A friend took a picture of my Bmd, it is slightly optimized.

Sending you all the Burner love and kisses! Also sporting her new collar 💜

With summer hot months coming up, I'm curious. What do you do for your dog indoors to keep them busy? She basically just follows me around all day staring at me and I feel so guilty! I have lick pads for her, we have the treat button dispenser but now she just presses the button and stares at me and lets the food overflow in the tray...any brain toys that your dog really likes? Or any other suggestions? Unfortunately she was just diagnosed with elbow dysplasia so we are doing multiple short walks in a day to get her energy out and it doesn't have the same effect as when we would do one two mile walk every morning :/

Sending you all the Burner love and kisses! Also sporting her new collar 💜

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 4.5 months. It has been a long road, but my independent and goofy girl is officially a young adult. She has caused sleepless nights, ulcers about her care, more stress than she should, tears a plenty, and lots of laughs and love. Here is to 12 more years with her!

4.5 months .. weighed in today at 50.2 pounds

Any idea what this may be or what couldn’t have caused it?

We just got a jack russell pup and slowly introduced for about a week and our boy loves her ❤️

My boy is 8 months old and loves going on off leash walks in the woods and seeing friends at the dog park. Is he too young ? I have read people say too much running can have lasting damage for the joints. The longest we will be out is an hour.

My sweet girl turned 1 a couple weeks ago. Just recently she stopped eating all of her food every meal. She usually is crazy until she gets fed and she just doesn’t seem as interested in it currently. Acting totally normal otherwise, still has tons of energy and playing/running around. We still have her on her puppy food, is this a sign we need to switch her to adult food? I’m thankful she’s acting normal but also super worried.

Hot day yesterday for the spring meet up of Charlotte Bernies, but still a good turnout!

Does anyone have a suggestion for a bed that spans the length of your car? I have a Subaru forester for context. My pup won’t lay down in the car. She just stands and pants. Which doesn’t bother me, but I feel bad when we drive 3 hours she has to stand the whole time and she was just diagnosed with elbow dysplasia so I want to limit her standing like that in a wobbly car. I have a backseat cover hammock thing with a hard bottom, but I think she’d like it more if it was comfier? Any suggestions? Q

I'm in a little bit of a rough spot after transitioning out of the Army and am trying to make sure my girls are taken care of and I've heard of pet insurance but idk if it's worth anything. I'd love to hear from all y'all if you have any experience with it and what your experience is. Thanks for the help.

We just adopted this sweet girl yesterday from a rescue organization. She is estimated to be around 10-11 weeks old and they told us she is a Bernese Mountain Dog mix, likely with Border Collie (bordernese). Since we can’t be absolutely sure with a rescue we just wanted to get some second opinions. Some of her initial vet paperwork said “Aussie mix” and was corrected, as the rescue org explained that it is a teaching vet hospital and that was marked by mistake. We’ve wanted a BMD mix for awhile as we have 3 kids and think that temperament would be ideal, and hopefully the mix would give us a slightly longer life span!

A friend has access to ChatGPT Pro so I asked it about the history of calling Bernese Mountain Dogs a "Berner" vs a "Bernie."

I have no idea if the sources are accurate but I thought this sub would find it interesting. For what it's worth, I call mine a "Berner."

Here is the response:

Nicknames for Bernese Mountain Dogs: “Berner” vs “Bernie”

A Bernese Mountain Dog (often nicknamed a “Berner”), showcasing the breed’s characteristic tri-colored coat. Owners have affectionately coined nicknames like “Berner” and “Bernie” for this beloved breed.

Introduction

Bernese Mountain Dogs are a popular working breed from Switzerland known for their gentle temperament and striking appearance. Over time, enthusiasts and pet owners have adopted shorter nicknames to refer to the breed. Two common monikers are “Berner” and “Bernie.” This report examines the origins of these nicknames, how their usage has evolved, and their current popularity across different communities – from casual pet owners on social media to professional breeders and kennel clubs. We’ll explore when each nickname gained traction, shifts in preference over time, perceptions in various circles, and which term is more prevalent today. Relevant search trends and social media hashtag data are also included to support the findings.

