How to Adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog in the United States
To adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog in the United States, apply to the rescue program of your nearest Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) regional club, and also check shelters and adoption listings. Expect an application, interviews, references, possibly a home check, and an adoption fee the BMDCA puts at typically $500 to $1,000, depending on the dog's age, health and circumstances.
Berners in rescue are mostly adults; the club says dogs younger than two rarely come into the program, and waits can be long. This guide covers where to look, the process, whether an adult Berner suits you, costs, health checks and the first months.
Key points
- Regional clubs rehome most rescue Berners, and the BMDCA's Rescue & Rehome Committee coordinates the work nationally.
- Most clubs charge an adoption fee of $500 to $1,000 and require every rescue Berner to be spayed or neutered.
- With an average lifespan of 7 to 8 years, a five-year-old Berner may soon be a senior; plan for vet costs, not just the fee.
- Bonding can take three months to a year, though most dogs settle into the routine within a month, the BMDCA says.
Where can you adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog?
- BMDCA regional clubs. The BMDCA lists regional clubs across the country, from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Nashoba Valley in New England to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Greater Seattle, and the clubs rehome Berners in their areas. Contact the rescue chair of the club nearest you; clubs outside your region sometimes consider other homes.
- Breeders. The club says most Berners in need of new homes are rehomed by their breeders, so tell breeders you would welcome an adult.
- BARC. The Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition, a nonprofit the BMDCA names, rescues Berners from dog brokers, auctions, puppy mills and pet shops.
- Shelters and adoption listings. You can search Bernese Mountain Dogs for adoption by location and save the search to get alerts when a new dog is listed.
How does the Bernese Mountain Dog adoption process work?
Each regional club runs its own process, but the BMDCA says you should generally expect to:
- Fill out an adoption application, even if no dog is available yet.
- Be interviewed, sometimes by more than one rescue representative.
- Provide references, and possibly allow a home check.
- Wait while representatives review the applications on file to find the best match when a dog comes in.
- Agree that the dog stays spayed or neutered and goes back to the club if you can ever no longer keep it.
- Stay in touch with the rescue committee after placement, so it can follow the dog's progress.
The club warns that the wait can be very long, or that you may never be called: Berners still need rescue fairly rarely, though numbers have grown sharply in some areas. Applying through more than one route improves your chances.
Is an adult rescue Berner right for your home?
Not necessarily easier than a puppy, the BMDCA says: many rescue Berners have little training or behavior issues that need the same vigilance as a puppy, and an unsupervised adult can do more damage. Most come from owners whose circumstances changed or who struggled with the dog's health or behavior. Check the fit:
| Question | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Males 80 to 115 pounds, females 70 to 95 pounds | BMDCA |
| Heat | Does not do well in hot, humid climates; air conditioning in extreme heat | BMDCA |
| Company | Does not do well isolated from people or activity | BMDCA |
| Shedding | Considerable; not ideal for allergy-prone people | BMDCA |
| Exercise | At least 30 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise a day | BMDCA |
| Strangers | May be aloof with strangers; ask how this dog greets visitors | AKC breed standard |
Ask the rescue how the dog behaves with children, other dogs and cats, on a leash and when left alone, and what health conditions it has.
How much does it cost to adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog?
| Cost | Typical amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regional club adoption fee | $500 to $1,000, depending on age, health and circumstances | BMDCA |
| Shelter adoption fee | $50 to $300 | AKC |
| Breeder puppy, for comparison | $2,000 to $3,000 or more | BMDCA |
| Food | About four cups of a premium dog food a day for an average adult | BMDCA |
| Bloat (GDV) emergency surgery | $1,500 to $3,000 | Spot Pet Insurance |
The BMDCA is blunt: a rescue Berner is cheaper to obtain, but its lifetime care costs mirror the breed's, and if you cannot afford a puppy you probably cannot afford the lifetime expenses of a Berner. Insurance or a savings fund helps with joint and cancer care.
