As dog lovers, it is natural that the preference for parenting would be that of an intelligent breed. Thankfully, several breeds fit into this role. The Bernese Mountain Dog, a rather popular choice for pet lovers, can also be tagged as a smart and intelligent dog. However, as a potential owner, you should know in detail about this aspect. The reason being, the intelligence of the Bernese is evident a bit differently than people usually expect.
Thus, it is essential to delve deeper to fully understand how these dogs can make you a proud owner owing to their smartness. Primarily, one should realize what intelligence and smartness actually mean in dogs.
Understanding canine intelligence
Here comes the interesting part: dog intelligence is multi-dimensional, and typically it is categorized into the following:
- Instinctive intelligence: This refers to what the breed was originally developed to do.
- Adaptive intelligence: It explores the factors, such as the problem-solving abilities of the dog, from its learning experiences.
- Working and obedience intelligence: How fast can the dog learn commands and follow the instructions appropriately?
In this regard, specific breeds score high in rapid obedience training but can lack independent thinking. Likewise, some breeds might do well at decision-making but take a lot of time to learn new commands. Considering these factors, we should assess where the Bernese Mountain Dog falls. We have to rewind the clock a bit to derive the answer. Check out for more info on Bernese Mountain Dogs and it will let you understand the breed better.
The background of the Bernese Mountain Dog
Originating in Switzerland, the Bernese was developed for performing versatile services. They were assigned important roles like cart pulling, guarding properties, driving cattle, and serving as loyal companions. It is due to their working history that their intelligence was shaped accordingly. They were bred to be dependable, steady, and capable of making on-the-spot decisions, and they were not accustomed to performing tricks at high speed.
The Bernese shines at instinctive intelligence
Looking at the history of the Bernese, it is pretty evident that the breed will score high in instinctive intelligence. They naturally understand guarding, responding to family members, working as a team member, and monitoring the surroundings. They are never impulsive decision-makers; they tend to analyze situations before reacting to them. Interestingly, this quality of the Bernese often goes overlooked, as it is rather subtle and never dramatic.
They are moderate in obedience and intelligence
When measuring how quickly the Bernese learns new commands, the breed will fall into the moderate category. They can take time to learn commands and can require consistent repetition, positive reinforcement, and patience to do so. However, once they understand a command properly, they will not let it get out of their mind, and it will remain reliable.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are seldom stubborn, but they tend to be independent thinkers. This is where their behavior is mistakenly judged by the owners as stubbornness. Now and then, they will pause, assess, and decide whether a command makes sense, and then act. Thus, when they take a pause, it is not because they lack intelligence, but because they are processing it deep inside.
They excel in adaptive intelligence
Bernese Mountain Dogs are known to demonstrate solid adaptive intelligence. They can learn household routines in no time, recognize patterns, adjust their behavior based on past experiences, and respond to emotional cues. They may not try to solve a puzzle for hours, but they do understand cause and effect better than many other dog breeds. To make things clearer, here are a few instances, the Bernese will quickly learn:
- The particular door leading outside.
- The place where all the treats are stored.
- The type of behavior that would earn them praise.
- The Bernese have a strong emotional intelligence.
- The owners of the Bernese unanimously agree on the emotional sensitivity of their pet Bernese. They remain deeply attuned to their owner’s moods. Some other aspects reported by the owners are:
- Stay close when a member of the family members feels unwell.
- Responds to stress with its calm presence.
- They react protectively and remain aware in unfamiliar situations.
Undoubtedly, not all intelligent dogs are emotionally instinctive, such as the Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Trainability
Training a Bernese Mountain Dog requires understanding their temperament. Generally, they respond well to positive reinforcement, gentle guidance, consistent routines, and encouragement. New owners should know how to train a Bernese Mountain Dog properly. Harsh training methods will never work for them, and they would backfire. Since they are sensitive, negative reinforcement can lead to withdrawal, and they will seldom offer resilience in trying to learn new commands.
As dog lovers, it is natural that the preference for parenting would be that of an intelligent breed. Thankfully, several breeds fit into this role. The Bernese Mountain Dog, a rather popular choice for pet lovers, can also be tagged as a smart and intelligent dog. However, as a potential owner, you should know in detail about this aspect. The reason being, the intelligence of the Bernese is evident a bit differently than people usually expect.
Thus, it is essential to delve deeper to fully understand how these dogs can make you a proud owner owing to their smartness. Primarily, one should realize what intelligence and smartness actually mean in dogs.
Understanding canine intelligence
Here comes the interesting part: dog intelligence is multi-dimensional, and typically it is categorized into the following:
- Instinctive intelligence: This refers to what the breed was originally developed to do.
