A Wet Bernese Mountain Dog Royalty-Free Stock Photography

The Bernese Mountain Dog German: Berner Sennenhund is a large-sized breed of dog, one of the four breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. Bred from crosses of Mastiffs and guard-type breeds, Bernese Mountain Dogs were brought to Switzerland by the Romans 2,000 years ago. The name Sennenhund is derived from the German Senne `alpine pasture` and Hund hound/dog, as they accompanied the alpine herders and dairymen called Senn. Berner or Bernese in English refers to the area of the breed`s origin, in the canton of Bern. This breed was originally kept as a general farm dog. Large Sennenhund in the past were also used as draft animals, pulling carts. The breed was officially established in 1912.