Because the demand is high and there are limited reputable breeders, the Bernese Mt Dog is starting to show up in pet stores and being bred by unknowledgeable backyard breeders. These pups range from $1800 to $3000. The "pet store" puppies are being imported from Russia and other European countries. The imported puppies are going through the commercial puppy millers in Missouri and Kansas to be auctioned and/or sold to the pet stores  throughout the country. They cannot be registered with AKC. A group of devoted berner breeders/lovers (BARC) has been going to the puppy auctions  in an attempt to purchase/rescue these berners. Several have been quite sick  and have died. Unfortunately, they can't rescue all of them to keep them out  of pet stores. We have also been working internationally with foreign  reputable breeders to help stop the exploitation of the Bernese Mt Dog. In  your search for a Bernese Mountain Dog, please make sure that the breeder belongs to the national club...The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America or a  regional berner club. Don't hesitate to ask for references and please check  them.  Select a breeder that you trust! As a general rule, better known breeders will have a better reputation for quality, experience and reliability - that's how they got to be so well recognized.  The genetic background is what made your puppy.  This knowledge takes years and years of breeding experience from particular  genetic lines. Breeders with less experience and pedigree (family history)  knowledge should be mentored by an experienced breeder with the genetic knowledge in your puppy's pedigree.  I just want a PET, why worry about the rest!  Your PET came from the same litter with the same genetic background as the  very few select pups graded to go on to conformation showing and potential  future breeding stock. You want the same qualities that you find in a show dog. Show dogs are PETS first with a little more refinement in conformation,  type and markings. 

Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT)

A must for a breeder to determine which puppy to select for you that matches  up with your life style. This test is done at 7 weeks and even the most  experienced breeder can be surprised at the results. Nothing is more miserable than trying to live with a puppy that is not suited for your  family.  Sometimes things can go wrong.  You need a reliable knowledgeable source to contact for help...your breeder  or your breeder's mentor. Why? They might have had a similar problembefore;  know of a litter mate with a similar problem and how it was solved; work with you and your veterinarian to best resolve the problem. (As a rule, veterinarians know dogs in general; but your breeder should know specific problems particular to their breed-Bernese Mountain Dog).  Price?  Since a berner puppy is an emotional as well as a financial investment,this  is difficult question to answer. If you find the "right" breeder theinitial  cost of the puppy will pay for itself many times over. That "right"breeder should be successful with a proven track record, years of experience, knowledge to share (good and bad) and be available to you for the life timeof the puppy. The real value to you is in the "breeder" you select to get your puppy from. You can't put a price on experience and knowledge. You never know if or when your breeder's help might be needed! And this is the true value of your PUPPY!  Just like everything else in life, whether you are a breeder, a teacher, anurse, a doctor, or stay at home mom/dad; there is no substitute for "experience" and "knowledge"  Good luck in your search for a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. And if youselect  Swiss Charm's Bernese Mountain Dogs, you can depend on me to share my years of breeding experience with you. Be assured, you will have many rewarding years to come for you and your bundle of fur! The Bernese Mountain Dog is a beautiful companion/family dog. It is still quite rare and most concerned breeders will take great care to properly place their puppies. We need to know you better and you should likewise inquire about our breeding practices.
A concerned breeder will always house raise their puppies and temperament test the litter (PAT). A breeder should have a thorough knowledge of their dog's ancestors (pedigree) including genotype (genetic) and phenotype (structure/type). There is no perfect dog and a breeder should be willing to discuss the positive points as well as the negative.
Just a word of caution about the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Berner has a limited gene pool. The Bernese Mountain Dog comes with its fine qualities as well as some that we are not able to genetically control. Breeders have not been able to breed out hip dysplasia, elbow, shoulder, eye and allergy problems and cancer in young dogs. We also are not always able to control the environment the puppy goes into... such as adequate free exercise, good diet to promote proper growth, pesticides, over vaccinating, carcinogenic.
My personal philosophy is to breed quality proven lines with quality lines. It is very important to know as much as possible about the Sire and Dam, their litter mates; the Grandsires and Grandams, their litter-mates etc. Remember that the father and mother, no matter how healthy, still carry the genetic traits of their ancestors.
As a breeder, I can advise you about my dogs. I, however, cannot guarantee you that you will not incur future problems. I can only try to breed the best possible dog after thorough studying, observing and years of knowledgeable experience.
All my puppies are placed with a written contract. A pet is expected to be neutered/spayed. A show prospect puppy is the same as a pet puppy except it has been evaluated as having the future potential to carry on the breed in structure, type and temperament. This is also determined through future showing at AKC shows.
My puppies are placed in homes to be raised with families and not in kennels. I guarantee my puppies for their life-time in that the dog cannot be resold, transferred ownership, placed or given away. I will always take my dogs back at any age. This eliminates my dogs from ending up in shelters or puppy mills.
Adding a Berner to your family is a serious COMMITMENT. Choosing wisely can be rewarding.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN BREEDERS BEFORE YOU BUY

