Moose the dog

Three years a young dog, three years a good dog, and three years an old dog. Anything more is a gift from God.

Gentlest of giants, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a working breed with origins in the Swiss Alps as a farm hand and drafting animal. Our Moose is a little over 90 pounds and lives a life of urban comfort far removed from his industrious heritage. Everywhere we go, we meet many curious dog lovers with questions about Berners. Like any proud pet parent, we love talking about our four-legged child. Below I’ve compiled our greatest hits.

How old is Moose?

Our furry bundle of joy was born on April 20, 2017. Appropriately, his appetite is insatiable.

What kind of temperament can you expect from a Berner?

Moose is typical of his breed, which is to say he’s mellow by nature, a bit of a derp, wary of strangers, and very sensitive. Those big eyes can guilt you into anything!

Are Berners easy to train?

Your mileage may vary, but as with most dogs, Berners need consistency and early, sustained socialization. We enrolled Moose in puppy kindergarten when he was too young for the dog park and, to this day, we use mealtimes to teach new commands and reinforce old ones.

Do Berners shed?

Yes, to the extent that we own three vacuums.

How much does it cost to care for Moose?

We expect to spend at least $7,500 annually to keep Moose happy, handsome, and healthy. This includes food and treats, annual physical and shots, preventatives (fleas, ticks, worms), grooming, pet insurance, and doggie daycamp twice a week.

Is pet insurance necessary?

We think so. In addition to the usual big dog predispositions (such as joint issues), the BMD has a limited genetic foundation—even for purebreds, having almost gone extinct in the shadow of the St. Bernard, the combustion engine, and two world wars. With so many scary possibilities, pet insurance gives us peace of mind that we are financially prepared to provide Moose with the best and fullest veterinary care.

What are your big dog essentials?

After much trial and error, we can only rave about the items below (no ads/sponsors).

Product	Why We Love It
Outward Hound Fun Feeder	Slows down our ravenous eater, which helps prevent bloat (!)
Hurtta Torrent Coat	It has hind leg loopies to keep the jacket from sliding off the dog's back
Ruff and Tumble Drying Coat	After a good toweling, this "dog robe" absorbs any residual moisture and protects our rugs from Moose's post-bath crazies
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler	Helps our cold-loving mountain dog better tolerate increasingly hotter mid-Atlantic summers
Ruffwear Dirtbag	The material of this seat cover is thin, durable, and fits in a compact washer with room to spare — easily one of the best investments we've made in pet accessories
Geigerrig Hydration Engine	The pressurized system is great for filling up water bowls on the trail and for hosing down dirty paws
Kurgo Collaps A Bowl	Made of food-grade silicone and one of the larger dog travel bowls available
Kurgo Snout About	Literal life and limb saver — stopped the leash pulling on Day One of use
Oster Undercoat Rake	Effectively removes loose undercoat hair - a must-have for any breed with a thick double coat
Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste	Approved and verified by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to prevent plaque buildup
K&H Classy Go Soft Crate	Stylish and easy to set up and take down — we haven't had any issues with durability, but Moose is also very respectful of his confines
Wilderdog leashes	The colors! and the waterproof leash feels great in your hand
Ruffwear Float Coat	Helps extend pool time for our inefficient swimmer

Where can I learn more about Berners?

bmdinfo.org is a fantastic resource for all things BMD-related.

For general news, deep dives, and color commentary on veterinary topics:

The SkeptVet (http://skeptvet.com/)
dvm360 (http://www.dvm360.com/)