Origin and Meaning of “Berner”

“Berner” directly stems from the breed’s Swiss/German heritage. In the dog’s native language (German), the breed is called “Berner Sennenhund,” literally meaning “Bernese Alpine Herdsman’s Dog.” The word Berner translates to “from Bern,” referencing the canton of Bern in Switzerland where the breed originated . In English, “Bernese” is the formal adjective for things of Bern, but fanciers often shorten this to “Berner.” For example, the American Kennel Club notes the breed is known in its native land as Berner Sennenhund, and many English-speaking owners simply call them Berners . This nickname has been in use for decades among the breed community as a convenient shorthand for Bernese Mountain Dog.

• Historical adoption: As early as the mid-20th century, when the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) was founded (1968), enthusiasts were already using “Berner” in conversation. The term appears in long-standing community resources – for instance, the oldest Bernese email list (“Berner-L”) was established to connect owners worldwide by the 1990s . Likewise, a foundation for breed health was named “Berner-Garde” in 1995 . These examples indicate “Berner” had solidified as the breed’s affectionate nickname among fanciers by the late 20th century.

• Meaning and perception: Because Berner simply denotes something (or someone) from Bern, Swiss owners might use it as well. In English-speaking circles, “Berner” is widely accepted and carries a respectful tone – it’s essentially a breed shorthand. Breed experts and kennel clubs frequently use “Berner” in literature and websites when referring to the dog in a familiar way (e.g. “the Berner is a large, tri-colored working dog…” ). In summary, “Berner” is an insider’s nickname that originated from the breed’s official name and region, and it has been common currency among Bernese enthusiasts for many years.

Origin and Usage of “Bernie”

“Bernie” as a nickname for a Bernese Mountain Dog likely emerged more informally from English-speaking pet owners. Unlike Berner, which comes from the breed’s Swiss name, “Bernie” is a playful twist on the word “Bernese.”It essentially sounds like a casual diminutive – as if one took “Bernese” and made it a friendlier name. Notably, Bernieis also a common human name (often short for Bernard or Bernadette), and this given name happens to fit naturally as a cute call-name for a Bernese dog. Many owners have chosen “Bernie” as their individual dog’s name, which in turn has led to “Bernie” being used collectively in some contexts to refer to the breed or any dog of that breed.

• Early appearances: It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when “Bernie” started to be used widely, but by the 2000s there are examples of owners and bloggers using “Bernie” in reference to their Bernese Mountain Dogs. For instance, a 2010 dog blog post refers to a Bernese simply as a “Bernie”, using it in sentences like “Another Bernie for today – and such a dignified one, too!” . In the same blog, the author even pluralizes it, saying “I’ve heard Bernies are real shedders” , indicating the term was understood (at least by readers of that blog) to mean Bernese Mountain Dogs in general. This suggests that by around 2010, some pet owners were comfortable calling the breed “Bernie” in casual conversation.

• Source of the nickname: Unlike “Berner,” “Bernie” doesn’t come from the official breed name but rather from popular culture and owner creativity. Many Bernese owners simply name their dog “Bernie” because it’s endearing and echoes the breed name. (For example, comedian Luisa Omielan quipped that she named her Bernese puppy “Bernie, short for Béarnaise sauce,” as a pun .) Over time, as more people named their Bernese dogs Bernie, the term became a sort of nickname for the breed as well – e.g., someone might say “I have a 2-year-old Bernie at home” meaning a Bernese Mountain Dog.

• Popularity as a given name: “Bernie” consistently ranks among the top names for Bernese Mountain Dogs. In fact, pet naming data shows “Bernie” near the top of popular choices. A 2024 ranking of Bernese Mountain Dog names lists Bernie in the top 10 , reflecting how many owners choose this affectionate name for their dogs. This popularity reinforces the familiarity of “Bernie” as a canine nickname in the Bernese community (much like “Max” for a German Shepherd or “Bella” for a Labrador).

