The Bernese Mountain Dog Husky mix is an adorable and playful family dog. He’s quite sociable and is great around kids.
Nonetheless, due to being independent like his Husky parent, you might find him hard to handle. This is especially true if you have little to no experience in breeding dogs.
So, before getting this unusual hybrid dog, you need to fully understand everything about him. In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Bernskies, so stick around!
History of the Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix
The Bernese Mountain Husky mix is a relatively new cross-breed produced from two breeds with totally different origins: Bernese Mountain Dog and Siberian Husky.
Given that, Bernskies have a set of various unusual traits. That said, most of these dogs are affectionate, pleasing, and loyal.
To deeply understand this mix’s potential personality, let’s look at his parents’ history and how each of their personalities developed over time.
Bernese Mountain Dog History
Bernese Mountain is a giant mountain dog breed developed as a result of breeding Mastiffs with other guarding breeds. That was 2000 years ago in their origin country, Switzerland.
At that time, Bernskies were used as multipurpose farm dogs. So, they would herd cattle, guard farms, and pull carts. They were even used to transport raw products like cheese and milk.
That was until 1907 when the Swiss breed club was formed in Switzerland. That event was a significant shift in the life of Bernese Mountain dogs.
This was because the club classified these massive dogs as show dogs and companions and encouraged people to use them that way.
Such change incredibly affected the characteristics of these dogs, as their role in people’s life gradually changed.
This breed came to the U.S. for the first time in 1937. Over the years, Bernese Mountain’s personality has become more affectionate and friendly to humans.
Given their long history and development, today’s Bernese Mountain dogs are ideal family dogs. They would love you and your kids and enjoy a long time playing together.
Siberian Husky History
Huskies are hard-working dogs that worked for the native Siberian tribes 9000 years ago. They used to pull sleds and carry things.
In addition, they used to be independent hunters in the summer. Over time, Huskies spread from Siberia to Russia and, after a while, to the U.S.
Throughout their history, Huskies developed a set of unique characteristics to help them thrive. These characteristics are what shaped their current personality.
That way, you’ll easily notice that a contemporary Husky is an intelligent, hard-working, outgoing, and sociable dog.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Characteristics and Personality
Here are the most common traits among Bernese Mountain Husky mix dogs:
Playful Family Dog
This mix can be a great family dog like his Bernese Mountain parent. He’ll play with your kids, and they’ll do a lot of activities together.
He’ll even be patient with highly energetic kids who shout and try to climb him!
Moreover, this dog is loyal and devoted to the family. Which means he’ll always try to protect the family members and keep them safe.
Sociable
These dogs can be great social creatures if they get early socialization training.
Not only will they quickly get familiarized with your neighbors, but also they’ll have no problems with strange guests.
So, if you welcome many strangers regularly, you won’t be worried about your dog’s reaction towards them.
That said, that kind of dog can be one of the worst guard dogs out there due to their lack of suspicion.
Dogs-Friendly
If you have another dog and want a good companion for him, a Bernese Mountain Husky mix can be a great choice.
This is because he’s friendly with other dogs of all types. So, they’ll probably have a lot of fun together.
Plus, unlike other dogs, you won’t probably worry about him starting to fight with other dogs while taking him on a walk.
Hates Being Alone
Because of his social nature, the Bernese Mountain Husky mix is one of these dogs that doesn’t tolerate being alone at home for a long time.
So, if you leave him home for a while, you can expect him to misbehave and do unpleasant things like chewing on your belongings.
Independent
If you’re new to the dog world, starting with a Bernese Mountain Husky mix isn’t a good idea.
Despite not being aggressive, he tends to be independent. So, you’ll have a hard time leading him.
In addition, being independent will affect his response to training. That way, he may need more training than other dogs, and you’ll probably need the help of an expert.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Appearance
Bernese Mountain Husky mix breed has various coat types and colors each dog may come with.
In terms of coat types, it can be dense or medium-length. It can also be a long coat, yet this type is rare.
As for coat color, it comes in a combination of black, white, brown, or sable with different percentages.
Regarding eye color, a Bernsky has blue eyes.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Price and Expenses
To get a Bernese Mountain Husky mix, you can expect to pay from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the dog’s characteristics and appearance.
However, this breed isn’t popular, so you’ll probably spend a lot of time searching for reliable breeders for this dog.
In addition to the purchase price, when getting a new Bernsky, you need to set a caring budget for your new canine friend.
First, the pup will require an initial vet exam and essential vaccinations. For that, you can expect to pay around $300–$500.
You’ll need to neuter or spay your Bernsky in the first few years. To do so, you can pay anywhere between $45–$600. The overall cost depends on the vet and his location, and the dog’s size.
Further, getting the basic requirements, like a dog house or bed, bowls, and toys, will cost between $66 and $250.
In terms of food and treats, you’ll spend $1200–$1800, given that you’ll pick pure, top-notch foods to protect this dog from potential health conditions.
Finally, routine vet checkups will cost you $250–$650 a year. This is the cost of two yearly visits.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Life Expectancy
A Bernese Mountain Husky mix can live up to 12 years, which is a relatively moderate lifespan for a dog.
This is slightly above his Bernese Mountain parent’s lifespan, 7–10 years. It’s also a bit below that of his Husky parent, 12–15 years.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Size and Weight
The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the largest dogs out there, with a weight that reaches 110 pounds. On that account, his Bernsky son is very likely to be a giant as well.
