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View 8 More +Combining the most desirable traits of the Golden Retriever and the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Golden Mountain Dog is a gentle giant and ideal choice for a family dog. Also known as the Bernese Golden Mountain Dog, this designer breed is known for its loyalty, affection, and easygoing personality.
Breed Overview
Height:
24–26 inches
Weight:
75–110 pounds
Lifespan:
10–12 years
Colors:
Black, brown, white, brindle
Suitable for:
Active families with small children, families with other pets, novice owners
Temperament:
Loyal & loving, attentive, easy to train
Whether you’re looking for a picture-perfect family pet for small children, a companion for your family dog or cat, or a first-time dog, the Golden Mountain Dog fits the bill. Learn more about the temperament, health, sociability, and ownership of the Golden Mountain Dog with this comprehensive guide.
Golden Mountain Dog Characteristics
Golden Mountain Dog Puppies
Like their parent breeds, Golden Mountain Dog puppies are irresistible as puppies. Unfortunately, that means the market is filled with disreputable breeders and puppy mills. When you’re shopping for a puppy, be sure to research the breeders and follow your gut.
Generally, a responsible breeder will:
- Provide spacious, clean environments for parents and puppies
- Encourage multiple visits throughout the buying process
- Allow you to meet the puppy’s parents
- Show documentation of vaccinations and veterinary checkups for puppies and parents
- Promote socialization and enrichment for puppies
- Ask you to sign a contract
Temperament & Intelligence of the Golden Mountain Dog
The temperament and intelligence of the Golden Mountain Dog are among its most desirable traits. Despite its large size, the Golden Mountain Dog is gentle, friendly, and easy to train. Both parent breeds are working dogs, however, so it’s important to keep your pup stimulated with consistent training, exercise, and plenty of play.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡
The Golden Mountain Dog has some of the best traits of its parent breeds. They are good-natured dogs and the ideal family pet, especially for families with small children. Your pup may not be aware of its size, however, so be sure to keep up with training to reinforce good manners.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶🐱
The Golden Mountain Dog is a sociable breed and likely to get along with other dogs and cats in the household. This breed is large and energetic, however, so be sure to socialize your pup from a young age to encourage safe play with smaller dogs and cats.
Things to Know When Owning a Golden Mountain Dog:
As with any breed, it’s vital to educate yourself on the Golden Mountain Dog to ensure that it fits with your needs and lifestyle. Dogs are a lifelong commitment, so here are some things to consider before purchasing your Golden Mountain Dog:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Nutrition and health are closely connected. Give your pup the best start with high-quality puppy food formulated for large breeds. As your dog ages, you can switch to high-quality adult food formulated for large breeds with a moderate activity level. Depending on your dog’s size, you can expect to feed between three and four cups of dry food a day.
When shopping for food, look for high-protein brands that include meat as the first ingredient. Avoid brands with excess fillers, sweeteners, and preservatives. The Golden Mountain Dog can be prone to skin allergies and may benefit from grain-free or limited-ingredient formulas.
Exercise 🐕
The Bernese Mountain Dog and Golden Retriever are strong working breeds that crave stimulation and exercise, just like their designer pup. The Golden Mountain Dog requires a moderate activity level and engagement through daily walks, playtime, and training sessions.
You can keep your pup stimulated with puzzle toys, a game of fetch, or a lively walk in the local park. Keep in mind that the Golden Mountain Dog prefers cooler climates, so avoid playing or walking outdoors on hot days.
Training 🎾
The Golden Mountain Dog is highly intelligent and easy to train. The best type of training for the breed is positive-reinforcement training, which uses rewards to encourage good behavior. Rewards can be verbal praise, petting, treats, or playtime. Because this breed loves to eat, treat-based rewards are highly effective.
Grooming ✂️
With its long and fluffy double coat, the Golden Mountain Dog sheds throughout the year and requires a lot of brushing and grooming. Your dog should be brushed daily to remove loose fur and maintain a healthy, shiny coat. Tools like a shedding comb, curry comb, and brush may be helpful.
Excessive bathing disrupts your dog’s natural oils and can lead to unpleasant skin conditions. You should only bathe your Golden Mountain Dog as needed with a gentle shampoo designed for dogs. Your dog will also need nail trimmings and ear cleanings weekly. Dental care, whether through regular brushing at home or professional cleanings from your veterinarian, prevents periodontitis, tooth abscesses, and other dental health concerns.
Health and Conditions 🏥
While mixed breeds are generally healthier than their purebred counterparts, the Golden Mountain Dog is susceptible to many of the same health conditions as its parent breeds. This may include epilepsy, certain types of cancer, and Von Willebrand’s disease, a blood-clotting disorder.
Like other large breeds, the Golden Mountain Dog is prone to gastric dilatation-volvulus, or bloat, an emergency condition that develops when gas, food, or fluid become trapped in the stomach and cause it to twist.
The best way to ensure your Golden Mountain dog enjoys a healthy lifespan is with routine veterinary visits every six months for vaccinations and checkups. Your veterinarian can keep an eye on your dog’s health and identify potential problems before they become major health concerns.
- Hypothyroidism, arthritis, allergies, skin conditions
- Von Willebrand’s disease, cancer, heart conditions, joint dysplasia
Male vs Female
Choosing between a male or female Golden Mountain Dog comes down to lifestyle. The male Golden Mountain Dog is typically larger than the female in both height and weight. This extra size may increase your costs for food and veterinary care, such as costs for weight-based medication or anesthesia. Conversely, spaying a female dog is typically more expensive than neutering a male dog.
Many of the sex-associated traits in male vs. female dogs are a result of hormones, so spaying and neutering can prevent potential problems like urine marking in males. As far as temperament and personality, both the males and females are easygoing and good-natured pets.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Golden Mountain Dog
1. They’re Suited to Cooler Climates
Golden Mountain Dogs were bred for colder climates, so they have difficulty adjusting to hot weather.
2. They’re a High-Maintenance Breed
With their long, thick coat, Golden Mountain Dogs shed often and require a lot of grooming to stay clean and healthy.
3. They’re Too Lovable for Guard-Dog Duty
Despite their size, Golden Mountain Dogs are too affectionate and easygoing to be guard dogs. That said, they are an alert breed and will alert their owners to intruders.
Conclusion
Known for its affectionate nature and thick, beautiful coat, the Golden Mountain Dog is a great option for a variety of pet owners. This lovable giant can act as a companion for your children and pets, an enthusiastic exercise partner, and a loyal friend, whether you want to add to your family or bring home your first pup.
Though the Golden Mountain Dog requires a little extra grooming, food, and exercise, this popular breed makes up for the effort with endless love, affection, and devotion for you and your family.