Timeline of Nickname Usage and Trends

1970s–1990s: In the early decades of Bernese Mountain Dogs gaining foothold outside Switzerland (the BMDCA was founded in 1968), the term “Berner” was already in use among breed enthusiasts, though communication was largely through breed clubs and print media. The nickname “Bernie” did not feature in formal contexts; owners at the time might have named individual dogs Bernie, but it wasn’t recorded as a breed reference in club newsletters or books. The community’s focus was on the proper breed name “Bernese” or the imported term “Berner.” By the 1990s, online forums and email lists like Berner-L entrenched “Berner” as the go-to casual term for the breed .

2000s: As the internet expanded, Bernese owners formed discussion boards and later social media groups. “Berner”remained dominant in these circles, used affectionately but correctly to refer to the breed. Meanwhile, the breed’s popularity rose steadily (the Bernese Mountain Dog entered AKC’s top 50 registered breeds by the early 2000s and continued climbing). With more family pet owners (not just show breeders) acquiring Bernese, a broader range of nicknames and pet names appeared in online chatter. It’s during the 2000s that “Bernie” starts popping up more often in casual conversations online. Still, many long-time owners would primarily use “Berner” and might not even encounter “Bernie” unless talking to new owners.

2010s: This decade saw an explosion of Bernese Mountain Dog content on social media (Facebook groups, Instagram pages, YouTube, etc.) and platforms like Reddit. The nickname usage shows a subtle shift here:

• “Berner” firmly remained the insider term. On Reddit’s r/bernesemountaindogs (founded in 2013), users almost universally refer to the dogs as Berners. The subreddit name itself uses “BerneseMountainDogs,” but flair and posts commonly say “Berner.” Experienced owners answering questions or posting pictures use this term (e.g., “My Berner pup at 6 months…”). Breed clubs and informational sites online also consistently stick to “Berner.”

• “Bernie” became more visible through individual dog stories and casual mentions. For example, numerous Instagram and TikTok famous Bernese dogs carry the name “Bernie” (such as u/bigcitybernie on Instagram, a therapy dog with a large following ). As these accounts grew popular, the name Bernie became almost synonymous with a lovable Bernese personality. During the 2010s, one might encounter Facebook posts like “Our Bernie is 10 years old today!” in Bernese owner groups, where Bernie is used as the dog’s name. Occasionally, new owners on forums would use “Bernie” in referring to the breed, saying something like “We’re getting our first Bernie, any tips?” – effectively using it as shorthand. This sometimes led to gentle correction or clarification from seasoned members.

Late 2010s–2020s: By now the breed is very popular (AKC rank #21 in 2023) , and its online presence is huge. We observe two parallel usages:

• In knowledge-focused or breeder communities, “Berner” remains the overwhelmingly preferred nickname. It’s considered correct and even important to use (some enthusiasts feel “Bernie” is slightly incorrect when referring to the breed as a whole). A 2023 discussion in a Bernese subreddit illustrates this sentiment: a user notes that calling a Berner a “Bernie” feels “a little off” – “calling a berner a bernie is like calling them a bermese mtn dog. Close, just a little off” . Others in that thread agreed, one stating that people from Bern are “called Berners, not Bernies” . This indicates that long-time community members still gently police the terminology, keeping “Berner” as the breed’s nickname and viewing “Bernie” as a newcomer’s slip or simply the name of an individual dog. In fact, a Bernese owner on Facebook flatly stated: “Bernese Mountain Dogs are referred to as Bernese or Berners. Not Bernies.” , underscoring how Bernieis not traditionally used in plural or to denote the breed in those circles.

• In casual pet owner and social media communities, “Bernie” has become quite normalized as a friendly reference, but usually as a singular name. People will say “Meet Bernie, our new Bernese Mountain Dog.” They might even pun “Bernie the Bernese.” However, they’re less likely to use Bernie in the plural (you won’t often hear “I love Bernies” to mean the breed; instead they’d say “I love Bernese” or “I love Berners”). The nickname is often confined to individual identity. It’s worth noting that the rise of the name Bernie in the general public (e.g., U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders became nationally prominent in 2016) did not diminish its use for dogs – if anything, it gave the name more familiarity. Many Instagram captions will introduce a dog as “Bernie the Bernese Mountain Dog” for alliteration. By the 2020s, countless Bernese dogs named Bernie have their own social media, reinforcing the term’s association with the breed in pop culture.

