Best Swiss Names for a Bernese Mountain Dog

If you have just brought home a Bernese Mountain Dog, or have talked to a good breeder and will be doing so soon, congratulations! They are an excellent dog and make a great member of the family.

As you probably already know, they are not only mountain dogs, they are also farm dogs. Here in Brazil they are known as “boiadeiros”, or cattle dogs. They are big and tough enough to work cattle, pull carts, and watch out for the kids when they were out on hikes in the high pastures of the Swiss Alps. The dogs are docile and have excellent personalities, and when properly socialized are almost never shy.

The dark side of the Bernese Mountain Dog has nothing to do with his personality. They die of cancer more that any other breed—one statistic is that almost half of them die of diseases like mast cell tumors, lymphosarcomas, and osteosarcomas, while only about one quarter of other dogs succumb to cancer.

There are other things to be concerned about too. Many of the dogs have hip dysplasia, osteochondritis, and cruciate ligament problems, and then develop arthritis later on. Other dogs have retinal atrophy (PRA) and other less common inherited problems.

All of those medical problems make a big difference. The average life span is only about 6-8 years. If you still have not picked your new Bernese Mountain Dog, try to find a breeder who focuses on longevity.

When you do bring your puppy home, pick out a great name!

As soon as your Bernie has a name, get a tag.

You should also ask your veterinarian about chipping your puppy on your next visit.

The most popular names in the German areas of Switzerland are:

· Luca

· David

· Nico

· Levin

· Axel

· Gus

Two syllable names that end in a vowel are best when calling your dog, so Luca and Nico are the best choices here. There are more choices in German names at this link.

And in the French areas:

· Luca

· Nathan

· Lucas

· Gascon

· Roland

There are some more French choices here.

In the Italian areas, most of the boys names are long and not really appropriate for your new dog.

If you want a German name for your new Berner girl, try:

· Laura

· Anna

· Emma

· Lena

All of these names are two syllables and end in a vowel, so dogs learn them quickly and respond to them during obedience training. If you want other German names take a look at these.

Or if you want a name popular in the French areas of Switzerland:

· Emma

· Lara

· Eva

· Clara

· Brigette

· Rosette

Anna, Emma, and Lena are also popular in the Italian part of Switzerland.

Kong toys are tough and will keep most dogs busy; you should buy some things for your puppy to chew on before even bringing her home.

Famous Swiss Heroes

· Andress (as in Ursula, the James Bond girl)

· Calvin (although I am not sure you would want to think of him when you call your dog, and I am almost positive he would not want a dog named after him)

· Heidi (the fictional character)

· Renée (Zellweger, the famous actress)

· Wilhem (Tell, the famous Swiss archer)

Have you chosen among several good names for your new Berner puppy? Don’t narrow it down to just one until you have met the dog and spent some time learning her personality. Some names just don’t fit.

You should take a few minutes and read the names I would never give a dog. Some things just don’t work, like naming your puppy something silly or using a name just like one of the dogs you already have.

You also do not want to name your new puppy one of the overused dog names. It seems like everyone has chosen one of them, and if you decide you want another “Max” or “Bella”, beware that half the dogs at the park might come running when you call your new dog.

Whatever you choose, have fun and take a lot of pictures. Bernese Mountain puppies grow up fast.