Corgi vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Bernese Mountain Dog comes from the Swiss Alps and is one of four separate breeds called Sennenhund or “Alpine pasture dog”. The Name Bernese Mountain Dog indicates the area of Switzerland that the dogs come from – the canton of Bern. These groups of dogs accompanied the dairymen and herders and they were farm dogs. They pulled carts, delivered goods from village to village. The Bernese Mountain Dog was part of this group along with: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Appenzeller,Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Bernese Mountain Dog. It is probably true that the Bernese Mountain Dog has been a part of farm life in the Alps for over 2000 years.

In some regions of the Alps, these dogs were called Durrbachhund after a small town named Durrbah and are said to be rooted in the Molosser breeds. Tin 1902 the Swiss Kennel Club recognized the Bernese Mountain Dog as a separate breed and the first breed club was founded in 1907 in the region of Burgdorf. The first standard for the breed was written and separated the 4 dogs into their own breeds. The Molosser is an ancient breed whose versatility and travels made it expressly influential in the developing of Mastiff dogs like St. Bernards, Great Pyranees, Mastiffs and Swiss Mountain Dogs like the Bernese.

However at the end of the 19th century famers and shepherds began to import other breeds of working dogs, while at the same time automated modes of transportation began to replace the farm dogs. Under these circumstances the number of Bernese Mountain Dog began to decline and the breed faced potential extinction. A group of people were gathered together to save the Berner, including Franz Schertenleib and Albert Heim. Still today the Bernese are in short supply and because of the need and desire to increase the numbers, some breeding practices have not been as good as they should have been. However, today’s Berner is a great family dog and he still loves to work. He is good at carting, herding, search and rescue, watch dog, tracking, and competitive obedience.

The Bernese Mountain Dog came to the US after World War I and was imported to Britain in the 1930’s. The AKC accepted the Berner as a new Working-Class breed in 1937. It was not until 1968 that the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America was formed. In 1981, the AKC accepted the club as a member and in 1990 they (AKC) adopted the standard used today to judge the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Known as a cattle herding dog breed, the Corgi hails from Pembrokeshire, Wales. You get 2 breeds – the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Welsh Corgi.

The word ‘Korgi’ actually means ‘dwarf dog’. According to some, the small dog’s history goes back as far as 1107AD, but when you start doing research, you find that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi doesn’t have a traceable breed history.

The Pembrokeshire Corgi was officially recognized by the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom in 1934 and is a breed separate from the Cardiganshire Corgi.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, lovable clown. He has a heavy build with a tri color- mostly black – coat. He should have a white chest and rust coloring on the front of his legs, the sides of his mouth, and above his eyes. His eyes should be dark and blue eyes are a disqualification. His coat is silky, thick and long. He has medium sized triangle shaped ears and a scissors bite. He has round toes and strong, straight legs, He is well suited to cold weather. His skull is broad and flat, his muzzle is straight and strong, his nose must be black, and he does not usually drool.

He is an imposing sight, but he is also as non-aggressive as any breed. He is strong, intelligent, and agile. He should have his dew claws removed. This breed should be self-assured, yet good natured and calm. He is welcoming to strangers and loyal to his people. He needs his people.

The Corgi is a small to medium sized dog, standing at 25 to 30cm and weighs between 10 to 14kg.

The coat of the Corgi is fairly short to medium length and is thick. You’ll find him to be available in colors such as red, fawn, black and tan and with white markings.

He has a sharp, intelligent face with an amicable expression. Looking much like a fox with short legs, he has a long, low-set body body and is a sturdy dog. His ears also stand erect and he has a docked tail.

When reading the AKC standard for the Bernese Mountain Dog you will find that the breed is good natured and self-assured. They are not aggressive, shy or anxious. These are gentle, loving dogs. At the same time, they should be socialized to all kinds of animals, people and children when they are puppies. They are happy outside but need to live in the house with their people. They need exercise and play, and because they are so large, they need this outside. But when it comes to cuddling and sleeping they need to be indoors.

They love children though you should be careful with small children because of the Berner’s size and their not being aware of their size at times. They are extremely loyal to their people and want to be with people. They are intelligent, and they want to please their people. At the same time, they are sensitive. They do not respond well to punishment or harshness. They are imposing but they are lovers at heart.

