Bernese Mountain Dog - lifespan

[PenisBeakerIsMyFavouriteMuppet]

For years, I’ve admired Bernese and always hoped to own one some day. I was recently reading about them and was shocked to learn that they have such a short life expectancy of 6-8 years.

I have an elderly dog at the moment. She’s 13 and seeing her get so old in the past two years has been difficult, but she’s had a happy and long life (for her breed) so I think that’ll give me some comfort when the inevitable happens.

But to get a dog knowing it’s likely to be gone so soon- I just don’t think I could do it.

Does anyone have experiences of Bernese, and can hopefully tell me what I’ve read is wrong and they actually live well into the teens? I expect I’m clutching at straws, though

Sorry but you read that right, first of all they are big dogs, so their life expectancy is lower than for smaller breads.

Secondly bernese arevvery prone to get cancer. My sister had one, I think hers died around seven from cancer.

My dd is a vet student and loves them, but says she's not going to get one due to this race be so genetically disposed.

6-8 years is about right although you'll always find someone who had one who lived until it was 16 of course!

It's true of all 'giant' breeds so it's all about making peace with that if you decide to go for it

Sorry lots of typos .

Giant breeds all have a pretty short average lifespan... it doesn’t mean individual dogs don’t make it past that, but the odds are much lower.

We have giants with a lower lifespan (8-10 usually) although like with anything some of them go at 5. It’s just luck.

I work with dogs though and have seen so many young dogs of ‘healthy’ breeds die, some from accidents and some from illnesses that expected lifespan does not cross my mind much any more.
Nothing in life is guaranteed and having lost my scruffy mongrel at 3 followed by my German shepherd at 2.5 I think I’ve given up thinking how long they should live and just enjoy the time they do have.

They’re heartbreakers, aren’t they?

I have some experience with large breeds (Old English Sheepdogs) and know the life expectancy is lower as the breed type gets larger, but was just so shocked to see 6-8 years. I always had about 10 years on my head as a low life expectancy for big dogs, but not sure why.

My last OES was 13 and died of cancer, so she had a fairly long life before we had to make the decision to PTS. Even before the cancer, she had slowed down a lot from about the age of 10/11, due to age, but she was a happy girl and content to plod around herding the cats

I just always had it in my head that I would move on to a giant breed when finances, space, and life would allow and Bernese had also been my thought. Have lots of dog experience and thought a gentle giant would suit us best.

Sorry, I know this is a rambling thread, it just surprised me.

@Leonberger, I think you have the right attitude. Is it three Leonbergers you have? Stunning dogs. Serious work, I’d imagine.

I have a St Bernard but we were well aware of the fact the lifespan wasn't long. It's just a downside of giant breed dogs and you have to weigh this up. We felt it was worth it.

I agree with Leonberger and enjoy the time you do have with your giants. It's the quality of their lives that matter and the memories you make together.

@PenisBeakerIsMyFavouriteMuppet yes we have 2 leonberger and a random GSD rescue

They are honestly perfect dogs, we’ve met a lot of bernese as Leo people tend to also have bernese and they are also lovely dogs. The only reason I went for Leo’s is because they don’t drool where some BMD do.

We've no experience of Bernese but have had 3 Dogue de Bordeaux and have lost them all, one at 2, one at 5 and one nearly 7. It's heartbreaking and when the grief is so raw you can't imagine putting yourself through it again.
We were aware of the expected lifespan, you just always hope you'll get longer.
We have a smaller dog now which we obviously love but I still yearn for another giant breed.

DB lost two to cancer aged 6 and 7. Current DBernese is 6 and healthy so far.

They are lovely dogs, but 10 is a very old Bernese afaik.