Bernefie

90-150 lbs
25-29"
Unknown
Bernese Mountain Dog
Newfoundland
New Mountain Bernese, Bernewfie

The Bernefie is a breed which was developed by breeding the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland, both of which are giant sized dogs with coats which allow them to live in colder temperatures as well as some warmer ones.  Both of the parent breeds were developed to work in draft, herding and farm situations.  Both parent breeds are gentle, affectionate, loyal and intelligent.  Both breeds require daily brushing of their long, thick coats to reduce shedding, prevent matting and keep it clean.  The Bernese Mountain Dog was developed in the farmlands of Switzerland while the Newfoundland was developed on the island from which it gets its name, the island of Newfoundland.

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland

Bernefie Health

Average Size
Male Bernefie size stats
Height: 25-29 inches Weight: 90-150 lbs
Female Bernefie size stats
Height: 25-29 inches Weight: 90-150 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Histiocytosis
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
  • Urolithiasis
  • Color Dilution Alopecia
Occasional Tests
  • Elbow
  • Blood Test
  • Hip & Eye
  • Blood And Urine Protein Screens
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination

Bernefie Breed History

The Bernefie hybrid is made up of the crossbreeding of two very large purebreds, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland.  Both of these parent breeds were developed for similar purposes of draft, herding, watchdogging and companionship.  Both parent breeds have thick, dense coats which protect them in the colder temperatures and, in the case of the Newfoundland parent, the coat is double coated, flat and oily, making it water resistant for its hunting and waterfowl retrieval tasks.  Both parent breeds also have very similar temperaments, being described as gentle, affectionate, intelligent and loyal.  The Bernese Mountain Dog was developed in the farmlands of Switzerland and the Newfoundland was developed in the frigid island of Newfoundland, from which it gets its name.  The Bernese Mountain Dog is thought to have come, in centuries past, from the crossing of mastiff-type dogs and native flock-guarding dogs from the valley of the Swiss Alps.  It is believed that the Newfoundland was developed perhaps earlier than the 1600’s and that the Portuguese Water Dog and the Great Pyrenees were somehow involved in its development.  Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland are recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Bernefie Breed Appearance

The Bernefie has a strong, sturdy body which is proportioned, often weighing from 70 to 100 pounds when fully matured. They have a round head with an average length muzzle and a black nose with open nostrils. Their dark eyes are round and give a facial expression of intelligence, sensitivity and friendliness.  Their silky ears fold over and generally hang close to the head and require regular checking and cleaning to stay healthy.  The coat is very dense and can be short or of medium length, being solid black, solid brown, brown and black, brown and white, black and white or tricolor in color and soft to the touch.

Bernefie Breed Maintenance

The Bernefie requires moderate maintenance.  He will need to be brushed several times each week to keep his hair from matting and to remove debris.  He will not need to be bathed except when absolutely necessary so as not to remove the natural oils from his coat.  As with almost every canine breed and hybrid, regular and routine teeth examinations and cleaning is necessary to avoid periodontal disease and tooth loss.  Regular checking and cleaning of his ears will also be required to keep them healthy.  Your Bernefie will shed at moderate levels with this left increasing with season shedding.  This hybrid is not hypoallergenic so care must be taken if there are asthmatics or family members in the household who have other breathing problems. They have a low or average smell level.

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Bernefie Temperament

The Bernefie temperament comes from both of its purebred parents, both having very similar temperaments.  Bernefie dogs are very intelligent, making them incredibly easy to train if done with good human to canine communication that comes from early socialization to help the canine understand what is expected of him. They are affectionate, gentle, loyal, generally cheerful and courageous.  They will protect when the need is truly present but will likely do so by positioning themselves between the endangered family member and the potential danger in lieu of attacking. They have moderate energy levels and need their daily walks to avoid becoming overweight.  They are great with kids as well as with other animals.  They are a bit wary of strangers so it is very important to socialize them as early as possible in their lives. They have plenty of love to give their human family and will bond closely with them. 

Bernefie Activity Requirements

Your Bernefie will need daily exercise to help keep his weight under control as he has a tendency to gain weight.  He will have more energy when he is younger but the need for daily walks and playtime continues even as he ages so that he will remain healthy and fit. The Bernefie is not a sedentary canine so he may not be as well suited to apartment life as he is to the home with a fenced yard.  He can live in rural or urban areas as long as he has access to sufficient space for exercise on a daily basis.  Since he has a thick, dense coat, he can tolerate colder temperatures while that same coat will allow him to tolerate some warmer temperatures as well.