To summarize the timeline: “Berner” has been consistently used from the start and remains the preferred nickname in official and enthusiast contexts. “Bernie” emerged more gradually, gaining traction particularly in the last 10-15 years through pet naming trends and social media, though it’s still more of a colloquial pet name than a formal breed nickname. The preference shift is minor – “Berner” is still dominant in breed-specific circles, but “Bernie” is now widely recognized (and used) by the broader pet-owning public.

Usage in Casual Pet Owner Communities

In day-to-day pet owner conversation (both offline and online), both nicknames appear, but with different connotations:

• Pet owners (general): Many Bernese owners refer to their dog as a Berner when talking to other dog people. For example, on Reddit or dog forums you’ll see statements like “My Berner had the same issue with shedding” – here Berner is understood by the community to mean their Bernese Mountain Dog . Owners appreciate the shorthand and camaraderie it implies (similar to a Golden Retriever owner saying “my Golden”). On the other hand, if an owner has named their dog Bernie, they’ll naturally use that in stories (e.g., “Bernie decided to jump in the mud today”). To outsiders or new acquaintances, they might clarify “he’s a Bernese Mountain Dog named Bernie.” Thus, context matters – in a breed-specific group, “Berner” will be immediately understood, while “Bernie” might initially be assumed to be the dog’s personal name.

• Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook): Hashtags and captions give a useful insight into usage. On Instagram, you’ll find millions of posts under #bernesemountaindog and also very common tags like #berner and #bernese. The hashtag #berner is widely used by owners sharing photos (often alongside #BerneseMountainDog) – it’s a quick way to label the breed. In contrast, #bernie on its own is rarely used to tag breed-specific content, because it’s too ambiguous (it could refer to people named Bernie, memes, etc.). Instead, someone might use #bernie as part of a longer tag like #berniethebernesemountaindog on a post specifically about their dog Bernie. Quantitatively, one analysis of Instagram hashtags showed #bernesemountaindog is the dominant tag (used in ~28% of related posts), with #bernese(13%) and #berner (7%) also popular . Notably, “Bernie” did not even appear in the top-tier tags for this breed content. This suggests that while people love naming their dog Bernie, when categorizing or talking about the breed on social media, they lean on Bernese or Berner for clarity. In TikTok, where short descriptors are common, you’ll see captions like “Bernese mountain dog doing xyz” or hashtags similar to Instagram. TikTok videos featuring a dog named Bernie might have on-screen text like “Bernie the Berner” – implicitly using both nicknames: Bernie as the name, Berner as the breed shorthand.

• Dog enthusiast forums: Outside of breed-specific communities, on general dog forums or Q&A sites, someone might ask a question such as “Are Berners good with kids?” or “How much exercise does a Berner need?” – expecting that readers know Berner means the breed. The term is generally understood among dog-savvy people. If someone unfamiliar with the nickname reads it, they usually pick it up quickly from context. Using “Bernie” in those settings is less common unless referencing a specific dog. Occasionally, a new owner might mistakenly pluralize it (“I love Bernies!”) or refer to the breed that way, but they usually adapt after seeing others say Berner/Berners.

• Perception: Within casual communities, there isn’t strong opposition to calling a dog “Bernie” – it’s seen as cute and friendly. However, referring to the breed as “Bernies” (plural) might come across as naive. For example, one Reddit user gently noted that calling the breed Bernie is “no biggie” but a bit off . In response, another community member replied “What? Bernie is totally fine and nothing like [saying] Burmese” , indicating that not everyone finds it wrong – some accept it as harmless slang. By and large, though, if you survey casual owners, “Berner” will be the more commonly used term when talking breed, and “Bernie” will be reserved for their specific dog (if named so) or a cutesy reference.

To illustrate, a Facebook group post might read: “I absolutely love my Berner, but the pet hair is everywhere!” – here the person chooses Berner to quickly identify the breed to fellow group members. If that same person posts a photo of their dog on their personal profile, they might caption it: “Bernie waiting for his walk” because friends know Bernie is the dog’s name. In summary, casual communities use both: Berner as the general nickname and Bernie mostly as an individual name or occasionally an informal breed term by newcomers.

