Every dog breed has historical roots, including those of the great bernese mountain dog. This breed’s roots appear to date back to approximately two thousand years ago when mastiff type canines were brought into Switzerland by the Romans. The purpose of these dogs was to drive and guard the herds of the Romans. The berner is believed to have its origins dating back to that particular time.

Throughout the centuries, following their introduction to Switzerland, these mountain dogs were consistently used as farmer’s dogs to tend to the livestock. However, they started becoming in danger of extinction at the end of the 1800’s. The Swiss noticed the dwindling breed and felt that it would be a shame to let a dog with such good qualities die out. Therefore, they began promoting the breed’s growth. Throughout the early 1900’s, what is known today as the great bernese mountain dog, began to flourish and also be noticed in other countries besides its native Switzerland. It is due to the interest of bernese mountain dog breeders that this breed did not expire.

While the first pair of this particular breed of dog were brought to the United States in 1926, they were not successfully registered with the American Kennel Club by their owner. So, it was not until 1937 that the AKC recognized the breed in an official capacity when another owner was successful in obtaining registration for his pair of canines. In 1968, some owners and breeders banded together to form a club called the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America. Since then, these dogs have appeared in many different countries. Many people own them as pets, while some still continue to use them for their original purpose, as a farmer’s dog.

Today, one can find bernese mountain dog puppies for sale in many locations. However, they are not cheap. If one is planning a bernese mountain dog adoption, he or she should be prepared to pay many hundreds of dollars to acquire one of these canines. If one is not able to invest such an amount, it is possible that a bernese mountain dog mix may be quite suitable.