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Labernese image via mixbreeddog.com
Two of the most popular working breeds, the Bernese mountain dog and the Labrador retriever, have recently joined forces to create a new breed that is pretty hard to resist.
The labernese or Bernese Labrador is a large to giant breed of dog that is known for its loyalty and excellent work ethic.
Let’s delve deeper into the Bernese mountain dog lab mix.
Is there controversy surrounding this new breed?
What is their temperament, health, and life span?
And most importantly, how can you, the discerning dog lover, find a labernese dog to add to your family?
Controversy Surrounding the Labernese and Other Designer Dogs
There is plenty of controversy surrounding so-called designer dogs, and the Bernese Labrador mix is no exception.
There is a popular myth that purebred dogs are healthier and more desirable, and that they are bred by trained geneticists whose goal is to protect the genetic diversity and health of pedigree dogs.
In truth, both pedigree and mixed breeds can be bred intelligently, with an emphasis on health and good genetics, but according to the Institute of Canine Biology, purebred dogs are more likely to have shorter lifespans or develop serious health issues due to inbreeding.
The health of a dog depends largely on their genetic makeup and the environment they are raised in.
Whether you are looking for a Bernese lab mix, or any other puppy, the most important consideration is a reputable breeder that is breeding their dogs for health and genetic diversity, not popular physical traits that will make them a quick buck.
History of the Bernese Mountain Dog and Lab Mix
Both the Bernese mountain dog and the Labrador retriever are loyal dogs who have been bred specifically throughout their history to work alongside humans.
The ancestors of Bernese mountain dogs were brought to Switzerland thousands of years ago by invading Roman soldiers.
These gentle giants worked as draft dogs and multipurpose farm dogs, but they weren’t officially recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1937.
The Labrador retriever, who has claimed the title for the AKC most popular dog breed for more than 10 years, is known as the most gentle of family pets, as well as a prized hunting dog.
More recently, labs have been used extensively for guide work, and are trained to lead the blind, perform detection work, and aid children with autism.
As the name suggests, the lab’s modern ancestors originated in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.
The labernese mix was originally created in the 1990s by the Mira Foundation in Canada as a service dog for the disabled, blind, and visually impaired.
The foundation firmly believes that a healthy Bernese-Lab mix will combine the best traits of both breeds to create dogs who are calm, highly trainable, intelligent, and obedient.
Physical Characteristics of the Bernese Lab
Both breeds are known for their large size and strength, so you can assume that your hybrid will be big, possibly even giant.
Average weight will be between 75 and 115 pounds, and they will generally reach between 25 and 28 inches at the shoulder.
As for looks, your labernese could take after either parent, with a medium to long coat and colors ranging from pure black or black and white, to yellow, tan, or brown. Bi-color and tri-color labernese are common.
Temperament of Bernese Mountain Dog and lab mix
Both the Labrador and the Bernese mountain dog are known to be gentle, intelligent, and good with kids, so there’s a great chance that your labernese will be a fabulous family pet.
Labernese puppies are easy to train, and the high-energy of the Labrador is often tempered by the Bernese mountain dog’s laid-back attitude.
Because labernese are extremely loyal, they thrive when they can integrate fully into family life. Dogs who are left alone for long periods may not get the human interaction that they need and could become destructive.
Labernese Health Considerations
As with any dog, purebred or mutt, genetic make-up and environment will play a huge part in the health of your Bernese mountain dog and lab mix.
Finding reputable labernese breeders who pay careful attention to breeding healthy dogs is critical. You can find more about finding a responsible breeder from the Humane Society of the United States.
Common health disorders in Labradors include hip, elbow, or shoulder dysplasia, joint problems, obesity, cancer, progressive retinal atrophy, and ear infections.
Bernese mountain dogs also suffer from many types of cancer, along with hip and elbow dysplasia. They are also prone to heart problems, epilepsy, and autoimmune diseases.
The life expectancy of your labernese could be anywhere from 6 to 12 years old, depending on their overall health, size, and genetic makeup.
Labradors generally live between 10 and 12 years, and Bernese mountain dogs have a life expectancy of 6 to 8 years.
Caring for Your Bernese Mountain Lab Mix
These gentle giants have beautiful coats that should be brushed often to keep up with their heavy shedding. Invest in a good vacuum to keep up with the accumulation of hair throughout your home.
