Mountain Bulldog (Bernese Mountain Dog & Bulldog Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

The Mountain Bulldog is a rare hybrid dog breed from Bernese Mountain Dog and Bulldog parents that has only been on the scene for about twenty years. A Mountain Bulldog is a heavy dog with a medium-length muzzle, strong jaws, and a substantial-sized skull with thick, floppy ears. Their wide-set eyes are usually a warm brown and are almond-shaped. Due to their Bulldog parent, they typically have some folds and wrinkles around their neck and head regions. The Mountain Bulldog has a medium-length straight coat of fur covering a strong, muscular body. Their coloring is often a variety of colors, with many dogs having a combination of at least three colors: white, fawn, brown, black, and brindle.

If you’re looking for a family dog, Mountain Bulldogs do well in family homes as they are protective, hardworking, and friendly, but they will require training and proper socialization. These dogs tend to thrive in colder climates because of their thick coats so you will have a fun companion in all your winter activities. It will be important to watch it carefully for signs of overheating during the summer months. Overall, the Mountain Bulldog is a loving companion for anyone who wants a protective large breed dog. Read on to learn more about the large, adorable hybrid called the Mountain Bulldog.

Mountain Bulldog Characteristics

Mountain Bulldog Puppies

The Mountain Bulldog is a rare hybrid so finding a breeder is difficult. English Bulldog and Bernese Mountain puppies can be quite expensive. Due to the rarity of the Mountain Bulldog, the price for a puppy would likely fall somewhere in the price range of a puppy of the parent breeds.

During the first year of life, your puppy will need to see your vet for shots, spay or neuter, and wellness checks. Make sure to have a high-quality puppy food, a comfy bed, treats, and toys for your puppy to feel welcome in their new home. Keep reading the Mountain Bulldog's full care guide to know what your puppy needs in terms of nutritional diet, exercise, grooming, and more.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Mountain Bulldog 🧠

The Mountain Bulldog is a protective, friendly hybrid breed that thrives in a family home. The Bernese Mountain dog parent with its docile nature helps to temper the courageous English Bulldog nature that might result in aggression toward other dogs. Both parent breeds are loyal, intelligent dogs so the offspring of these two dogs excels at training as it wants to please its owners. They may be wary of strangers and will be very protective until they know the new person isn’t going to hurt their family.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Mountain Bulldogs are very protective but are docile and loving toward their family. Proper socialization and training from an early age will be important in their behavior towards children as they are big dogs and don’t always know their own strength. Children should also be taught how to behave around large dogs to prevent any issues.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Mountain Bulldog is a loveable, friendly dog that gets along with other pets. They tend to be docile in their temperament so there should be no issues with other dogs or cats in the home. You should make sure to properly socialize your puppy from a young age to prevent any potential issues with other animals. If your Mountain Bulldog does show any signs of aggression toward other animals working with a trainer should help resolve the issue.

Things to Know When Owning a Mountain Bulldog:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Mountain Bulldog will need a good quality food to maintain its health. They typically eat around 2 to 2 ½ cups of food per day but follow the feeding directions on the food you choose to make sure that you feed your dog the appropriate amount of food for its energy and activity levels.

Exercise 🐕

While the Mountain Bulldog is large, it requires only moderate exercise to keep it healthy. Taking your dog for two 30-minute walks per day will keep your dog in shape and happy. Mountain Bulldogs also like to play at the dog park or go on hikes. They may be more active in the wintertime as they typically have the thick coat of their Bernese Mountain Dog parent and the colder winter temperatures will keep them cool as they play. Watch their activity level in warmer weather as you don’t want them to overheat because of that same thick coat.

Training 🎾

The Mountain Bulldog is very intelligent and will excel at training. They love to please their owners so they should pick up new tricks and commands quickly. Positive reinforcement training with treats and pets will go over well with the kind Mountain Bulldog.

Grooming ✂️

Mountain Bulldogs are high shedding dogs and will need to be brushed at least once a week to keep their coat clean and healthy, while bathing should be done on an as-needed basis. Their floppy ears should be checked for wax and dirt and a cleaning schedule set up based on how quickly wax builds up in the ear canal. Brush your dog’s teeth at least weekly to help prevent tartar buildup and dental diseases. Clip their nails bi-weekly or monthly depending on their growth.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Mountain Bulldog is a rare hybrid so there is not much known about the overall health conditions that might affect this breed. In the case of a relatively new hybrid, it’s important to look at what health conditions affect the parent breeds. If you’re working with a reputable breeder, they should be able to tell you the health of your puppy’s parents, which will help you know what to expect as your puppy ages.

Male vs Female

There does not seem to be any discernible difference between male and female Mountain Bulldogs in terms of size or temperament. Choosing a male or female dog will be the personal preference of the new owner.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Mountain Bulldog

1. Their appearance will vary.

Mountain Bulldogs are bred from Bernese Mountain Dogs and English Bulldogs. These two breeds vary wildly in appearance so it’s hard to predict what a litter of puppies is going to look like when breeding begins.

2. Bernese Mountain Dogs worked as farm dogs.

Bernese Mountain Dogs, also known as Berners, were used as working farm dogs in the Swiss Alps due to their large, sturdy bodies. They guarded farms and drove cattle for their owners. They also served as draft dogs, pulling many times their own body weight because they’re so strong and muscular.

3. Bulldogs are the unofficial U.S. Marine Corps mascot.

The Marine Corps inherited the “devil dog” name from the Germans during World War I due to their ferocity in battle. A subsequent Marine Corps recruitment poster featured a bulldog wearing a U.S. helmet chasing after a dachshund in German regalia, which forever linked the devil dog nickname with the bulldog. The first Marine Corps Bulldog was called Jiggs and joined up in 1922. The current bulldog serving as the unofficial mascot is known as Chesty XV.

Final Thoughts

The Mountain Bulldog is a rare hybrid breed that appeared on the hybrid dog scene in the last 20 years or so. The parent breeds, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the English Bulldog, produce a docile but protective dog that aims to please its owners. Proper training and socialization will be important as these dogs are large and will need to learn how to behave around humans and other animals. Positive reinforcement training will result in a happy, loveable dog that will want to protect its family. The Mountain Bulldog is usually leery of strangers but will open up over time once it realizes that its intentions are true.

Mountain Bulldogs are medium-energy dogs and will require a moderate amount of exercise each day to remain healthy. They love pursuing outdoor activities during the wintertime as their thick count allows them to stay warm. That same thick coat may be a hindrance in the summer, so watch your dog for overheating when exercising. If you choose to buy a Mountain Bulldog, you’ll end up with a loyal, protective friend for life.