Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix (Great Bernese)

The Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix is a big, charming mixed breed dog that is sometimes known as the “Great Bernese” or the “Great Berner.”

This mixbreed is known for being sweet, goofy, affectionate and loyal.

The Great Bernese is a perfect dog for many families.

However, these dogs are not the right fit for everyone. They are big, hairy, slobbery dogs that need a lot of time, space, training and care. They do not generally do well in apartments or in very hot climates.

In this article we will explore the pros and cons of the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix.

We will discuss everything from grooming to training to medical care.

We hope that this article will help you decide if the Great Bernese will be the right match for your lifestyle.

Let’s get started!

What is a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix?

The Great Bernese is a mix between two well-known purebred dog breeds: The Great Pyrenees and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

The Great Bernese is a hybrid dog, so it is not recognized by any major kennel clubs.

However, the Great Pyrenees and the Bernese Mountain Dog are both recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and other prominent kennel clubs around the world.

Knowing a little about the parent breeds will help you understand the traits of your Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix.

Before we delve into the characteristics of the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix, let’s take a few moments to learn more about the ancestry of this mix.

Great Berner History and Characteristics

The Great Bernese is a very recent combination, so there is not much written history about this hybrid.

However, there is plenty of information about the history of the two parent breeds: The Great Pyrenees and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees dog breed originated centuries ago in the Pyrenees Mountain Range between France and Spain.

These majestic dogs were developed to guard flocks of livestock from predators such as wolves.

Great Pyrenees are large, imposing-looking dogs that can easily weigh over 100 lbs. full grown.

They may look intimidating, but they are actually very docile and affectionate with their family members.

Great Pyrenees are known for their gentle and serene temperaments. They tend to be great with children, especially when they are socialized with kids from a young age.

Due to their large size, they are not ideal for apartment dwellers.

To learn more about the Great Pyrenees temperament check out this article for additional information.

Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is another large, furry dog that originated in the mountains.

The Bernese Mountain Dog breed originated in Switzerland.

Berners (as they are affectionately known) were originally used as all around farm dogs. They were used to guard livestock, property, and pull carts of supplies to and from the marketplace.

Today, Bernese Mountain Dogs have become popular pets. They are prized for their good looks and sweet temperament.

Since Bernese Mountain Dogs were originally working dogs, they enjoy keeping busy and having a job to do.

If you have one as a pet, make sure you can provide plenty of daily exercise and mental enrichment.

Also, make sure that you can put up with dog fur in your house, because Berners are big time shedders!

Due to their heavy coats, they are more comfortable in cooler climates.

If you would like to learn more about the Bernese Mountain Dog temperament, you can find more information in this helpful article.

What does a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog look like?

Part of the appeal of this mixture is that it produces a very good-looking dog!

The Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix is quite a stunning dog. You are sure to get plenty of comments if you walk one around town.

How big is a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix?

The answer to that question is pretty big!

The average Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog weight is around 100 lbs. Although some females may be slightly smaller.

The typical Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog height is between 26 and 27 inches at the withers.

Make sure you have ample space in your house and car before committing to one of these large dogs.

What color combinations do they come in?

Classic Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog colors are brown, white, and black. Although other color combinations are possible.

They have thick coats that require a lot of maintenance.

We will talk more about Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix grooming and shedding in the next section.

Grooming and Maintenance

What kind of grooming does the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix require?

This breed has a lot of fur!

You should brush your Great Berner’s coat every day to remove loose hair and prevent matting.

You will also probably need to take your dog to a professional groomer for a haircut a few times per year. Groomers may charge extra for such a big dog, so be prepared for a large grooming bill.

You should also trim your dog’s toenails, clean his ears, and brush his teeth on a regular basis.

You will definitely want to invest in some high-quality grooming tools if you have one of these dogs.

Finally, you will also want to buy a good vacuum cleaner!

Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Great Pyrenees Mix Shed?

Yes, these dogs are heavy shedders throughout the year.

If you get one of these dogs you must be prepared to deal with dog hair and drool in your home.

Most owners do not mind these elements.

However, if you do not think that you can handle these qualities then you will want to keep looking for a different type of dog.

Is the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Hypoallergenic?

This mix is not hypoallergenic.