Baths won’t generally be appreciated, and should be given sparingly to keep your dog’s skin and fur from drying out.
The labrador in your dog is susceptible to ear infections, so be sure to check your pup’s ears weekly to look for signs of infection.
Bernese Labradors appreciate a good meal, no matter when it is offered, but because they are prone to obesity, they should be fed a high-quality, dry dog food twice daily.
How much food will depend on the age and size of your dog.
Labernese, and especially labernese puppies, are active dogs who aim to keep you on your toes. They benefit from regular exercise, and generally love fetch, running, and playtime with other dogs.
Not only will a good romp make them happy, but it will also go a long way toward better behavior.
Training and Socializing your Labernese
And speaking of behavior, your labernese is extremely intelligent and eager to please, which makes training a breeze, as long as you are consistent.
It’s important to start training and socializing your labernese puppy at a young age.
An untrained furry pup isn’t the end of the world, but a untrained adult can wreak havoc on your household and knock you over in an instant.
Because labernese pups can grow to be huge, it’s particularly important to teach them leash and house manners early on.
Labradors and Bernese mountain dogs both respond to positive reinforcement training use food as a reward. Puppy obedience classes are a great way to help them socialize with other dogs.
Is a Labernese Right for Your Home and Family?
Labernese dogs will need plenty of room, inside and out. Apartment living isn’t really their thing, nor is soaking up the sun on a tropical island.
Labernese have thick coats, and both parent breeds were developed in northern regions of the world.
These dogs will need plenty of exercise and room to run. If you can give them a job, they will really show you what they’re made of.
The Bernese lab mix should be an excellent family dog, as they are known as gentle giants who are fond of children.
Remember though, that each labernese is different, and they will have a secret mix of lab and Bernese mountain dog traits.
If you can handle the uncertainty of a mixed breed, and are willing to put in the time to train and exercise a labernese, you will find that their loyalty and loving personality will reward you a hundred times over.
Labernese Puppies: How to Find and Pick Your New Best Friend
While labernese puppies are becoming more popular, they aren’t easy to find without a thorough search. Be sure to look for a reputable breeder with stellar credentials.
Many shady breeders are getting into the designer dog market, hoping to make some fast cash. The last thing you want is a dog bred by someone without any scruples!
Look for a labernese puppy with a clean bill of health who has been raised with the mother until at least 8-weeks of age.
Parents should have be healthy, with documentation showing positive results from hip, elbow, and eye screenings.
Ideally, you should visit the breeding facility to ensure cleanliness and meet the breeder in person before agreeing to purchase a puppy.
A labernese puppy from a reputable breeder will probably cost more, but you will save yourself lots of headaches and heartaches by choosing the best breeder, not the cheapest.
Pros and Cons of the Labernese Mix
If you have your heart set on a Bernese-lab mix, you’re not alone. Before you make your decision, though, be sure to do your research. Here are the most compelling reasons for and against the labernese:
PROS: Easy to train, gentle, good with kids, great working dog, loyal
CONS: You will get a surprise mix of lab and Bernese mountain dog traits, short life span, prone to hip and elbow problems, needs lots of exercise, may be too big for a small house or yard
Do You Have a Labernese?
We’d love to hear about your labernese experiences.
Which parent does your dog take after?
Did you find your labernese easy to train?
Please share your story in the comments below.
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37 comments
My labernese pup is one of the most amazing creatures I have had the pleasure to know and love. She is smart, was easy to train, and is very affectionate. There is not an aggressive bone in her body, she is happy letting others be the alpha and just wants to get along. Not territorial with toys or food. Great with humans and other pets. She is the most expressive animal I have ever had. Very sensitive, you can tell what emotions she is feeling my her body language and facial expressions. She doesn’t care about toys much and prefers pets, hugs and cuddles. She loves a good interactive play, loves the park, loves playing “run around the car” and hide and seek, loves rolling in the morning grass. She’s a wonderful companion! I’d say the best owners for a labernese would be affectionate dog lovers as well. I think she does want more attention than other dogs I’ve been around. Total love bug and sweetheart!
where did you get your labernese? I can’t find any breeders. I’m in Ontario but willing to go to the US to get the right breeder. Thanks, Kate
Labernese are generally bread by mira and you can adopt the ones who didn’t succeed the training, or, if you haev autism, you can be put on a waiting list (7mnths-2yrs) to get one 2
Sounds exactly like the temperament of a Bernese Mountain Dog. I don’t understand why everyone wants to mix this amazing breed with every other breed :( Berners are perfect just the way they are and so are Labradors. I have the most affectionate, loving, expressive Bernese Mountain Dogs because that is just their characteristics.