Overall, depending on the weight of his parents, a male or female Bernese Mountain Husky mix can weigh from 50 pounds up to 100 pounds.
In terms of size, he stands at a height ranging between 20 inches and 1 foot. Given that, having this dog might not be a good idea if you’re living in a small flat or a studio apartment. This is because the dog can occupy large spaces in the apartment.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Health
Unfortunately, this mix isn’t the healthiest you can get, as the Bernese Mountain Husky mix is prone to different severe health issues.
Given that, you’ll need to visit the vet three times a year during your dog’s puppyhood and two times in adulthood.
Plus, watch your dog’s interaction and behavior, and book an urgent vet appointment in case of any unusual change.
Here are the four most common health problems this dog can face:
- Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
Like most large dogs, a Bernsky is susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip dysplasia disease develops due to hereditary causes, and it usually occurs in the puppyhood stage.
Symptoms like lethargy, pain in the hip, and limping tell that your dog suffers from hip dysplasia.
Regarding elbow dysplasia, the symptoms are highly similar to that of the hip. Still, it can also include notable puffy elbows.
Both conditions can be surgically treated. That said, you can expect to pay around $1500 to $3000 for this surgery.
- Bloat
Bloating is another common health issue among large dog breeds. This condition develops when the stomach of the dog is filled with gasses.
This can result from bad eating patterns, like binge eating right after a workout. It can also be caused by eating poor-quality food.
Symptoms, like a dog panting, having a swollen stomach, losing appetite, and suffering from restlessness, are signs of this disease.
- Cataracts
Cataracts is another hereditary issue your dog might inherit from his Husky parents. It can occur in puppyhood or adulthood. This disease develops slowly, causing total or partial blindness.
The treatment of this case surgically is relatively easy if detected early. Still, the surgery will cost you between $2700–$4000.
- Histiocytosis
Histiocytosis is the most dangerous disease on the list, which is a type of skin or draining lymph node cancer.
Chemotherapy can help in treating this condition. However, it’ll badly affect your dog’s overall health.
So, the only way to minimize the possibility of this disease is to get your dog from a trusted breeder that cares about his pets’ health.
How to Take Care of a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix?
Because of his giant body and his special coat types, the Bernsky needs relatively unique caring requirements in almost all aspects.
Here is how to take care of your Bernsky friend:
Training
Bernskies can be insanely destructive if not well-trained. They can do many unpleasant things, like digging holes in your garden and chewing walls.
So, you need to start their training at a very early life stage. Plus, you’ll need to focus on obedience training to tone down their behaviors.
Leash training is also necessary for these dogs to be able to manage them. In addition, you have to assert yourself as a boss to get the commands done.
The good news is that these dogs are highly intelligent and notably fast learners. So, with some rewards and positive reinforcement, they can quickly learn some of the required commands.
On the flip side, this dog can mischief you while training on things he doesn’t like. Plus, the dogs’ concentration might fluctuate, making the training very hard.
Activity and Exercise
The Bernese Mountain Husky mix requires moderate activity. That way, 30 minutes to 1 hour of daily exercise is recommended for him.
It’s best to include one or more of these activities in the exercise:
- Jogging
- Playing Frisbee
- Hiking
- Running, but it’s not recommended in hot weather
Besides physical exercise, as this dog is highly intelligent, you should include a lot of mental stimulation in his daily activities.
You can do that by offering him interactive toys like chew toys, plushies, or squeakers. To add, food-dispensing toys are ideal activities for this dog.
Grooming
For grooming, you’ll need to comb your dog’s coat at least once a week. It’s recommended to use a wide-toothed comb with rounded ends to do so. Plus, when combing the dog, ensure you’re following the hair growth direction.
Another essential part of grooming is to do a flea inspection. For this inspection, you’ll need to use a fine-toothed comb designed for that purpose. You may also need to dip the comb in hot water while brushing to drown any existing fleas.
Additionally, every 2 months, you’ll need to bathe this dog. And for ear cleaning, you’ll need cotton balls and mineral oil.
Regarding shedding, the Bernese Mountain dog Husky mix can shed moderately or heavily, depending on which of his parents he got his coat from. The shedding is also more intense in spring and fall than in the other two seasons.
Nutrition and Diet
Depending on your dog’s weight and activity level, get the exact number of daily calories your Bernsky needs using any online dog calorie calculator.
This will be anything between 1100 and 1700 calories. Distribute these calories over multiple small meals.
Still, the most important thing is to pick high-quality food for your dog, as this dog breed, in particular, is highly affected by the quality of food. Ideally, choose products with pure, high-protein ingredients.
Moreover, given that this dog is prone to bloat, you should follow these feeding tips to prevent this health problem:
- Avoid feeding your dog junk, unhealthy, highly processed food, and snacks.
- Split the dog’s food into small meals instead of one or two large ones.
- Feed him as far away as possible from his bedtime.
The Bottom Line
The Bernese Mountain Dog Husky mix can be an ideal family member with some early training. He can also be a perfect companion for your other dogs.
That said, his independent nature might make training him on some things so tricky and time and money-consuming. You’ll also need to keep tabs on his health condition, as this breed is prone to quite a few health issues.