By Gary Walker

The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Switzerland, and is named after the Swiss capital city, Berne.

Bred originally to do farm work, these large, affectionate dogs are extremely versatile and can do a number of jobs, including herding and protecting livestock, and pulling carts. They were also once used by the Romans as fighting dogs, which is rather surprising given their amiable, laid-back personality.

The first “Berner Sennenhund”, to give the breed its German name, was brought to the United States in 1926, and gained recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1937.

The Bernese is a handsome, distinctive looking dog with a heavy coat that is primarily black, offset with white and rust marks on the face and chest. The lower legs are rust colored, and the paws are white. The coat is heavy, to protect against the icy Alpine winters. The tail is furry and the ears are folded to provide extra protection against the cold.

These are loyal, devoted and gentle pets who are exceptionally good with children and also get on well with other dogs and with non-canine pets. The Bernese is renowned for its happy dispostition and kind nature.

The Bernese is a very playful dog which makes him an excellent choice for a family with kids. They are also very adaptable, meaning they’ll fit in to most living arrangements, as long as they are close to their human family.

Grooming a Bernese is quite labor intensive. They shed all year round with particularly heavy shedding in spring. Daily brushing is required to keep the coat looking its best and to keep your home free of dog hair. You’ll also have to regularly inspect and clean the ears, as they are prone to infection.

Like most purebred dogs the Bernese suffers from a number of cognenital diseases. This breed is at particular risk from canine cancers and also suffers from musculoskeletal ailments, including hip displaysia, arthritis, and cruciate ligament problems. Less serious health issues include ear and eye infections. The Bernese, unfortunately, has a short lifespan of only 6-8 years on average.

Despite its history as a working dog, the Bernese can be quite lazy, and will loaf around if allowed to. It is up to the owner to ensure that the dog gets sufficient exercise. Like most dogs, the Bernese enjoys a good walk and can even be taught to pull a cart, like their forebears did.

The biggest joy of owning one of these gentle giants is their temperament. These happy, friendly, loyal and affectionate dogs absolutely love being around people and are exceptionally eager to please.

They can be a challenge to train, though because they tend to regard everything as a game. Use that to your advantage by keeping training sessions short, positive, and most of all fun.

As any Bernese owner will tell you, these delightful dogs retain their puppy playfullness throughout their life.

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By Gary Walker

The Australian Cattle Dog is a superb cattle header with agility, speed, and exceptional courage. These dogs are simply gluttons for work, and will run all day if you let them. They are equally skilled at herding cattle on the open range, or working them in confined spaces.

The Australian Cattle Dog was created specifically to fill a need in the Australian cattle industry. Back in the early 1800′s, there were literally thousands of small cattle farmers in Queensland. These farmers needed a dog to work their herds, a dog that could work all day in searing heat and blinding dust. As no existing breed matched up to their needs, they started breeding their own.

No definitive breed history exists for the time, but most accept that the main progenitors were the Smooth Collie, the Kelpie, and the Dalmatian. There is also a suspicion that wild Dingos may have been thrown into the mix. The end result was a rugged, hardy breed known as the Australian Blue Heeler.

The earliest Blue Heelers were bred with courage, speed and agility in mind and proved to be exceptional cattle dogs. But the breed we know today was refined and standardized mainly thanks to a man named Robert Kaleski, who drew up the first standard in 1902.

In 1903, New South Wales Kennel Club status was granted under the name Australian Cattle Dog, although Blue Heeler is still commonly used in Australia.

The Australian Cattle Dog is an intelligent, loyal and pliant dog that is eager to please and very easy to train. They are tireless and extremely focused workers who are protective and somewhat wary of strangers.

Their style of herding cattle involves nipping at the heels and they are equipped with strong jaws and a powerful bite for this purpose. For this reason it is important to address any sign of aggression at an early age.

This is a hardy, robust breed with few congenital disorders. Due to the work it does, the ACD is more likely to suffer injury than illness.

These are medium sized dogs, standing about 18-20 inches at the withers. They have a broad skull and deep muzzle in order to deliver that powerful bite. The body is sturdy, and the coat is short, harsh and weather resistant. All puppies are born white and the coat later takes on the patchwork appearance that is characteristic of the breed.

Coat colors are primarily merle or red. The merle coat features blue mottling, while the red coat has red speckling. Both variants feature a spray of white on the tail.

Aside from being a herding dog, the Australian Cattle Dog makes an excellent pet for the right owner. The proviso though is that the owner needs to be an active, outdoor type who is prepared to meet the dog’s considerable exercise needs.

Remember that these are, first and foremost, working dogs, so they need lots of activity and, preferably, a job to do.

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