I should imagine the appeal of the mix – depending on your point of view – is that you get a bigger Labrador with a more interesting coat / a slightly smaller and maybe not as colourful but longer-lived version of the Bernese. For the life of me I cannot understand the thinking behind falling for a breed that is ‘old’ by only 5 and may die from old age as young as 6.
I have two labernese dogs. Maci is more lab in looks but has more of the temperament of the Bernese . Maci has the fur of the lab as far as roughness but the depth of the Bernese. Maci sheds a lot but loves to be brushed and pampered at bath time getting her nails done when they need it. We took Maci in from a friend at 10 months old. She already had basic training but has learned so much. She learned quickly how to walk properly on a leash, play fetch, shake and paw.
A month after getting Maci we decided she needed a friend, so we bought Max. Max looks and acts like a Bernese. Max has the Bernese fur all the way, he is so soft. Max hates baths and being brushed. Forget cutting his nails, won’t happen! He sheds a lot. Max was house broken quickly. He learned how to shake, paw, sit and give high five in just a week. (One at a time) I swear this dog smiles. He loves to give us kisses and loves attention. My dogs love to be around one another. They are best friends. Bringing both of our dogs into our family was perfect!
We run the dogs almost everyday in a big open field or in the woods and they need it! We also play in the yard and go for walks. They each eat about 2 cups of food a serving and get fed in morning and in there evening.
My AKC chocolate lab family pet accidentally was bred by my nephews AKC Bernese Mountain dog this week and so I was researching the breed . We should have sweet puppies in a couple months.
i have two laberneses and if i’ll have to buy another puppy- it will be a labernese. my dogs are as different by personality as two dogs can be, the only trait that they share is avoiding any fight with other dogs. they hate confrontation. And they love us. And are very happy to meet anybody who come to our house.
My elder dog is 9, he believes in moderation in food, prefers lone walks and is politely stubborn.Has long soft fur. Around 4 years old started with blood in urine, apparently one of bernese problems. We put him on special prescription dry food and the problem was solved.
young one is 5, has lab short fur and very few bernese signs- mostly it is his size and being mellow from young age. feels happy only being home with us, prefers home to long walks. Afraid to enter any other house- but i think it’s related to his puppyhood. The breeders were Amish and the puppy had never been inside the house before. he was afraid of the floor when we got him.
Not knowing that my “Labernese” was actually a breed, he will be 8 yrs old in March. He is the most loving dog. He is very intelligent and another said he has a personality that he can tell me what he wants. Still very active and loves his toys and removing the squeakers! He as a pup 7 weeks learned to sit and come. Never damaged any furniture. He doesnt like his feet touched! He has been and continues to bring pure joy and love. Although he wasn’t from a reputable breeder as I was going to look at an older weimaraner pup! I decided it wasn’t a good match and the lady introduced me to Tank ❤
Karen, jack here in Colorado. I have a mira dog now 14yrs. Where did you find your dogs,
Hi Is uour 14 year old dog a labernese
Thanks Mark
Our ‘baby’ turned 8 in March as well. Formerly weighing in at 130lbs when we first got him, he’s hovering at 115 right now…..still has 15 to lose. Our guy’s name is Lieutenant, or LT for short. He too, hates having his feet touched. Happiest dog around…..such a lover…..he’s non-aggressive and very social. He adores little dogs and acts as their protector in a crowd.
In search of a Bernese or labanese breeder.
Thanks.
I can’t seem to find any reputable breeders of labernese in the US! Can anybody help me?
Hi, did you find a reputable labernese breeder? I had a bernese/golden mix who was awesome. She passed away suddenly this week and i’ve been told a lab/bernese mix has a better chance of living longer. Thanks! Nancy
Chris, jack here in Colorado. Did you find a breeder?
