Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Easy to Train?
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Bernese Mountain Dogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Conclusion on Bernese Mountain Dog Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Bernese Mountain Dog breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Bernese Mountain Dog by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Bernese Mountain Dog.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Bernese Mountain Dog for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog.
The summary table below shows the score of the Bernese Mountain Dog for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Separation Related Behavior | 9.7 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 7.3 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 48.8 percent |
| Energy Level | 42.1 percent |
| Excitability | 40.1 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 25.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 22.7 percent |
| Stubbornness | 21.9 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 19.8 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 19.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 18.8 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 12.7 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 12.4 percent |
| Prey Drive | 11.3 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Bernese Mountain Dog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Bernese Mountain Dog, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Bernese Mountain Dog.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 102 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 18.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 20.1 % |
| 100 | Eurasier | 20.0 % |
| 101 | Collie | 19.3 % |
| 102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 18.8 % |
| 103 | Portuguese Water Dog | 18.7 % |
| 104 | Basset Hound | 17.1 % |
| 105 | Borzoi | 16.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 102 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has an owner-directed-aggression score of 7.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Belgian Tervuren | 7.7 % |
| 100 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 7.7 % |
| 101 | Boston Terrier | 7.6 % |
| 102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 7.3 % |
| 103 | Irish Wolfhound | 7.2 % |
| 104 | Australian Shepherd | 7.0 % |
| 105 | Brittany | 6.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 113 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a dog-directed aggression score of 19.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
| 111 | Shetland Sheepdog | 20.3 % |
| 112 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 20.1 % |
| 113 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.5 % |
| 114 | Whippet | 19.3 % |
| 115 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 19.3 % |
| 116 | Greyhound | 18.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are somewhat fearful of strangers.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks average for fear of strangers.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a stranger-directed-fear score of 25.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Doberman Pinscher | 27.3 % |
| 67 | German Shepherd | 27.3 % |
| 68 | Boxer | 27.1 % |
| 69 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 25.3 % |
| 70 | Bullmastiff | 24.8 % |
| 71 | Eurasier | 24.2 % |
| 72 | Schipperke | 23.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for fear of other dogs.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 99 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a dog-directed-fear score of 22.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Akita | 23.4 % |
| 97 | English Bulldog | 23.0 % |
| 98 | Chinook | 22.8 % |
| 99 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 22.7 % |
| 100 | Chow Chow | 21.7 % |
| 101 | Old English Sheepdog | 21.1 % |
| 102 | Redbone Coonhound | 20.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks low for non-social fear.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 90 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a nonsocial-fear score of 19.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Havanese | 20.7 % |
| 88 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 20.2 % |
| 89 | Scottish Terrier | 19.9 % |
| 90 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.8 % |
| 91 | Belgian Malinois | 19.7 % |
| 92 | Labrador Retriever | 19.7 % |
| 93 | Vizsla | 19.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 119 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a dog-rivalry score of 12.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
| 117 | Labrador Retriever | 15.0 % |
| 118 | Border Terrier | 13.8 % |
| 119 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.4 % |
| 120 | Scottish Terrier | 8.2 % |
| 121 | Italian Greyhound | 6.8 % |
| 122 | Norwegian Elkhound | 5.9 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks high for trainability.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 35 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the trainability of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a trainability score of 78.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Papillon | 78.8 % |
| 33 | Labrador Retriever | 78.8 % |
| 34 | Weimaraner | 78.8 % |
| 35 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 78.1 % |
| 36 | Chinook | 76.4 % |
| 37 | Poodle (Miniature) | 76.4 % |
| 38 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 76.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Bernese Mountain Dog is and how the intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Bernese Mountain Dog is.
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 121 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a chasing score of 11.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Keeshond | 18.5 % |
| 119 | Mastiff (English) | 18.2 % |
| 120 | Great Pyrenees | 14.3 % |
| 121 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 11.3 % |
| 122 | Shih Tzu | 10.7 % |
| 123 | Bulldog | 7.5 % |
| 124 | Pug | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 71 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 48.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
| 69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
| 70 | Brittany | 49.1 % |
| 71 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 48.8 % |
| 72 | French Bulldog | 48.7 % |
| 73 | Whippet | 48.6 % |
| 74 | Pointer | 48.1 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 120 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a separation anxiety score of 9.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 13.6 % |
| 118 | Scottish Terrier | 10.6 % |
| 119 | Norwegian Elkhound | 10.4 % |
| 120 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 9.7 % |
| 121 | Eurasier | 9.0 % |
| 122 | Giant Schnauzer | 8.2 % |
| 123 | Borzoi | 4.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are not touch-sensitive.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks very low for touch sensitivity.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a touch-sensitivity score of 12.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | Golden Retriever | 14.5 % |
| 116 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 13.5 % |
| 117 | Saint Bernard | 12.8 % |
| 118 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.7 % |
| 119 | Irish Water Spaniel | 12.0 % |
| 120 | Portuguese Water Dog | 11.8 % |
| 121 | Gordon Setter | 11.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks low for excitability.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 80 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has an excitability score of 40.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | Shetland Sheepdog | 41.7 % |
| 78 | Newfoundland | 40.6 % |
| 79 | Bouvier des Flandres | 40.6 % |
| 80 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 40.1 % |
| 81 | Standard Schnauzer | 39.3 % |
| 82 | Irish Setter | 39.1 % |
| 83 | Tibetan Terrier | 38.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bernese Mountain Dogs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are a little bit energetic.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks low for energy level.
The Bernese Mountain Dog ranks number 94 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Bernese Mountain Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has an energy-level score of 42.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Shiba Inu | 44.4 % |
| 92 | Bearded Collie | 42.6 % |
| 93 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 42.4 % |
| 94 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 42.1 % |
| 95 | Borzoi | 42.0 % |
| 96 | Bullmastiff | 40.1 % |
| 97 | Collie | 38.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Bernese Mountain Dog Temperament
The temperament of your Bernese Mountain Dog comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Bernese Mountain Dog is exposed to.
You cannot change your Bernese Mountain Dog`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Bernese Mountain Dog to.
Exposing your Bernese Mountain Dog to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Bernese Mountain Dog to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Bernese Mountain Dog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Bernese Mountain Dog.
If you think the Bernese Mountain Dog is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Bernese Mountain Dogs cost and Bernese Mountain Dog puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Bernese Mountain Dog breeders in the United States and the prices of their Bernese Mountain Dog puppies.