Are Bernese Mountain Dogs Good With Kids and Other Pets?

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

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with kids? Often, yes: the breed club says Berners are usually excellent with children. But it also says a Berner is not an automatic choice for a family with small children, because these dogs are big, many puppies go through a mouthy stage, and no large dog should be left alone with young kids.

This guide covers what the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), the AKC and the CDC say about Berners, children and other pets. It ends with a short checklist to help you decide whether a Berner fits your family right now.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with kids? What the club says

The BMDCA’s About Bernese Mountain Dogs sheet says Berners are usually excellent with children. In the same breath, it warns that any large dog, even a Berner, should never be left unsupervised with small children or children the dog doesn’t know.

The AKC agrees on the gentle side. Its breed facts article calls Berners gentle and affectionate with children and says they may watch over them. It also notes that their size may make them too big for very young kids.

The club’s FAQ sheet gives the most honest answer. It says success depends on the child, the dog and, perhaps most of all, the parents. It also says plainly that a Berner is not an easy, automatic pick for a family with small children.

Why a Berner isn’t automatic for families with small children

Three things make a Berner puppy harder with toddlers and young kids than its calm adult reputation suggests.

Size

Berners are large dogs. The BMDCA gives a height of 25 to 27½ inches at the shoulder for males and 23 to 26 inches for females. Males usually weigh 80 to 115 pounds and females 70 to 95 pounds.

That’s the reason the AKC gives for a Berner possibly being too big for very young kids. For more on growth, see our guide to Bernese Mountain Dog size and weight.

The mouthy puppy stage

The club’s FAQ says many Berner puppies go through a mouthy stage. It also says young children can encourage that stage without realizing it.

The BMDCA’s training sheet offers a simple fix during supervised greetings. To protect little fingers from puppy teeth, have children put the treat on the ground instead of holding it out.

A body that grows faster than good sense

The FAQ notes that many Berners’ bodies grow faster than their good sense, which can be hard on an inexperienced owner. It also says the breed can be slow to mature, and young dogs can be very active compared with the mellow trained adult.

In other words, you may be living with a big adolescent that still acts like a puppy. Our guide to when Bernese Mountain Dogs calm down explains what to expect and when.

Supervision rules for kids and dogs

The CDC’s guidance on dogs explains why supervision matters with any breed. Children are more likely than adults to be bitten, and their injuries tend to be more serious. The CDC also says nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog need medical care.

Familiar dogs are part of the risk, too. The CDC says homes with dogs have a higher bite risk than homes without them, and it advises against letting young children play with any dog unsupervised, including your own family dog.

Rules to teach your children

The CDC suggests a few habits that apply to every child:

• Don’t go up to dogs you don’t know, even if they look friendly.
• Ask the owner before petting someone else’s dog.
• Let the dog come to you and sniff you first.

At home, the simplest rule is the BMDCA’s: an adult is always present when small children and the dog are together.

When to step in

If your puppy or dog seems fearful or worried around children, get help early. The BMDCA’s training sheet suggests contacting your breeder and a professional trainer or animal behaviorist if behavior issues develop. Ask your vet, too.

Raising a Berner puppy with children

Good habits start in puppyhood. The BMDCA says a tendency toward shyness runs in the breed, so exposure to many people, places and animals is very important, especially in the first year.

The club’s training sheet suggests letting your puppy meet older kids, little kids and toddlers, always with an adult watching. It also says never to let your puppy be roughed up at this stage, because unpleasant or scary meetings can make a puppy fearful of strangers. If you’re training at home, the sheet suggests 15 minutes of focused socialization twice a day.

Why gentle handling matters

Berners are sensitive. The FAQ says most are impressionable dogs, and bad or scary experiences are hard to overcome. That makes rough play from children a real concern, not just a matter of manners.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) says the first three months are the most important time for socialization. Poor socialization then can raise the risk of fear, avoidance or aggression later, and AVSAB notes that behavior problems are the top reason dogs are given up to shelters. Our guide to Bernese puppy training in the first 8 weeks has a step-by-step plan.

Training as a family

The BMDCA recommends a puppy kindergarten or socialization class between four and six months, then a first obedience course before age one, all using positive methods. For the next stage, see Bernese Mountain Dog training.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with other dogs?

Most adjust well. The club’s FAQ says most Berner puppies can settle in with the other members of a new family, dogs included. It adds that the bigger the size difference, the more supervision and training may be needed.

Puppies learn dog manners from other dogs. The training sheet suggests short, regular play dates with puppies of a similar age and with calm, tolerant adult dogs, in a safe fenced area. These help puppies learn bite inhibition and how to read when another dog doesn’t want to play.

Choose playmates carefully until your puppy’s vaccines are done. The same sheet says to avoid public dog parks until your vet confirms your puppy is protected, so ask your vet about timing.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good with cats?

Many are, but it varies. The BMDCA says most Berner puppies adjust to feline family members. Some Berners are more nurturing and some have a stronger prey drive, while most fall in between and respond to guidance.

How to introduce a Berner and a cat

The AKC’s guide to dogs and cats recommends a slow, step-by-step approach:

• Keep the pets apart for at least the first few days so they get used to each other’s smell and sounds.
• Hold the first meetings through a gate or screen door, then in the same room with the dog on a leash and the cat free to leave.
• Keep sessions short and repeat them daily for at least a week, rewarding both pets.
• Teach the dog to stay calm with sit, down, stay and “leave it,” and redirect any chasing into a game.
• Give the cat a dog-free room and high places to escape to.

The AKC says it may take a few weeks or months before you can leave them alone together. With a dog the size of a Berner, it’s worth being patient.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs?

For the right family, yes. The BMDCA’s FAQ says a Berner wants above all to be a member of your family. It also says the breed demands attention, which takes real time and effort.

The club’s About sheet says Berners should live inside with the family and don’t do well when cut off from people. The same sheet says a Berner should never be tied up outside and left alone.

Families should also know the hard part. The same sheet gives an average lifespan of seven to eight years, which is short for a dog that will feel like one of the kids. Read more in why Bernese lifespan is short and what helps.

Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good first dogs?

They can be, but go in with open eyes. The BMDCA says this is not a breed for everyone, and its FAQ warns that a fast-growing young Berner can be a challenge for an inexperienced owner. If you’re new to dogs, plan on classes and lean on your breeder for support.

Is a Berner right for your family right now?

The CDC’s advice on choosing a dog is to pick one whose temperament, size and activity level fit your family and the time you can give. It also suggests talking with your vet before you buy or adopt.

Ask yourselves a few honest questions:

• Can an adult supervise every time young children and the dog are together?
• Are you ready for a large, mouthy puppy and a slow-to-mature teenager?
• Will the dog live indoors with you and get daily attention?
• Do any pets at home need a slow, careful introduction?

A good breeder can help, too. The club’s buying tips say a responsible breeder will guide you to the right breed, maybe a Berner and maybe not, and tries to match a puppy’s temperament to your family. Our guide to picking the right Bernese puppy shows how.

For more on personality, read Bernese Mountain Dog temperament, and weigh the full picture in Bernese Mountain Dog pros and cons. Everything else about the breed is in our complete Bernese Mountain Dog breed guide.