What health checks does an adopted Berner need?
Rescued adults rarely come with their parents' results. The BMDCA lists cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, eye diseases, autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism and degenerative myelopathy (DM) among the breed's common problems. Book a vet exam in the first week and ask about:
- Joints: how the dog walks, sits and gets up, and X-rays if it is stiff or limps.
- Heart: a careful listen for murmurs; the BMDCA warns that subaortic stenosis can cause sudden death.
- Lumps: have any lump checked rather than watched. In the club's 2005 survey, 67% of the Berners that died had died of cancer.
- Hind legs: slowly worsening weakness in an older dog has several causes, including DM.
- Bloat: learn the emergency signs, such as a swollen belly and retching without bringing anything up.
- Microchip: scan it, look it up with the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup and register it in your name.
Most rescue Berners come without AKC registration, but the BMDCA notes that the owner of a purebred can apply for an AKC Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) to compete in obedience, rally, agility and draft events.
What should you expect in the first months after adopting a Berner?
The BMDCA says adult Berners are very loyal yet do surprisingly well in new homes: bonding can take three months to a year, but most begin to settle into the routine within a month.
- Supervise closely and use gates or a crate at first, so the dog learns your house rules.
- Use positive training; the club says most Bernese are sensitive and bad experiences are hard to overcome.
- Keep walks short and cool in summer.
- Brush several times a week; PetMD says the breed sheds heavily all year.
- Call the rescue early if a problem appears.
If you would take an owner's dog directly, see how to take in a rehomed Bernese Mountain Dog; for a puppy, read how to buy a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. Rescues and fosters can use how to list a Bernese Mountain Dog for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Most BMDCA regional clubs charge $500 to $1,000, depending on the dog's age, health and circumstances, and shelters typically charge $50 to $300 (AKC). Lifetime care costs are the same as for any Berner, so budget for them too.
Can I adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy?
Rarely. The BMDCA says dogs younger than two rarely come into its rescue program. For a puppy, look for a breeder who health-tests both parents.
Is there a Bernese Mountain Dog rescue near me?
Probably, through a regional club. The BMDCA's regional club listing covers much of the country, from Alaska to Texas and New England, and its Rescue & Rehome Committee can point you to a contact. Shelters and adoption listings also have Berners at times.
Can I breed or show an adopted Berner?
You cannot breed one: all clubs require rescue Berners to be spayed or neutered. Most come without AKC registration, but a purebred can get an AKC Indefinite Listing Privilege to compete in events such as obedience, rally, agility and draft.
How long does a rescue Berner take to settle?
The BMDCA says most begin to settle into the routine within a month, but bonding can take three months to a year. Patience and positive training help a sensitive Berner adjust after you adopt a Bernese Mountain Dog.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Bernese Mountain Dog for Adoption in the United StatesList a Bernese Mountain Dog for adoption with written criteria, a fee in line with regional clubs' $500 to $1,000, an honest account of age, health and behavior, one screening process for every applicant, and a contract with spay or neuter and return terms.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy in the United StatesBuy a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy from a breeder who shows both parents' hip, elbow, eye, heart and DM results, knows how long the dogs in the pedigree lived, lets you visit and sells with a written contract, typically for $2,000 to $3,000 or more.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Bernese Mountain Dog Puppies in the United StatesSell Bernese Mountain Dog puppies only from parents with the BMDCA's hip, elbow, eye, heart and DM results on record, state the breed's short lifespan honestly, price by what buyers can verify, screen every buyer and sign a written contract.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Bernese Mountain Dog in the United StatesTake in a rehomed Bernese Mountain Dog only after asking why it needs a new home, reading its vet records and breeder contract, meeting it in person and having your vet check joints, heart and lumps; pay any modest fee at the handover.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Bernese Mountain Dog Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your Bernese Mountain Dog by asking its breeder and your BMDCA regional club first; if you list it yourself, describe its age, health and behavior honestly, charge a modest fee, screen applicants and hand over in person with its records.