Australian ShepherdBernese Mountain Dog is a mix of Australian Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dogs. This breed is also known as Berner Aussie. These intelligent and attractive breeds make superb working dogs and cuddly pets in your loving home. The outcome of mixing Australian Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog is a stunning dog with excellent working abilities and exceptional intellect. This hybrid breed is very healthy, which adds to its appeal. This is a breed that will not cause you any health problems. They are a lively, loyal, exuberant dog breed and all-around endearing.
Incidentally, this breed has very little connection to Australia. It was created as a breed in the early nineteenth century in the United States. Australian Shepherds are supposed to be genetically connected to Shepherds and Collies from Spain’s Basque region. They were bred primarily as herding and stock dogs on cattle ranches in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Following World War II, these dogs became increasingly popular.
The Molosser, an ancient breed, stands out as one of the most adaptable and essential in the evolution of several Mastiff-type dogs, notably Berners. The four Swiss Sennenhund breeds, including the Bernese Mountain Dog, are thought to have evolved from crosses between Swiss farm dogs and the Molosser or Mastiff-type dogs brought with the Romans when they penetrated the Alps in the first century B.C.
Table of Contents
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Great family dogs
Needs a larger space
Loyal and affectionate
Hyperactive
Protective
High maintenance
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Basic Information
Activities: Hunting, family dogs, working dogs, agile, intelligent
Litter size: 6 – 8 puppies
Life span: 8 – 11 years
Other names: Berner Aussie
Australian Shepherd Vs. Bernese Mountain Dog: A Comparison
Features
Australian Shepherd
Bernese Mountain Dog
Image
Origin
The United States
Switzerland
Height
18-23 inches
23 – 28 inches
Weight
40-65 pounds
70 – 115 pounds
Size
Medium
Large
Group
Herding
Working dogs
Children Compatibility
High
High
Family Compatibility
High
High
Pets Compatibility
High
Low to medium
Barking Level
Medium to high
Medium to high
Shedding Level
Medium to high
High
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
Medium to high
Medium to high
Overall Health
Medium to high
Low
Energy
High
Medium to high
Exercise Needs
High
Medium
Trainability
High
Medium to high
Activities
Companion, sports, obedience, agility
Drive cattle, pull carts, family protection
Complication in Breeding
No
No
Litter Size
6-7 puppies
8 puppies
Lifespan
12-15 years
6 – 10 years
Other Names
Spanish Shepherd, Pastor dogs, Bob-Tails, Blue Heelers, New Mexican Shepherds, California Shepherds
Berner, Berner Sennenhund
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Personality
Bernese Mountain Dogs are huge and hefty. You’ll only be able to pick up and snuggle these puppies for about the first month or two of their lives until they get too big and heavy for you to handle. Male Bernese Mountain Dogs can reach a height of 27.5 inches, while females can reach 26 inches. They will weigh anywhere from 70 to 115 pounds, which is comparable to the mass of some adults. They’re strong dogs with large paws and moderate coats that might be straight on different regions of their bodies. Their fur comprises three color schemes: black, white, and rust, with black dominating their backs and white dominating the middle of their chest and face.
Australian Shepherds are almost the same height as Bernese mountain dogs, they can reach up to 18 to 23 inches based on whether they’re male or female, but they only weigh half as much, weighing around 65 pounds at most. The most distinguishing aspect of Aussies is their distinctive coloring and markings, including blue merle, liver red merle, black, and red, with white patterns on many, if not all, of their coats. This medium-sized dog has moderate-length hair, and its fleece can become highly fluffy in colder living conditions. Their fur can be straight, but they have a shorter face and a thicker coat around their legs and paws. These puppies have keen light eyes that darken as they get older, but they’re still notably lighter than those of other dog breeds.
Although the mixed breed Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog is still a giant breed that can weigh up to 100 pounds, they are lighter than Bernese Mountain Dogs. They’ll reach a height of 23-25 inches, depending on whether they’re male or female, and have a thick coat with coloration from both parent breeds. Nevertheless, some will have more apparent colors, markings, and traits from one parent breed than the other.
Friendliness Overview
Affectionate
Medium to high
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
Medium to high
Pet-friendly
Medium to high
Stranger-friendly
Medium to high
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment
Low
Good for new owners
Low to medium
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low to medium
Cold tolerance
Medium to high
Heat tolerance
Low to medium
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Temperament
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog mix is incredibly affectionate and loving. They get along well with children and enjoy being around people. None of these breeds is known to have aggressiveness issues. However, some research suggests that the Australian Shepherd is slightly more hostile toward other canines than the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Australian Shepherds are noted for being devoted to their families, easy to train, and eager to work. Some Australians are cautious towards visitors and protective of their loved ones. This must be remembered when instructing them. When they are young, sociability should be prioritized.
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Training
Bernese Mountain Dog Australian Shepherd Mix are working dogs with lots of benefits, one of which is their capacity to be trained. You can teach a Berner or Australian Shepherd puppy to be the perfect dog for your home if you adopt one as a puppy. They are brilliant and will grasp the tricks very quickly. Positive reinforcement works best for this breed as well. However, they will need regular training and consistency to stay healthy and happy.