Usage in Breeder and Kennel Communities

Professional breeders, breed clubs, and kennel institutions tend to favor correct terminology and breed standards, so their usage of nicknames is more restrained:

• Breed clubs and official contexts: Formal communications (club newsletters, websites, AKC profiles) typically use the full “Bernese Mountain Dog” on first reference, and may use “Bernese” or “Berner” in subsequent mentions. For example, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America’s materials often mention owning a Berner in an informal tip or anecdote . The term “Bernie” is generally absent from official literature – you would not see the AKC or a breed standard document refer to the dogs as “Bernies.” The emphasis is on the breed name or the historically rooted Berner. In educational articles and breed descriptions, one frequently finds lines like “The Bernese mountain dog, affectionately called ‘Berner,’ is …” , which reinforces that Berner is the accepted nickname even in semi-formal writing.

• Professional breeders: People who breed Bernese Mountain Dogs often incorporate Berner into their business or kennel name (e.g., “Alpine Berners” or “Timberside Berners” are fictitious examples that mirror real naming trends ). This signals to knowledgeable buyers that they specialize in the breed. Some breeders even refer to themselves as “Berner breeders.” In communications with puppy buyers, they’ll use Bernese and Berner interchangeably to ensure clarity without too much formality. It’s extremely unlikely for a breeder to ever call the breed “Bernie” in writing – aside from perhaps a specific dog’s call name. One notable exception in naming: occasionally a breeder might choose a cute name for their kennel or program that uses “Bernie”. For instance, “Bernie’s Berners” or “Kelly’s Bernies of the Rockies” are playful names found in breeder listings – here “Bernies” is being used to denote multiple Bernese Mountain Dogs, likely because the owner’s name or a foundation dog was “Bernie.” These are more branding choices than linguistic ones. In day-to-day discussion, those same breeders would still call the dogs Berners.

• Kennel Club events and shows: In show catalogs or when talking among exhibitors, people stick to the official breed name or accepted short form. You might hear in ringside chatter, “We have 10 Berners entered in Best of Breed today.”“Bernie” wouldn’t be used to refer to entries unless an individual dog named Bernie is being cheered on. Show handlers might say “I handle a Berner” rather than “I handle a Bernie,” since the latter could be mistaken for the dog’s actual name.

• Rescue organizations: Similar to breeders, rescue volunteers will use Bernese or Berner in public communications (“we have a young Berner mix available for adoption”). It’s professional and clear. Among themselves, they might nickname a particular dog Bernie if that’s his name, but they wouldn’t refer to all their dogs as “the Bernies.”

In summary, the professional and enthusiast community heavily leans on “Berner.” It’s considered the correct nickname and carries an element of breed respect. “Bernie” is virtually nonexistent as a generic term in these circles – you’ll encounter it only as a pet name. In fact, seasoned owners sometimes correct those who use “Bernie” broadly, as seen when a user thanked someone for an educational post by saying: “not trying to be rude or mean, to me calling a berner a bernie is like calling them a bermese mtn dog. close, just a little off, no biggie” . This encapsulates the breeder/enthusiast perspective: Bernie isn’t wrong, it’s just slightly off for referring to the breed as a whole.

Social Media and Search Trend Data

To gauge current popularity of “Berner” vs “Bernie,” we can look at social media metrics and search trends:

• Instagram hashtags: As mentioned, #BerneseMountainDog has a huge presence (over 4.4 million posts tagged with it as of 2025) . In comparison, #berner is also very popular among breed enthusiasts, often appearing alongside the main tag. However, #bernie on Instagram is not a reliable indicator for the dog breed because it’s used in many other contexts (people, memes, etc.). Instead, within the Bernese dog community on Instagram, people use tags like #BernersOfInstagram (for sharing photos of their Bernese dogs as a group) or creative tags such as #BernieTheBerner for individual dogs. The absence of “Bernie” in top hashtags for the breed implies that content creators default to breed-based tags (Bernese, Berner) rather than “Bernie” to reach the right audience. In essence, “Berner” is more common as a hashtag or search keyword for the breed, whereas “Bernie” might appear in captions or names.

