undoubtedly need to give them a designated outside space and restrict access to other locations so that your children or dog do not injure themselves. It’s critical to expose them to outside or under-sun activities to maintain their lively temperament as sunlight is beneficial for dogs and children’s health. 

Sunlight helps them absorb calcium in their bodies and strengthens their immune systems. 

Is Bernese Mountain Dogs one of the Right Breeds to have at Home with Kids?

Definitely, yes. They’re one of the super cutest, cuddly, generous, humble, and respectful dogs one can have. I mean, why not?

According to the American Kennel Club, Bernese mountain dogs are very affectionate with family members and good with children. 

The ratings American Kennel Club has given show that Bernese mountain dogs are among the best suitable dog breeds to have at home. 

Because of the double coat with wooly undercoat and longer outer dog hair, the issue with this dog breed is that it does a lot of shedding, and you’ll need to invest a lot of time in their maintenance. You may also need to clean the house with more effort. 

They mainly shed fur in winters and summers and have a higher rate of shedding furs than German Shepherds. 

Weekly brushing may help you get rid of their hairs, but if they have curly hair, they may need daily brushing to avoid hair knots and possible skin health issues. 

Does Bernese Get Jealous of Babies or kids for Attention?

Do you recall those online memes or videos when individuals claim their pets are envious of their family members’ affection and attention for kids? Yes, it’s true. An animal does get jealous sometimes but always ensures not to mix their sad or anxious feelings with jealousy. 

Their jealous feelings might become evident when they start staring at you. Their jealousy is usually harmless as they won’t hurt your kid or you, but they will definitely make you see or listen to those dilated eyes or howl so that you realize they are feeling left out. 

They may also start licking your feet or face to make you rub their back. Bernese Mountain Dogs are huge on attention; they need love and attention every second hour.

Feeling left out can make them jealous of anyone; it can even make them jealous of other pets, humans, or kids. If, in case, Bernese mountain dogs do such staring or howling, it’ll be your responsibility to give them the love and attention they deserve. 

After all, dogs aren’t only showpieces for your inner content; they’re also a responsibility you agreed to bear in the first place. 

How do Bernese Mountain Dogs Affect your Child’s Growth Mentally?

Bernese mountain dogs are famous for their smart brains. They love being active and make sure to keep themselves engaged with something or someone for every single minute. 

As their origin is Switzerland, Bernese mountain dogs were the most trusted large breed dogs for pulling carts in dog carting competitions in the 1850s. It is believed only the smartest dogs were trusted for this job back then. 

Bernese dogs help your children learn a lot of things that they are unable to learn in kindergarten or school. A lot of learning from Bernese Mountain Dogs might relate to behavioral patterns. 

They can make your children learn virtues like empathy, generosity, emotional decision-making, and affection. They can also make your children learn different behaviors and manners, especially if trained.

The fascinating thing about Bernese mountain dogs is that they may also help your infants take their first steps for walking. 

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Beneficial for Paralyzed or Autistic Kids?

As I indicated before, they’re ideal for your newborns who are just starting to walk. 

However, you may or may not know that they form the best service dogs for veterinary services. 

Bernese mountain dogs can help people with diabetes, PTSD, Paralysis, Blindness, Epilepsy, Dementia, including many other diseases. 

No matter what disease people have, it can be a psychiatric disorder, physical disorder, speaking disability, or listening disability; Bernese mountain dogs always find a way to support them. 

They are taught to assist such individuals in the greatest way possible; thus, they use the notes from their training sessions to assist people.

The nicest part about these canines working in veterinary clinics is that they’ve access to areas where regular pets are not permitted. 

Veterinary service dogs are carefully trained for children with paralysis and autism. Their sixth sense makes them more aware of any minor assistance required by the autistic or paralyzed young child. 

Is it Necessary to Cut Bernese Mountain Dog’s Nails to Protect kids?

Pedicure for Bernese mountain dogs is a must if you keep them indoors. If you’re eager to keep their nails long, their sharp nails may inadvertently injure the children; as a result, cutting them is essential.

You may avoid cutting their nails since it is a defense mechanism, but cutting their nails does not harm or jeopardize their capacity to defend themselves. Instead, it aids in maintaining clean nails and the prevention of infections, as nails tend to accumulate germs.

Taking the dog to the vet to get their nails trimmed and cleaned is the finest option. The vet will examine the dog’s nails and feet to ensure no infections or unclean nails. 

All pets, including cats, require regular checkups and ‘pawdicures’. It’s necessary not only for the protection of children but also for pets’ health, especially if you live in a small apartment. 

The theory behind nail trimming is that if you leave your dog’s nails growing too long, they will eventually break and create infection because dogs don’t wash their paws. If your dog’s nails don’t break on their own, they may make it difficult for it to move its feet properly on the ground.

Can you Train your Bernese Dog Breeds to Take Care of kids in a State of Trouble?

Since Bernese Mountain Dogs are very smart, you can train them for security purposes. But for that, you’ll need to make disciplinary rules for your dog. 

The first step will be to make your family dog know people who are part of the family and who are not. They should be completely able to distinguish between a family member and a stranger and familiar or unfamiliar territories. It also includes distinguishing your house boundaries as their territories. 

This distinction will help Bernese mountain dogs observe emotional differences between a family member and a stranger.

For this training, you will also need to give them obedience training lessons such as following commands like sit, move forward, stroll, don’t bark, run, stop, attack, etc. 

During obedience training lessons, you’ll need to break all of the dog’s bad habits so that he becomes capable of focusing on your words and listening with concentration. 

Practicing positive reinforcement with a family dog also helps your Bernese mountain dog and puppy learn fast and follow the rules. You may also punish them for being bad dogs by giving them silent treatment or not communicating with them. Simple ignorance will make the dog regret his bad habit.

Once you are done with their training sessions, keep testing their behaviors with the kids. Appreciate them for being nice and reward them with their favorite treats.

As they’re highly trainable, training them will let you know how good Bernese mountain dogs are with kids and how much they love kids selflessly. 

Their interactions with people have always been cordial, but they can now connect with humans considerably more effectively with little training. 

Final Thoughts

Despite being of gigantic size, health issues, the  Bernese Mountain dogs are one of the best dogs to get along with kids. You can have yours without giving a second thought to, “are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with kids?” Just try to interact with them in a generous manner, you’ll never be sad again!