I got my Labernese in January of 2018 he was 10 week old and weighted 29 lbs. Today at 9.5 months old he weights in at 115 lbs and probably will grow to 200 lbs of more, he is an exceptional dog and show no aggression to people, or dogs and gets along great with our cat. The only problem is his size and strength when at the dog park I have to be careful because he plays so rough he can provoke other dogs and I do not want that so I have been going very early so there are not too many dogs there. I plan to use him for backpacking and he will be carrying some of our gear maybe even pull a hiking cart. He has been easy to train and listens well to me most of the time but when he does not a spray bottle with water in it usually fixes the problem, his name is Bear because when I picked him up from the breeder he felt like a black bear cub in my arms. I love this dog very much.
Thomas,
There must be another breed involved with your dog. A bernese mountain dog mixed with labrador should not be as big as you are stating. I would suspect there is mastiff in his bloodline. He is massive for 9 months.
I have never heard of either breed, a lab or a berner, being that massive. Maybe a Newfoundland and a lab mixed could get that large. I have 5 berners right now, my first girl passed away a couple of years ago. With 6 berners in our family, our largest, and he is large, is our boy Harley who weighs in at 146
My daughter’s family got a Bernese Mountain / Boxer Dog . Can you tell me more about this breed?
We have a 3 year old male. We got him when he was a puppy. He’s a big teddy bear but has some lab traits: gets excited. He has a great spirit. We is a great family dog!
My 3 yr old Finn is the most easy going guy. He is so expressive with his love, and empathetic with all the members of our household. He gives great hugs, whether you want them or not. I got him to help ease my older rescued Jack Russell, Osa, find some peace in her old age. He helped her with her separation anxiety and excessive barking when we weren’t at home. She taught him to play tug-of-war, and the older she got, the more gentle he played. By the last year he would just lie down and hold the toy while Osa aggressively tugged away. When she went blind, he became her eyes, and when she couldn’t bark at the fence anymore, he took over that job too lol. (With easy training, he is learning that he doesn’t actually have to bark at people along the fence, that was a Jack Russell thing.) We lost Osa earlier this year, and Finn mourned with us. I am so thankful to have him. He has been an absolute joy! To family and friends, he’s a big goofy lab dog, but he’s shy with strangers. He’s big and intimidating looking, but he’s afraid of walking on manhole covers or past leaning broom handles. He constantly reminds me of Disney’s Lambert, the Sheepish Lion…
Im getting a labernese pup this weekend. I cant wait.
Any tips i should know for training him?
There are a lot of training tips on this website. The first two things we start working on right away are potty training and crate training. Here are a couple of good articles that might help:
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/house-training-the-ultimate-guide/
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/how-to-crate-train-a-puppy/
Also, our friends over at Puppy In Training have a great article on how to handle your first night home with your puppy:
https://puppyintraining.com/how-to-handle-your-puppys-first-night-at-home/
I hope that helps. Good luck with your training!
Thank you so much! I have been trying, but ended up in the hospital for a long stay. Retraining all over again, but our Buddy is worth it 100 times over!
Where can I find a breeder for A Lab Bernese mix?
Thanks.
I have a bernie and peranes mix. He’s a loves. and does not have a mean bone in his body
He?’s 7. His name is BUCK..
We adopted our big boy from a Vietnam Era Marine. At 130lbs, our baby was quite large. His owner was tearful in having to let him go, but he vetted us out very carefully and made sure we were a good fit for his baby. This dog has trimmed a bit from his former 130 to 115 and we have about 15 pounds to go to get him in a good weight zone. He is so loving and has such a calm, even disposition. He absolutely loves being taken for walks and is quite a social creature. He gets a little skittish when we have to get his nails trimmed, but all in all, this dog is a big, happy ball of fur and tail. We absolutely adore our baby…..not a bad pup for being 7 years old when we took him in. I’d take 10 more just like him.
Hi, we have a lab and he is just the best. We love Berners and would love to breed him with one. Do you know how you go about finding a dog to breed with?
We adopted a labernese 8 years ago. He is without a doubt the best dog ever. Mom was a lab/Bernese cross, dad was a lab/golden cross. Our boy looks like a fuzzy Rottweiler. Everyone thinks he’s a rottie. Great for home security. ;-) He goes full out on walks but really only needs one walk a day and sleeps the rest of the time. He’s always been pretty low energy. Managed to skip the Labrador food obsession too. Yay! Can’t say he’s very smart but that just makes him easier to handle. He’s so eager to please. He was a puppy when I had a home daycare and he was always in the middle of the little kids wanting to play with everyone. So affectionate and sweet. Highly recommend in every way.