- Adaptive intelligence: It explores the factors, such as the problem-solving abilities of the dog, from its learning experiences.
- Working and obedience intelligence: How fast can the dog learn commands and follow the instructions appropriately?
In this regard, specific breeds score high in rapid obedience training but can lack independent thinking. Likewise, some breeds might do well at decision-making but take a lot of time to learn new commands. Considering these factors, we should assess where the Bernese Mountain Dog falls. We have to rewind the clock a bit to derive the answer. Check out for more info on Bernese Mountain Dogs and it will let you understand the breed better.
The background of the Bernese Mountain Dog
Originating in Switzerland, the Bernese was developed for performing versatile services. They were assigned important roles like cart pulling, guarding properties, driving cattle, and serving as loyal companions. It is due to their working history that their intelligence was shaped accordingly. They were bred to be dependable, steady, and capable of making on-the-spot decisions, and they were not accustomed to performing tricks at high speed.
The Bernese shines at instinctive intelligence
Looking at the history of the Bernese, it is pretty evident that the breed will score high in instinctive intelligence. They naturally understand guarding, responding to family members, working as a team member, and monitoring the surroundings. They are never impulsive decision-makers; they tend to analyze situations before reacting to them. Interestingly, this quality of the Bernese often goes overlooked, as it is rather subtle and never dramatic.
They are moderate in obedience and intelligence
When measuring how quickly the Bernese learns new commands, the breed will fall into the moderate category. They can take time to learn commands and can require consistent repetition, positive reinforcement, and patience to do so. However, once they understand a command properly, they will not let it get out of their mind, and it will remain reliable.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are seldom stubborn, but they tend to be independent thinkers. This is where their behavior is mistakenly judged by the owners as stubbornness. Now and then, they will pause, assess, and decide whether a command makes sense, and then act. Thus, when they take a pause, it is not because they lack intelligence, but because they are processing it deep inside.
They excel in adaptive intelligence
Bernese Mountain Dogs are known to demonstrate solid adaptive intelligence. They can learn household routines in no time, recognize patterns, adjust their behavior based on past experiences, and respond to emotional cues. They may not try to solve a puzzle for hours, but they do understand cause and effect better than many other dog breeds. To make things clearer, here are a few instances, the Bernese will quickly learn:
- The particular door leading outside.
- The place where all the treats are stored.
- The type of behavior that would earn them praise.
- The Bernese have a strong emotional intelligence.
- The owners of the Bernese unanimously agree on the emotional sensitivity of their pet Bernese. They remain deeply attuned to their owner’s moods. Some other aspects reported by the owners are:
- Stay close when a member of the family members feels unwell.
- Responds to stress with its calm presence.
- They react protectively and remain aware in unfamiliar situations.
Undoubtedly, not all intelligent dogs are emotionally instinctive, such as the Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Trainability
Training a Bernese Mountain Dog requires understanding their temperament. Generally, they respond well to positive reinforcement, gentle guidance, consistent routines, and encouragement. New owners should know how to train a Bernese Mountain Dog properly. Harsh training methods will never work for them, and they would backfire. Since they are sensitive, negative reinforcement can lead to withdrawal, and they will seldom offer resilience in trying to learn new commands.
As mentioned before, Bernese Mountain dogs benefit superbly by remaining mentally active. Thus, they should remain engaged with puzzle toys, periodic training sessions, planned outings, and social interactions. The average lifespan of Bernese are not for longevity, till the time they are with you their mental engagement will keep them sharp and prevent boredom, which can make them earn the tag of a lazy breed.
The smartness and intelligence graph
Let us take a close look and understand how their intelligence levels shape up as they grow:
- Puppies: Bernese puppies would be naturally curious, but they tend to be distracted easily. Regular training can help them build focus.
- Adolescence: During this stage, they will want to test their skills. Intelligence becomes more visible as they begin to anticipate routines. Training should not stop or be skipped at this stage, too.
- Adulthood: When they reach adulthood, their intelligence reaches its peak, and it is evident in their behavior. They will become loyal companions who anticipate the household routine well.
Final verdict
So, are the Bernese Mountain Dogs smart? Hopefully, this piece will help you answer the doubt to a great extent. Although the Bernese may not be ranked as the fastest learners in obedience, their intelligence is visible in various situations, which speaks for itself.
As mentioned earlier, they do excel in instinctive intelligence, emotional awareness, cooperation, family ties, and practical problem-solving. Thus, we can term their smartness as steady, relational, and dependable. They are ideal for families that seek a calm, thoughtful, and emotionally sensitive dog rather than a hyperactive performer. The bond is often unforgettable, and their companionship will remain to be cherished.