  REPUTABLE HOBBY BREEDER

1. Breeds only to improve the breed.Dedicated to producing quality dogsHas sincere desire to create something beautiful, functional and lastingPlans to keep a puppy closer to ideal specimen to Show and continue line
2. Recognizes that screening by the breeder is greatest protection the dog has.Will screen buyers and sell pups only to approved homes.Makes sure buyers know the negatives of the breed as well as the good.Asks many questions to determine the suitability of buyer, do you: live in an apartment? have a fenced yard? have children? have other pets? have money for premium food, medical bills, grooming, training and emergencies? intend to keep dog inside or outside your house? have a vacation without the dog planned soon? How much time will you spend with the dog each day? Does your whole family: want the responsibility of a new dog? lifestyle agree with the size and temperament of this breed?Refuses to sell to middlemen including pet shops, dealers, auctions or laboratories; or for holiday or birthday gifts when the house is disrupted.May donate animals to police or service organizations.Signs Breeder's Code of Ethics and can provide you with copySells pets with spay/neuter agreement or AKC Limited registration.Provides to buyer AKC registration papers, 3-generation pedigree, vaccination schedule, medical records, some dog food and instructions on general care, grooming, feeding and training of puppy.Sells puppies with a contract so that buyer's rights are secured.Willingly provides contact with others who have their pups.Sale is subject to good match between buyer and puppy.
3. Breeder recognizes that they are link between past and future of breed.Breeds only healthy mature adults that have been checked for and found clear of inheritable diseases.Can produce certificates to verify testing by clinical exam, X-rays, blood-work.Breeds only when has money, energy, time and no pressure to sell the pups.Can explain how planned breeding to emphasize specific qualities through line-breeding, out-crossing or more rarely inbreeding.
4. Knows that puppies didn't ask to be born and therefore are the breeder's responsibility.Offers lifetime commitment to replace any dog with disabling genetic fault.Helps owner deal with any problems for the lifetime of the dog.Will take back dog owner can't keep rather than see it disposed of badly.Welcomes being in touch with owners and hearing progress reports
5. Loves the breed and is knowledgeable about its background, uses, history problems and ideal type.Raises only one or two breeds and stays with them regardless of general popularity and prices.
6. Belongs to a local and/or national breed club indicating a love for the sport of dogs, a desire to educate oneself about the breed by sharing information with peers and a willingness to protect the breed.Exhibits own dogs at Dog Shows as an objective test of how stock measures up to the ideal Standard.Recognizes that a "pedigree" only means that parents of the dog are known, not their quality.May be involved in breed rescue, that is, finding new owners for individuals of their breed which have become homeless.
7. Displays litter and mother in a clean environment near where people are present so puppies can be properly socialized.Although mother of pups may be losing hair, she looks in good condition.Breeder has serious investment in dog equipment, such as whelping box, puppy pens, crates and grooming tables and uses them.Helps buyer evaluate temperament and structure and to choose the right pup for them and their lifestyle.Explains criteria for "show picks" versus "pet picks".
8. Prices may be at high end of local range but still won't reflect all that is invested in pups.Has so much invested in dogs that struggles to break even, NOT make a profit. Rewards are intangible not financial.Sells pups only after they have had shots and worming and at no earlier than 8 weeks.Rarely advertises pups because has referrals from others and may have waiting list.
 IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDER
1. Motive for breeding "to make money", "good for the kids", "fun", "want another pet just like the dog we have regardless of faults", "want one litter before we spay her", "lots of people want this breed right now".
2. Doesn't screen buyers and sells to most anyone even if buyer is unsuitable.Sells to pet-shops, dealers, auctions and laboratories to get rid of pups.Allows purchase of puppy as gift for someone else, or during hectic times in your household like divorce, new baby, new job, holidays.Doesn't use AKC Limited registration option nor ask for spay/neuter contract to guard against breeding of substandard pets.Unlikely to provide contact with others who have their puppies.Pushes buyer to make decision quickly."All sales are final".
3. No concern for the future of breed as a whole or the individual pups.No concern for genetics, bloodlines, breed standard or improvement of breed.Breeds family pet to any convenient pet of same breed just to have pups.Parents not checked for inheritable diseases, such as hip dysplasia, blood clotting or eye problems.Sells "just pets".Offers no health guarantees beyond proof of shots, if that.
4. Seller has little knowledge of breed history or AKC breed standard. May claim that this doesn't matter for "just pets".Berates "show dogs" rather than realizing the function of Dog Shows is to determine the best animals to breed.Interest in pup ends with its sale.Unqualified and unwilling to give help if problems do develop.If you can't keep the pup at a later date, tells you to sell it or take it to the pound.
5. May jump from breed to breed according to current fashion or puppy prices.
6. Seller doesn't increase own knowledge through participation in national or local breed clubs.Doesn't show own dogs in Dog Shows to prove their quality.May have pedigree with Champions way back in ancestry, or papers from registries other than the American Kennel Club, may have fraudulent papers or may not have proof that puppy is purebred at all
7. May be unwilling to show buyer the parents or where the pups were raised.Mother of pups may look very skinny, may act shy or aggressive.Pups raised in makeshift accommodations indicating lack of long-term investment.Rather than being raised in the house where they can be around people, pups may be raised in a garage or barn.May have shirked nutrition or medical care because of ignorance or cost.Can't or won't compare/critique pups or pups' ancestors.
8. Price may be at low end of local scale to sell pups quickly and because expensive testing on the parents wasn't done.Moves pups out at an early age (4-6-weeks) so doesn't have more feeding and medical expenses.Usually advertises pups in newspapers, pet shops and supermarkets.Doesn't tell you that it is better to pay a fair price up front and obtain a healthy socialized pup than to buy something cheap and totally untested that requires great financial expenditures and much heartbreak throughout its shortened lifetime.

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