• TikTok and Facebook: On TikTok, searching for Bernese Mountain Dog content will yield videos labeled with #bernesemountaindog, #berner, etc. The term “Bernie” might appear in video titles like “Bernie the Bernese does a trick” but not usually as a standalone tag. Facebook groups dedicated to the breed often have names like “Bernese Mountain Dog Owners” or “Berners United” rather than using “Bernie.” A quick scan of a large Bernese owner Facebook group shows far more posts referring to dogs as Berner or Bernese in the text, except where the dog’s name is Bernie (in which case they capitalize it).

• Google search trends: In web search, “Bernese Mountain Dog” is by far the most searched term (being the full breed name). The nickname “Berner” does appear in search suggestions (e.g., “Berner lifespan,” “Berner puppy”) indicating that enough people search with the shorthand. Searching for “Bernie dog” is less straightforward, as it can retrieve unrelated results (for example, a famous St. Bernard named Bernie or even Bernie Sanders memes involving dogs). Google Trends comparisons (while not specifically provided here) would likely show “Bernese Mountain Dog” > “Berner (dog)” > “Bernie (dog)” in terms of interest over time, with “Bernie” being hard to isolate due to noise. However, within queries related to the breed, you do see “Berner” frequently. For instance, people might search “Berner temperament” or “best food for a Berner.” There’s little evidence that many people intentionally search “Bernie dog” when meaning the breed, aside from those who are very new and picked up the term from a friend.

• Regional variations: In non-English speaking countries, their own nicknames exist (in French one might say “Bouvier Bernois” for the breed, in German simply “Berner” is already the term). The English “Bernie” is primarily a North American and perhaps UK/Australia phenomenon among pet owners. It’s worth noting that “Berner” could refer to other things (for example, a person from Bern is a Berner, and as mentioned, there’s even a rapper nicknamed Berner). Despite this, in the dog context, Berner is distinct enough. “Bernie,” being a person’s name, doesn’t have that problem but overlaps with famous Bernies. On social media specific to dogs (#berner, #bernese), there is no confusion – everyone in those circles knows a post with #berner is likely about a big fluffy tri-colored dog, and a caption like “Bernie did XYZ” is probably about someone’s Bernese pet.

The data overall support that “Berner” is more commonly used as a breed hashtag/term today than “Bernie.” And when “Bernie” is used, it’s often in addition to clarifying context (like pairing it with “the Bernese Mountain Dog” in text).

For a quick comparison, the table below summarizes the two nicknames across various aspects:

“Berner” vs “Bernie”: Which is More Common Today?

Taking all the evidence into account, “Berner” is more commonly used today when referring to the breed in general. In both casual and professional communities, if someone is talking about the breed as a whole or any random individual of the breed, they are more likely to say “Berner.” For example, one would say “Berners are great family dogs” rather than “Bernies are great family dogs.” The nickname Berner has effectively become synonymous with the breed in the dog world.

“Bernie,” on the other hand, is prevalent as well but in a different way – it’s extremely common as an actual call name for Bernese Mountain Dogs. This means there are thousands of Bernese dogs out there answering to “Bernie,” and their owners might refer to them by name. Consequently, if you’re in a group of Berner owners and someone mentions Bernie, chances are they mean a specific dog named Bernie, not the breed. Thus, Bernie is personally popular, but not as a generic label. Even in online metrics, we see “Bernie” trailing behind “Berner” as a breed descriptor. A scan of Reddit post titles in r/bernesemountaindogs over the past year would find dozens of “Berner” mentions, but “Bernie” only appearing when someone’s pet has that name or a newcomer uses it interchangeably (often to be met with the above-noted gentle corrections).

There have been minor shifts in nickname preference: early on, owners exclusively stuck to Berner/Bernese. In recent years, with the influx of new owners and pop culture references, hearing a Bernese called “Bernie” (especially by the owner) is not surprising. The community has grown more relaxed about it, focusing more on enjoying the dogs than policing terms. For instance, when one user proposed a poll to settle the Bernie vs Berner debate, others lightly shrugged it off – “anything works, yolo” one commenter replied after the discussion, implying that at the end of the day, it’s not a huge controversy. This indicates that while Berner remains more common and somewhat preferred, Bernie is understood and tolerated as a casual alternative, particularly among newer enthusiasts or in one-to-one interactions with the dog.

