We will start this post with the following warning:
Do not believe everything you read on the internet
If you are curious as to what are the differences between females and males, we hope this post is helpful.
Based on our research, most information available through search engines regarding this subject is completely misleading and in many cases, just wrong.
Please talk to Bernese owners and breeders.
ASK US QUESTIONS.
We live with this breed, we can tell you about our observations and experience. We have met many Bernese owners, we know of other breeders. We have information based on personal experience.
If searching for answers, please consult with people that have engaged with the breed and have actual and factual personal experience.
Now the blog:
"What do you think is the difference between males and females?
We get this question often. But, before we get to share our opinion on the subject, let’s make one thing very clear:
Dogs are individuals & Individuality matters!
There are generalities that will be the main content of this post. These generalits are based in our experience. Our experience is vast, but it is not all-encompassing. Because dogs are individuals, experiences are bound to vary greatly.
Now then, what are some of the generalities we’ve observed?
Females
- Loving
- Loyal
- Devoted
- Independent
- Goofball
- Playful
- Intelligent
males
- Loving
- Loyal
- Devoted
- Independent
- Goofball
- Playful
- Intelligent
You saw what we did there? That is the breed standard, except you don’t find the word ‘Goofball’ in fancy textbooks.
The Bernese is a breed that devotes itself to their family. Their job becomes to love and be loyal to their humans (pack), and what the family decides to do, such as: go on trips, stay at home, work on a farm, draft, obedience training, play, etc. the Berner will do, as long as their family is there.
Training
START EARLY.
TRAIN LOTS (in small chunks).
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.
The early stages for training is paramount, FOUNDATIONAL, and you cannot and will not get back that moldable stage back.
(Unless of course you have time reversing powers, then by all means procrastinate at will!)
Both females and males have a tendency to be stubborn when it comes to training, especially if not started early.
In regards to gender, the approach is what tends to vary.
Females have a tendency to mature faster, as such, they tend to showcase behaviors that are considered “Boundary Challenging” as early as 6 months of age, whereas males don’t tend to showcase similar behaviors until around 9-12 months. The boundary pushing and the challenge of commands will be present for both genders, however it tends to showcase earlier in females than males in general (not as a rule).
Because females are inclined to push boundaries earlier, that usually means they get over the “Boundary Challenging” face earlier. If for instance a female starts challenging boundaries around 6 months of age, usually around 12-15 months, they start declining such behaviors. This is assuming the family has continued investing in the training, routine and discipline needed in this breed.
In contrast, because males may mature slower, the teenager or challenging phase may not start until around 9-12 months, and it may not end until 18-30 months of age.
Because males tend to be slower, it provides the illusion that they are not naughty, but don’t let them fool you.
No matter the gender, if this breed does not get training and boundaries it will become a fluffy, mouthy tornado capable of jump-tackling the sturdiest of visitors.
We have found that all berners regardless of gender, are naughty. They are children at heart, and they love getting into all sorts of trouble. The variant is, how the approach it: the sneaky way or flat out trouble of running off with the toilet paper roll.
If you’d like to learn more about their naughty ways, we invite you to visit our post:
Gender & HOrmones
This is a fundamental difference between a female and a male dog.
When considering genders, there will always be trade offs in this regard.
As a large breed dog, Berneses should not (ideally) be fixed before 2.5 or 3 years of age. Science tells us the removal of hormone producing glands have long-term consequences, such as a higher incidence for cancers, dysplasias and / or other endocrine dysfunctions.
All that being said, families that adopt a female will likely see one to two heats per year until 3 years of age or when she gets fixed. The bleeding part of a heat lasts anywhere between 7 to 14 days, and the fertile part of the heat comes after the bleeding which lasts anywhere from 4 to 14 days. Due to this, females are not able to be left unsupervised in areas where other intact dogs may be, sent out to daycare, or be placed at risk for pregnancies for about 3 weeks.
Certain females may exhibit humping behaviors, but in our experience that is usually when they are at their most fertile, and it tends to decline within a week or so. Some females can become slightly more clingy, but this being such a velcro-y breed, it can be difficult to tell the difference.
Male dogs start producing testosterone anywhere between 9-14 months. It is at this age that behavioral changes may be observed, such as humping, marking, easily distracted by scents, and difficulty concentrating if females are around.
We would like to reiterate this does NOT happen to all males, no dog is ever the same. Some males have no changes in behavior whatsoever, just like some females.
The amount of early training invested in a Berner during puppyhood makes a HUGE difference in how to manage such a stage, which if it happens, it’s normal. It can be incredibly frustrating, but hormones have a tendency to peak, and eventually they reach a base level.
However, we mention training because while yes, it is likely there is a hormonal component to this behavior, most humping is usually the effect of “Hyperarousal” that is not necessarily induced by hormones, but by excitement.
Lots of variables, due to infinite possible personalities.
Multiple pet households
Berneses in general are excellent at adapting to their packs and families. But what about the pets in your household? There are so many variables here, it is not possible to cover them all.
Here are some possible instances:
Are the pets in your household fixed (spayed / neutered). If not, let’s say you have an intact male already. If you get another male from us, and you have to wait between 2 – 2.5 years before neutering, you will have two mature, intact males in one household. This could represent a problem of dominance. Some possible scenarios would be: marking, scuffles, fights over their owners, a couch, etc.
Could nothing happened even with two intact males?
Yes, it depends on the dogs.
What about two females in the household?
The same as above could happen or nothing could happen. Because this is something that could potentially need managing, your family should take a moment to think of how the situation would be handled if it was to happen.
That being said, we have had up to 4 females in our home at the same time, all sharing the space in harmony. This is regardless if they are in heat or not.
If your pack is used to barking at the door bell or strangers, it is likely a new puppy will pick up on it and showcase the same behavior. Because the established pack considers this normal, mirroring and adaptation tends to be ingrained into new pack members. Some dogs, make their own rules, and they may not follow what everyone else does.
Again, individuality.
ALL Bernese bred for temperament will love and be there for their owner with fierce, yet calm determination.
The gender in that case, does not matter.
If you are adopting a Bernese bred for temperament, you will, no matter the gender, be welcoming a loving, loyal, beyond-words-goofball of a breed into your home.
This breed’s heart beats for their family. In this sense, gender does not matter in our experience.
The difference is usually based on a few hormonal and / or developmental differences, and once you can learn them, all you do is prepare yourself to manage them if / when the times comes.
You will have to spend countless hours with this puppy, and they will become part of your life and memories regardless. This breed has a tendency to weave itself into the very essence of one’s soul and heart, and it is like no other. (We are biased, we know).
If your family is set on a specific gender, we invite you to be patient, and be ready to wait a long while, or perhaps you will get incredibly lucky. As breeders we have no control over what genders are bred, how many puppies there will be, nor the infinite amount of variables between heats, pregnancies, deliveries and family wishes.
As such, while we can understand gender preferences due to household situations, past experiences, or perhaps a heart’s desire, we invite you to not dismiss one gender over the other if possible. Instead, we would invite you to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to handle either or. At the end of the day, you will be inviting a Bernese into your home, and we can tell you this:
Your life, heart and soul, will never be the same after.