The sweet little Corgi is well known with his association with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth who has always loved these dogs with their long bodies and short legs. But while the Corgi may well be associated with royalty, he isn’t too snooty by any means to be your pet.

He has got a wonderful personality, and he is just waiting to be allowed into your household where he will prove to be a loving, devoted companion and friend.

Even though it is well known that cancer is the leading cause of dog deaths across the globe, the Bernese Mountain Dog is particularly prone to die of cancer. Half of all Berners compared with 27% of all dogs, die from cancer. The Berner’s life span is also shorter than most dogs his size. IT is also not just one cancer that attacks the Bernese Mountain Dog but rather at least 6 or more including mast cell, osteosarcoma, malignant histiocytosis, fibrosarcoma, and lymphosarcoma. They can also suffer from PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), hypoadrenocorticism, cataracts and histiocytic sarcoma. Another issue that plaques the Berner more than other breeds is musculoskeletal issues that cause mortality. This can include issues such as cruciate ligament rupture, arthritis and hip dysplasia. These types of aliments cause death in 6% of the breed while they are usually the cause of mortality in only 2% of all other dogs.

A corgi, when he is well looked after, can live to be anything from 12 to 15 years of age. However even this sturdy dog may well be susceptible to some of the more common dog illnesses, such as hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy.

Also you have to be careful with your Corgi and make sure that he doesn’t gain weight as this weight gain can bring with it a host of health complications.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia with your Corgi is about an abnormal joint structure where the bones lose contact with each other. This parting of the bones is known as subluxation, and it is this subluxation that can cause your pet pain and discomfort and lead to osteoarthritis.

This disease isn’t reserved for old dogs either, and some young dogs can begin to show signs of this disease before they reach their first birthday. Without taking your dog to the vet and having medical intervention, your pet may eventually be unable to walk.

Degenerative Myelopathy:

It is so sad when Degenerative Myelopathy invades your pet as it is a devastating disease watching your pet become paralyzed. The disease seems to come on when then dog is between 8 and 14 years of age where your pet loses co-ordination in the hind limbs, getting worse until he can no longer walk. Often your dog can no longer control his urine output.

There are no real treatments that have stopped the progression of the disease and your vet may suggest treatments that can make your pet more comfortable You vet may compassionately suggest your dog be put down, particularly for those people who can’t afford treatment.

Feeding

As with any large purebred dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog needs high quality food that will provide hi with nutrition and keep him from becoming overweight if fed properly. He is however a very large dog with a very large appetite. Watch his calorie intake. It’s ok to use treats if you fit them into the overall calorie intake for the day. Feed him smaller meals twice a day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the breed has quite a few health challenges to deal with, cancer being the number one issue. The small genetic line is one of, if not the main, culprit in this high mortality rate and short life span of the Bernese Mountain Dog. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, they are also susceptible to bloat (stomach inversion). In addition, they face the conditions mentioned previously and should be tested for dysplasia of the hip and elbow, Von Willebrand’s Disease, Cardiac testing and an eye or ophthalmologist exam.

Exercise and games

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a gentle giant. They have a calm happy demeanor and they love to work. In fact, they need to work. They love children and will quickly give them cart rides. They compete in carting competitions and herding events sponsored by the AKC. They need exercise but not an extreme amount or intense type. A half-hour a day is enough for them. They love long walks or hiking. They are great companions for backpacking or camping. They are also good at tracking, rally, obedience, and agility.

Grooming:

The Corgi isn’t a particularly heavy shedder, so a brush down twice a week will be excellent for his thick coat. And of coarse he will thrive on the attention given to him during the brushing session.

Exercise:

Corgis love walks and sniffing around as they go along. They’re energetic dogs so you’ll need to include him in your daily walks which he just loves, and include him in some ball games.

Diet:

Corgis may be short in stature but they are robust dogs – sturdily built. They are active dogs and can use up a lot of calories. They will certainly require a diet that features good quality protein.

Feed your Corgi a good quality food designed for special life stages – puppy, adult, pregnant female, senior dog and also dogs with illnesses.

Most Corgis do well having 2 meals of kibble a day. Puppies usually eat 4 meals a day until they are old enough to move onto an adult feeding schedule. Include cooked rice, meat and vegetables in his diet as well as raw meat from time to time and ensure there is always a bowl of clean, cool water available.