To conclude, both nicknames are in use and serve different niches:

• Say “Berner” if you want to instantly signal you’re in the know about the breed, or if you’re discussing the breed in general or plural.

• Say “Bernie” if you’re referring to your own Bernese buddy by name or creating a cute persona around a dog.

In 2025, anyone immersed in the Bernese Mountain Dog world will recognize both terms. However, expect “Berner”to dominate in written and community contexts (and in search/hashtag usage related to breed information), whereas “Bernie” will continue to be a beloved choice for individual dog names and informal chatter. As one retailer’s description aptly put it, this breed is “affectionately known as the ‘Berner’ or ‘Bernie’” – acknowledging that while “Berner” is the widely used nickname, “Bernie” has charmed its way into our lexicon through the love of the dogs themselves.

Sources:

1. Bernese Mountain Dog breed origins and name meaning 

2. Barking Royalty – Breed profile noting nickname “Berner” 

3. Reddit (r/bernesemountaindogs) – community discussion on “Berner” vs “Bernie” terminology 

4. Example of casual use of “Bernie” in a dog blog (2010) 

5. Instagram hashtag usage statistics for Bernese Mountain Dog content 

6. Rover.com – Popular Bernese Mountain Dog names (showing “Bernie” in top 10) 

7. WowWood shop description – using both “Berner” and “Bernie” as affectionate nicknames 

8. Taste of the Wild (pet food site) – breed article calling them “Berners” 

9. Facebook group comment emphasizing use of Berners (not “Bernies”) 

Maurice, apparently transcending to another realm by the smell of Gushers for tax

Guinness wasn’t dealt a very good hand from the start. She was a typical goofy puppy, but after some concerns regarding a seizure from a vet, we discovered that she had an undefined form of generalized neurological myopathy at about 1 year old. This is generally an incurable, degenerative neurological disorder that can have a wide range of impact. For Miss Guinness, it meant her back legs and fine motor control was diminished. As it progressed, it also meant laryngeal paralysis diagnosed at 2 years old.

Still, she never let that get her down. Her favorite thing in the world was meeting new friends (whether they wanted to be her friend or not), and always had a goofy smile. After a scare in the fall of 2024, we think she held on so she could meet our son, born in October 2024.

Finally, yesterday at 5:25 pm, she crossed the rainbow bridge. She had an acute deterioration episode in the morning, and sustained seizure activity throughout the day (including at the vet when we took her in, which is when we made the decision). She is now somewhere she can freely frolic in the snow, eat her favorite kangaroo treats, chase her favorite flirt pole, and prance around merrily on all 4 paws (as nimbly as any Bernese mountain dog can).

We were able to put her to rest in our backyard, laying down in her favorite spot. She was surrounded by her people, who were able to love her and tell her she was the best girl until the end. I gave her a shirt that I had been wearing the last few days, so even as she fell asleep, she would be able to smell her people, and know that she was very well loved.

Love your pups for Miss Guinness. Maybe open a Guinness for her too (if you are so inclined). She was only with us for 3.5 years, but gave us more than triple that in love.

Has anyone dealt with this? I already made a vet appointment. Just want to know what exactly i am about to deal with.

I’m looking to adopt a berner from “Rocky Top Acres” Located in Delton. However I’d like to know more from others that have gotten a berner from that breeder. Specifically how the process went and did your pup turn out healthy and such?

Also open to other breeders in Michigan! Tia

He was only 15 months old. He was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm lost

After losing our other Berner in Dec 2024, we decided it was time to add another to the pack again.

Meet Sully with big brother Griffey! Sully’s parents were 160lbs & 100lbs, can’t wait to see how big he gets!

I lost my boy young this past October and I love to stay in the subreddit because of what the breed meant to me but I have seen 2 posts just today of berners last moments. The other photos in your posts were great and are fantastic to remember but seeing those last moment photos tends to bring back some really unhappy memories.

Keep up with the memorials as these dogs deserve it but please keep photos from the procedure out of the post.