Therefore, if someone in your family is allergic to dog dander, this is probably not the right choice for you.

If you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic check out this article for a list of hypoallergenic dog breeds.

Great Bernese Training

Is a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix an easy dog to train?

Great Berners are smart, attentive, and eager to work with their owners.

Therefore, they tend to be fairly easy dogs to train.

The best way to train your Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix is by using positive reinforcement training methods.

If possible, sign up for a puppy socialization class or a basic obedience class with a positive reinforcement trainer in your area.

Classes are a great way for your dog to get some socialization with other dogs as well as learn some important obedience commands.

Just be sure to steer clear of trainers that use forceful methods or “dominance” based training.

Do not use painful training collars like shock collars or pinch collars on your Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix.

These devices are not necessary, and they will deteriorate the growing bond with your new dog.

Positive reinforcement training is more humane, effective and enjoyable for you and your dog.

Eventually, you can even sign up for more advanced training such as agility, nosework, weight pull, search and rescue, or therapy work.

Staying Healthy: Great Bernese Mountain Health Issues

Providing veterinary care is an important part of owning any kind of pet.

Veterinary care can be expensive, especially for such a large dog breed, so make sure to factor medical costs into your budget.

All purebred dogs are prone to certain genetic conditions. Luckily, crossbreed dogs tend to be a little bit healthier! This is because they come from a wider gene pool and are therefore less susceptible to inheriting genetic diseases.

Still, some of the following conditions could show up in your Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix.

Talk with your vet about these common conditions that are often seen in purebred Great Pyrenees and purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Bloat
• Arthritis/ Joint Issues
• Obesity
• Allergies
• Heart conditions
• Cancer

Make sure you are prepared to commit to the emotional and financial costs of these conditions before you bring home one of these dogs.

Great Berner Annual Vet Care

You can keep your dog as healthy as possible by bringing him to the vet once per year for an annual wellness exam.

At this yearly exam, your vet will give your dog a full physical checkup. Your dog will also receive annual vaccines for diseases such as distemper, parvo, kennel cough, and rabies.

Your vet may also want to do annual bloodwork, especially as your dog gets older.

Another way to keep your pet as healthy as possible is to give him monthly preventatives for fleas, ticks and heartworms.

It is also a good idea to get your pet spayed or neutered at the appropriate age.

Finally, you will want to feed your Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix a high-quality dog food to make sure he is getting the best possible nutrition.

With such a large dog, it is wise to feed him multiple small meals per day rather than one large meal. This helps prevent a very serious condition called Bloat.

Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Lifespan

What is the typical life expectancy of a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog?

Sadly, these dogs to not have a terribly long lifespan.

The average life expectancy for a Great Berner is between 6 and 10 years.

Even with outstanding care, giant breed dogs simply do not live as long as smaller dogs.

Great Berner Rescue and Adoption

If you decide that this is the right breed for you, the best way to acquire one of these dogs is through rescue or adoption.

You can search online for a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix for adoption.

Check out the following websites: petfinder, adoptapet, getyourpet.com, as well as Facebook.

You can also pay a visit to your local shelter or humane society. Even if the shelter does not have a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix at the time of your visit, you may be able to leave your phone number on file for the future.

The staff can also refer you to private rescue groups that specialize in certain breeds or mixes. You can also search for rescue groups online.

Finding a Great Berner For Sale From a Good Breeder

Since this is a mixed breed dog, you probably will not encounter too many Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog breeders.

As we mentioned above, adoption is likely going to be your best option if you are looking for this mix.

If you do happen to work with a breeder, make sure you do careful research to make sure you are working with a reputable breeder and not a backyard breeder or a puppy mill.

The best way to check out a breeder is to visit the breeder in person.

Never order Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix puppies over the internet or buy a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix puppy from a pet shop.

Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Price

How much does a Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix cost?

It depends on the organization, but if you adopt your pet through a rescue group or adoption center, the adoption fee will probably be somewhere between $75 and $300.

This is a lot less than you would pay for a purebred puppy from a breeder.

As an added bonus, the adoption fee usually covers some basic veterinary services such as spay or neuter, initial vaccines, and maybe a microchip.

We hope that this article has answered some of your questions about the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain dog mix.

Thank you for reading and good luck with your Great Bernese!

Allie M.

Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.