Bernese Colors & Markings: Tricolor, Red, Blue - What's Standard?

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

Standard Bernese Mountain Dog colors come down to one pattern: tricolor. The AKC breed standard describes a jet black dog with rich rust and clear white markings, and it disqualifies any ground color other than black. So a dog sold as a “red,” “blue” or “chocolate” Berner falls outside the standard if its base coat isn’t jet black, whatever the ad says.

Below, we walk through exactly what the standard says about color and markings and what it faults. We also cover why “rare color” sales pitches should make you more careful, not less. For the breed as a whole, see our complete Bernese Mountain Dog breed guide.

The standard Bernese Mountain Dog colors: tricolor only

The official AKC standard is also posted by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) on its breed standard page. It opens by describing the Berner as a large, striking dog with three colors.

The color section spells it out:

• Ground color: jet black. The ground color is the main color of the coat.
• Markings: rich rust and clear white.
• Symmetry: markings that match on both sides are desired.

An AKC article on breed facts puts it in registration terms. It says the standard recognizes two colors: Black Rust & White, the coloring most people know, and Black Tan & White.

That’s the whole list. The standard doesn’t describe any other acceptable color.

Bernese Mountain Dog markings, one by one

The standard is specific about where the rust and white go. Here is what it describes, in plain terms.

Rust markings

• Over each eye
• On the cheeks, reaching at least to the corner of the mouth
• On each side of the chest
• On all four legs
• Under the tail

White markings

• A white blaze running up the face
• A white muzzle band
• A white mark on the chest that typically forms an upside-down cross
• A white tip on the tail
• White on the feet, which is desired but shouldn’t extend higher than the pasterns (the area just above the paws)

Other color details in the standard

Color shows up elsewhere in the standard too. The eyes are dark brown, and blue eye color is a disqualification. The nose is always black.

The coat itself is thick, moderately long, and slightly wavy or straight, with a bright natural sheen. The standard calls extremely curly or very dull coats undesirable.

Faults and disqualifications: what the standard penalizes

The standard sorts problems into levels. Knowing them helps you read a seller’s description.

Faults

Markings that differ from the description are faulted, and the size of the fault depends on how far they stray. A little extra white on the chest is a smaller departure than a lot of extra white.

Serious faults

White legs or a white collar are named as serious faults.

Disqualifications

The standard lists only two disqualifications, and both involve color:

1. Any ground color other than black
2. Blue eye color

AKC’s conformation FAQ notes that a judge can’t excuse a dog from the ring just for a fault that isn’t a disqualification.

What about AKC papers?

Here’s a point many buyers miss. The same AKC FAQ says each breed’s national club decides which colors are acceptable for registration and showing. It also says dogs of a disqualifiable color may still be registered, and AKC may ask for photos first.

In other words, AKC registration papers don’t prove a dog’s color meets the standard. The BMDCA’s buying tips add that AKC registration doesn’t guarantee health or quality either.

Bernese Mountain Dog coat colors at a glance

This table sums up how the standard treats the color names you’ll see in ads. “Not named” means none of the sources we checked mentions that color directly; the right-hand column shows which rule in the standard applies.

The sections below explain each row in more detail.

Red, blue, chocolate, white and black: color by color

Sellers use many color names. Here is what the standard says about each, and where our sources are silent. We checked the AKC standard, the BMDCA’s breed standard page, its buying tips and FAQ, its crossbreeding position, and AKC’s breed facts and conformation FAQ.

Red Bernese Mountain Dog

None of these sources mentions a “red” Berner by name. The standard’s rule is about the ground color: it must be jet black, and any other ground color is a disqualification. If the main body color of a “red” dog isn’t black, it falls outside the standard.

Rust markings are a normal part of every standard Berner. A seller can’t use the word “red” to make ordinary rust markings sound rare.

Blue Bernese Mountain Dog

The sources don’t mention a blue coat by name. A coat whose ground color isn’t jet black falls under the same ground-color disqualification. Separately, blue eyes are a disqualification on their own, whatever the coat looks like.

Chocolate Bernese Mountain Dog

The sources don’t mention chocolate by name either. The standard requires a jet black ground color and says the nose is always black. A dog with a brown body color doesn’t fit that description.

White Bernese Mountain Dog

Again, there’s no mention of an all-white Berner. The standard limits white to specific places, wants white on the feet to stop at the pasterns, and calls white legs or a white collar serious faults. Extra white is faulted in proportion to how much there is.

Black Bernese Mountain Dog

The standard wants a black dog, but with rust and white markings. It doesn’t mention an all-black Berner. A dog missing the described markings would be faulted in proportion to how far it strays, under the general markings rule.

We can’t tell you why a particular dog has an unusual color. None of the sources we checked explains it, and we won’t guess. What you can do is ask the seller for proof of the puppy’s background.

Why “rare color” marketing is a red flag

The BMDCA doesn’t use the phrase “rare color.” But its advice to buyers covers the problem directly.

Markings aren’t the goal

The BMDCA’s buying tips say responsible breeders aim for the ideal in breed type, health and temperament. They know that markings alone don’t make a Berner. The same sheet tells you to steer clear of anyone selling show-quality puppies at premium prices who can’t explain why other than proper markings.

If correct markings alone don’t justify a higher price, unusual colors that the standard faults or disqualifies certainly don’t.

Price doesn’t signal quality

The BMDCA’s FAQ gives a typical 2024 price range of $3,000 to $5,000. It says price often has nothing to do with quality, and that profit-driven sellers charge similar amounts. A “rare” label that pushes the price higher tells you about the marketing, not the dog.

Purebred predictability

The BMDCA’s position on crossbreeding says one advantage of a purebred Berner is predictable size, shape, color and temperament. The club opposes the deliberate crossing of Berners with other breeds. Its buying tips say responsible breeders don’t sell Berners to people who produce mixed breeds.

If you actually want a Berner cross, read our Bernese mixes guide so you know what you’re buying. If you want a purebred Berner, expect the standard tricolor.

The same warning signs as other scams

Watch for the same pressure tactics you’d see in any risky puppy sale. The BMDCA tells buyers to beware of anyone who rushes them, and of superlatives that aren’t backed up by records for every generation of the pedigree. Our guide to Bernese puppy scams lists more warning signs.

Questions to ask a seller advertising an unusual color

If a listing for a red Bernese Mountain Dog for sale, or any other “rare” color, catches your eye, slow down and ask:

1. Can I see a multi-generation pedigree before I pay anything?
2. Can I see both parents’ health clearances? Our guide to Bernese health clearances lists the tests to ask for.
3. Can I meet the parents and see where the dogs live?
4. Why does this puppy cost more than its littermates?
5. What is the puppy’s registration status, and what does the contract say?

The BMDCA says to insist on a pedigree, health certifications and a written contract before you buy or put down a deposit. Our 25 questions to ask a Bernese breeder cover the rest.

Do markings matter for a family pet?

The BMDCA’s conformation sheet explains that a breed standard is the breeder’s blueprint and the tool show judges use. It describes the ideal Berner, and a pet doesn’t have to win in the show ring to be a great family dog.

What matters more for your family is health and temperament. The BMDCA’s description of responsible breeding centers on health and temperament along with breed type. In our view, a puppy with a little extra white from a health-tested, well-tempered family is a better bet than a “rare” color from a seller who can’t show you records.

To find a breeder who puts health first, start with our guide to finding a reputable Bernese breeder. Then read up on Bernese temperament so you know what to look for when you meet the parents.