Looking for a labernese breeder. We have one who’s the best dog ever but her breeder isn’t breeding anymore. Would love any leads …
Some people are selling them on Kijiji Guelph Ontario area. I just got my pup in November and the breeder said he will call me if they have another litter in the spring. I’ve seen a few different ads for Labernes Pups.
Also here looking for a Labernese! Any leads in the US or Canada? (Besides Mira?)
Might want to check your local Humane Society(ies) as that is where we found our 7 month old. They had a whole litter at one point and “Oh SO Cute”!
We got our Labernese when he was a little past 7 months. My puppy dog of 11 years had past away 4 years beforehand, but we still had my husbands pit/rottie that lived two more years beyond my Yeller. We will always miss our Yeller and Ringo; and my very first puppy that I grew up with and lived for 17 years (even our children got to enjoy him)! My heart was yearning for a new pup for a long time. So when this precious face came up at our local Humane Society I asked if we could go see hm. My husband agreed. From that day on Buddy has been a part of our family. He’s nearly as tall as me; won’t be long now. ;) He’s very loyal, playful and protective. Wouldn’t trade him for another dog ever.
We adopted a Labernese nearly 2 months ago, a week before Christmas. She is 10 months old now. When we chose her, we didn’t know that she is a Labernese, but we immediately thought she looked like a Labrador. We were told by the shelter workers that she must be a mix of the Swiss Mountain Dog and another breed, but they didn’t know for sure. So I did some research, and when I saw photos of the Labernese, I immediately knew that this is our dog. She was pretty lucky, spent only 1 month in the shelter. Her previous owner was an old guy who didn’t care too much about her. We started to teach her the basics from the first day on we got her home. She learned to sit and lay down in like 3-4 days, I was quiet surprised how quickly and easily it went. In the beginning she was scared of everything – it took us half an hour to get her in the car, motivating her with treats, when we first took her from the shelter. It wasn’t easy in the first few weeks, but now she is absolutely confident with jumping in the car by herself and travelling with us. She has some issues with tall men – I guess they remind her of her previous owner. We socialize a lot with her, as it seemed to be a big issue for her in the beginning to meet new people. She is calm and nice around other dogs (except our best friend’s dog who is used to being the only dog around). In the first few weeks she was absolutely not happy when people entered our house – it was kind of difficult in the beginning when somebody came by, but this also got much better, nevertheless, we are still working on it. It took us 2-3 weeks to be able to pet and hug her without her getting scared. From her behavior, it seemed like she might have been hit/hurt by her previous owner. So we had to be very patient with her letting us closer and closer. Now she thinks she is a lap dog and loves hugs and belly rubs and being on the couch with us, and we can do basically anything with her, she is just happy that we love her. She loves going on long walks, which is great, because we love hiking. We have a huge garden and she doesn’t mind to be outside hours long.
The biggest issue is leaving her alone. She is very unpredictable. We always give her some entertainment and even turn on the TV (she loves watching TV), and most of the times she doesn’t destroy our stuffs, but sometimes accidents happen (tearing carpet and any paper apart). She is never alone for more than 6 hours and most of the days I work from home, or my boyfriend takes a look at her during the day, as his workplace is close to our home, but still, I can confirm, Labernese don’t like to be without their humans.
All in all, she is a lovely dog, but she still has a lot to learn. Fortunately, it is very easy to motivate her with treats. When it comes to food, she is definitely a Labrador :)
Hi, this is Saritha from Edmonton,Canada. We do have a Labarnesse, she is past 3, named after character in 3’s company, 80’s show. Our baby is Chrissy, a gentle giant as you described. She weighs 92 lbs, plays fetching and soccer in the backyard. Very energetic. Never destroyed anything. Very obedient except very territorial. I don’t know where that come from. She is tricolour and her siblings were bicolour. She is off course food oriented , loves Indian food along with her dry food. So we have to be really careful. Our life has changed a lot after she joined our family. She goes running with our son, and went to vet only for her vaccination. She loves travelling and mountain hiking. We really love to take her from Canada to I dis at least once to show her. I am not sure how she will tolerate the 24 hour flying though. She is such a great addition to our family. She is a rescue puppy but got vaccinated and medically cleared. Thank you for the article. Very useful. While reading, all I could is picture Chrissy. Wondering where this territorial barking come from Lol.