Trainability Overview
Easy to train
Medium to high
Intelligence
Medium to high
Prey drive
Medium to high
Mouthiness tendencies
Medium to high
Barking and howling tendencies
Medium to high
Wanderlust tendencies
Medium to high
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Exercise Needs
To be fit, every working dog requires a lot of activity. It is not any different for this breed. These dogs will not enjoy sitting indoors all day (which is why they are not suggested for families that live in an apartment or a tiny house). An adult Australian Shepherd should exercise for 30-60 minutes each day. They enjoy fetch and may be taught to catch a frisbee if adequately trained. Some owners take their Aussies for long runs to burn off excess energy but training them not to hunt while strolling with you as puppies is vital because of their herding nature.
Harness training is the way to go when it comes to getting your Aussie to exercise outside. They are medium breeds, so harness training will be easy for them. Just ensure you get the correct harness size for your Aussie. Berners should perhaps exercise for up to 60 minutes each day. They can acquire digging or chewing habits if they don’t get enough exercise, making them tough to manage in a house or apartment without a yard. Berners also enjoy fetch, long walks, and socializing with other dogs at the park.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
Medium to high
Intensity
Medium to high
Exercise needs
Medium to high
Playfulness
Medium to high
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Grooming
If you’re searching for a breed that requires little grooming, a Berner Aussie mix isn’t the breed for you. These Bernese mountain dog crossbreeds have a heavy coat that frequently sheds year-round, especially in summer. You should anticipate finding fur all over your house, including areas you didn’t expect. Their back undercoats can quickly become tangled and smelly, hence it’s important to comb and wash your Berner Aussie after a long muddy, or rainy walk.
These breeds are not hypoallergenic, and if anybody in your family suffers from allergies, you should keep them away from them or at the very least give them antihistamines. They’ll need to be brushed daily to reduce shedding as much as possible and have their nails clipped and groomed at the canine parlor throughout the shedding season. They’ll need toenail cuts regularly and have their teeth clean and ears cleaned out occasionally, just like any other breed. This can, however, be included in your pooch’s grooming services.
Grooming Overview
Easy to groom
Low to medium
Drooling tendencies
Medium
Amount of shedding
Medium to high
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Health
Mixed breeds are generally healthy. There are some health issues to which Bernese Mountain Dog Australian Shepherd are susceptible to
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a disorder that affects dogs during their growing phase. It causes the hip joint to relax, resulting in discomfort and dysfunction. The cartilage and bones in the dog’s hip start to wear away as he develops. This leads to arthritis, muscular atrophy, and decreased mobility over time.
Elbow Dysplasia: This disorder occurs when the elbow joint bones don’t fit appropriately. This condition generates abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing and painful osteoarthritis.
Cancer: Cancer can be cured by surgical removal of tumors and chemotherapy. However, it is essential not to ignore the symptoms and diagnose them earlier.
Epilepsy: This is the most prevalent neurological disease in canines, concerning about 0.75 percent of the population. Epilepsy is a broad name for disorders characterized by repeated, uncontrollable seizures caused by a brain defect.
Deafness: Dogs, like people, can develop hearing loss as they age. Because this is usually a slow process, it might be challenging to observe. The eardrums become less flexible, and sounds are less efficiently transferred. Chronic ear infections cause some dogs to lose their hearing.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Many eye infections involve the retina’s slow deterioration. In the initial phases, puppies become night-blind. As it progresses, they lose their eyesight during the daytime as well. However, most canines slowly adapt to their slight or complete sight loss as long as their home surroundings remain the same.
Autoimmune Thyroiditis: When a dog’s immune system damages the thyroid gland, it is called autoimmune thyroiditis. Losing weight, vomiting, diarrhea, increased hunger, and heart murmurs are signs of this illness.
Cataracts: As in humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow gradually. Cataracts may develop at any age and often don’t damage vision, although they cause vision loss in some cases. A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist certifies the breeding dogs after testing them free of hereditary eye disease before breeding. Usually, cataracts can be removed surgically with good results.
Health Overview
Overall health
Medium
Weight gaining tendencies
Medium to high
Size
Medium to high
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Diet and Nutrition
The most vital thing is to feed your Berner Aussie a high-quality diet that includes excellent, locally obtained protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Every day, an Australian Shepherd must have one and a half to two and a half cups of dry dog food, split into two meals. You’ll need to buy Bernese Mountain Dog food that’s been carefully prepared for huge canines. Every day, a Berner consumes 2.5-3 cups of dry food. Therefore, consult a vet about their diet plan.
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Living Condition
Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog needs a home with a fenced backyard to shed their sweat. They will not do good in a studio home or an apartment. They will also need a family who will spend enough time with them. They might get separation anxiety if not given adequate time. They need proper exercise, hence, they should not be kept indoors round the clock. This can make them destructive.
Adding an Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog
Things to remember before adding an Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain puppy in your family
Connect with a reputable breeder before getting an Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain puppy. A reputable breeder will help you with the vaccination certificates, gene testing certificates, and other medical histories. A reputable breeder will also help you meet with purebred parents. This will help you get the authenticity and lineage of the breed.
Cost of an Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Puppy
The cost of an Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain puppy will range from $1000 to $2500.
