• Consider purchasing a pup from a commercial breeder or a pet store. Chances are high that the puppies come from puppy mills or breeders lacking acceptable breeding standards.
  • Believe everything breeders say. Ask for documentation for pedigrees and ALL alleged clearances.
  • Be captivated by a fancy website inundated with cute pictures and no verifiable credentials.
  • Be fooled into thinking that membership of a breeder in ANY Bernese Mountain Dog Club carries a guarantee of quality in their breeding program.
  • Be in a rush. Planning and research are instrumental in finding a quality puppy from a reputable breeder.
  • Visit with breeders to meet their dogs. Refusal of a breeder to allow you interaction with their dogs may be indicative of a problem.
  • Your research! Familiarizing yourself with the breed will allow you to decide, if in fact, a Bernese Mountain Dog is the breed for you! Education will also make you a wiser prospective puppy owner, increasing the probability of finding a quality Berner!
  • Get to shows. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet a large number of Bernese at one time. It is considerate to ask a breeder or handler when it would be convenient to chat. Remember, the air can get stressful at a show! Do not misinterpret this as rudeness or evasiveness. In general, the best time to talk is AFTER ring time.
  • Plan on waiting for a puppy. Most breeders like to plan ahead and meet you sometimes even before a breeding takes place. Be cautious if a breeder offers you a pup immediately.