Is a Bernese Mountain Dog the right choice for you? 

Our club is committed to improving and protecting the Bernese Mountain Dog now and in the future. We are fighting to keep our dogs out of puppy mills and pet stores. To that end we provide a list of the breeders in our club below who follow an approved code of ethics. And we point you to information about the true cost and commitment of being owned by a Bernese Mountain Dog. 

Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) Info Series about cost, common health concerns, Berners in the family, breed-appropriate activities and more. 

Chat with a BMDCA Breed Ambassador about whether a Berner is a fit for your lifestyle. 
Review American Kennel Club's About Buying a Dog

Are you thinking about paying money for a cross-breed? Please read this first... 

News flash: Bernerdoodles do shed. 

Because the genetic makeup is diverse from the Poodle genes and the Bernese Mountain Dog genes, the resultant first generation (F1) offspring is a complete genetic gamble. Such cross-bred dogs can wind up any size, color, coat texture and temperament. Behavior varies with the dog and within a litter with some puppies more poodle-like in attitude and others somewhat like the Bernese Mountain Dog. Finally, crossbred dogs are prone to all the genetic disease of both breeds and offer none of the advantages that owning a purebred dog has to offer. 

For more information, please visit the BMDCA discussion of cross-breeding and Bernerdoodles. 

Actively Looking for a puppy?

We offer a great tools to help you become an informed buyer and to guide you to a conscientious breeder. Our free puppy packet (PDF) will equip you to 

Interview a breeder about the health and quality of the puppy.  ​Identify red flags in a breeder’s responses – Are you dealing with a puppy mill or backyard breeder? 

FINDING AN ETHICAL BREEDER 

The BMDCO Breeder List is created to assist potential puppy owners with making contact with BMDCA/BMDCO members who breed. 

The BMDCO Breeder List participants have met the following requirements: 
• Be a member in good standing of the BMDCO (having signed the Code of Conduct) 
• Be a member in good standing of the BMDCA (having signed the Code of Conduct) 
• Have had at least one litter 
• Participate in AKC/BMDCA conformation and/or performance events 

The BMDCO does not inspect, monitor or regulate the breeding or business practices of it Breeder List participants.  Moreover, it does not become involved in resolving disputes between participants and their customers. Accordingly, the BMDCO does not endorse, guarantee, recommend or otherwise approve any particular breeder(s) or guarantee or accept any responsibility for the health, temperament or any other aspect of the dogs sold by the participants. 

The BMDCO strongly encourages all potential puppy owners to perform their due diligence with any breeder they contact. Please visit our Breeder Red Flags page and download our free puppy packet which includes a health checklist, some red flags to watch for, and a list of questions to ask any breeder. 

Debby Jones (Oregon) - lazyjbernese@msn.com 

Michelle and Angela Merfeld (Oregon) - coburghillsbmd@gmail.com 

Sherry Schoorl (Oregon) - schurlike@comcast.net 

Anne Summers (Oregon) – summersbmds@gmail.com

Cindy Switzler (Oregon) - werlwindbmd@bctonline.com 

Fred and Karon Thomas (Washington) - 4ts-bmd@charter.net 

Susan Thompson (Washington) - forestwalkbmd@hotmail.com 

Lori Jacobson (Washington) - lorigjacobson@gmail.com

It is important to know that we do not endorse, inspect, guarantee or otherwise approve any particular breeder(s). This list is offered to you as an additional tool to help you get the quality puppy you desire. 

Warning! Be wary of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies being sold without the mother present.

The more popular this breed becomes, the more we see brokers importing puppies from Eastern Europe, where the economies are still recovering from the fall of the Soviet Union. The pups are bought cheaply and sold here in the States for large profits. Very few of these poor puppies are in good health. Even fewer have been cared for properly. They are frequently shipped wholesale before being fully weaned. They are stressed and neglected from the get go, and then treated inhumanely on their journey to America. 

In addition, please be cautious about puppies easily available through ads in the newspaper, dog publications or Internet. At times reputable breeders use these mediums to help with public education and find good homes for future litters. Unfortunately, it is more often true that a puppy available on demand without careful screening is being sold by a foreign or domestic puppy mill or is the product of a backyard breeder who isn't able to find enough homes for their recent litter. 

Watch for no AKC registration. Lack of documentation often signals that the puppy was imported. (Please know that AKC registration isn't a guarantee of a quality dog either. Always research the breeder.) 

Read our Red Flags FAQ > 

BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG HEALTH 

Research the Health of a Puppy's Family Line 

The Berner Garde Foundation maintains an online database where breeders and owners record health information about their dogs. Before buying a puppy, double-check to confirm that the breeder you've chosen does genetic testing on their breeding dogs. While you’re at it, verify that their breeding dogs have good hips and elbows. 

Ask the breeder for the registered names of the parents of the puppy you are considering. You can then research them and their family lines for free. If you don’t find them on Berner Garde, you can bet you are dealing with a disreputable breeder.

Recommended

The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) offers comprehensive information about Bernese Mountain Dogs online. The BMD Info Series covers a range of topics in some depth: 

  • About the breed
  • Buying a Bernese.
  • Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue
  • Health and Care
  • Activities with Berners