Bernefie Owner Experiences

Baloo
3 Years
8 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He's the best dog I've ever owned. He was so easy to train, he's great with my kids, a good protector, I couldn't have asked for a better pup ♡
8 months ago
Bernie
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Riding in the car
Cuddling
Throwing a ball
racing
going to the bathroom, I am never alone
Getting him to drop socks before he takes them out
Bernie is the sweetest, most loving toddler of a dog you could ever meet. He loves to annoy his older brother (11yo Great Pyrenees mix), bark at the back door to try to get the other dogs to come out and play, have zoomies with his sister, and will tear apart any bed, blanket, pillow, stuffed anything he gets his eyes on. He LOVES frogs. Most notably, he loves to bring frogs in and lose them in the house. He smiles constantly so it’s impossible to be upset with his shenanigans. He is genuinely the sweetest, most instantly loving dog I have ever had.
9 months, 1 week ago
Lace
9 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She’s ver sassy but so lovable
2 years, 6 months ago
Kiki
2 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She loves to play in snowbanks and play with kids
She is the perfect family dog and couldn't ask for a better family member
2 years, 7 months ago
Kingsley
3 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Squeaky Toys
Ball
Walk
Very content and lovable. A big cuddler. We have him groomed once a year with many DIY paw trims. Has had ear infections but regular use of an ear cleansing/drying solution has really helped. He’s a bit of a fussy eater and keep his kibble to fish ones which might help his ears and reduces scratching and paw biting as he might have some food allergies.
2 years, 7 months ago
Bear
10 Weeks
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing in the snow
It has been a lot of work but my benefie is very smart and sometimes he looks like he's smiling.
6 years, 10 months ago
Maxwell
2 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running around in our yard
Playing tug-of-war
Playing in the snow
he is very sweet, happy, and not easy to get angry. he sheds everywhere, though! we all love him, me and my 4 kids. he's so gentle, kind, and big! he's bigger than my 6-year old! I love him, and he has made this last year in our house so much brighter!
4 years, 9 months ago
Jane
9 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Jane is a snugglebug
Jane enjoys going to see people
Jane loves swimming
Jane is extremely affectionate and enjoys visiting stores and meeting people. She has never met a person she does not like! She also loves riding in the truck with the wind blowing through her hair. She is very intelligent and often very stubborn, but I would not trade her for the world.
4 years, 7 months ago
Angus
5 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Angus is a gentle giant. He just wants to be sitting next to anyone that will scratch his ears and hold his paw. He likes all people. He often climbs in the UPS truck with the driver and will wait until the driver gives him a treat. He is a great family dog, and will bark if a strange car drives in the farm yard. Angus does shed ALOT! I go through 2 vacuum cleaners a year fighting the dog hair, but he is worth every penny
3 years, 11 months ago
Freddy
2 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
coyote patrol
Meeting Fred's pals at the dog park.
Leash keep-away
Walks with Freddy and his sister Penny the Pug.
I'm kind of cheating here, because Freddy is a Bernese/Newfie/Great Pyrenees mix. So I guess he's a Great Bernefie. He's also running about 33 inches at the shoulder and 170 pounds. I decided to post here because the Bernefies at the top of the page look just like Freddy. I mean almost exactly. I know that two of Freddy's siblings were adopted as a pair; makes me wonder if that could be them. Anyway, Freddy is the best and he has changed my life. By the way, his full name is Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog.
3 years, 10 months ago
Luna Bear
16 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
snuggling
Walk
swimming
I'm glad we had the opportunity to train her in a socialized setting with other dog owners and a trainer. It gave her the socialization that she required, and knowing when she was required to listen to our commands. This made for easy transition to off leash parks and her knowing when our hand is out, that she needs to come and tag it with her nose. Luna is super gentle with kids and likes to sniff around their ears and give them a kiss. She always greets the human companion of other dogs in the park. Luna loves going for a car ride, even if it's just to get out and view out the window. This is usually is Luna inviting herself along. We have her on a raw diet, and her coat and teeth are healthy. She loves her treats of carrots, apples, peanut butter and homemade oatmeal pumpkin dog cookies. Luna has a love for our 11 year old Havaness, and is really gentle with him. He doesn't love to play, but she tries to get him to chase her around. My teenage children didn't want another dog, but have completely fallen in love with Luna. My son loves to sit with her on the couch and snuggle. My daughter loves to run and play with her in the snow. My eldest daughter brings her two cats over once in awhile. As they are intriguing to Luna, she is gentle and respects their space. I would get another Bernefie in a heart beat. They are so affectionate, loving, aware of their surroundings, and easy to train.
3 years, 8 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd