These gentle and very loyal large-breed dogs are the perfect furry friend and a family pet for any Aussie family looking for a cuddle buddy as well as a watchdog. Due to their soft temperament and their high level of obedience, Bernese Mountain dogs, who are originally from Switzerland, are popular all over the world. But how much is this loveable giant going to set you back in price?
If you’re interested in purchasing one of these dogs, here is all you need to know about Bernese Mountain dog prices in Australia.
You can expect to buy Bernese Mountain Dog puppies in Australia from Bernese Mountain Dog breeders from approximately $ 2,800 to $ 4,000. This price will differ depending on the dog’s:
Here are the main factors that influence the price of a Bernese Mountain dog in Australia:
According to the breed standards, these dogs are meant to be tri-coloured, with a black base colour and white and rich rust markings on the chest, paws and breechings.
If the colours of these dogs differ, this might influence the price, or you might end up with a mixed-breed puppy.
With a litter size of about eight puppies on average, the availability of Bernese Mountain dog breeding stock is generally quite good, especially if you have local breeders close by. However, availability in your area can also impact the price of these dogs.
The bloodline of your Berner can drastically impact its price. For a purebred, pedigree puppy, you’ll be looking at a higher price. If its parents have previously received prizes and are especially popular among breeders, you can also expect a higher price point.
Most times, buying your puppy through an especially popular and highly reputable breeder can strike up the price. Generally, reputable breeders will have a waitlist for the puppies to ensure they’re bred humanely and not in a puppy mill.
Making sure that your Bernese Mountain Dog comes from a reputable breeder is paramount, and it is undoubtedly in your best interest to ensure that your family pet will lead a long and healthy life. So, here are some things we recommend doing to choose the right breeder.
Breeders should have experience with breeding dogs, and ideally, you should do some research with your local Bernese Mountain Dog Club to determine where to best get these dogs from.
Always be wary of ads stating that they have puppies for sale, as this is likely a scam.
Your best option when choosing a breeder is to meet with them in person if you can. This will allow you to check the premises and conditions that the puppies are bred in and see if they are being bred ethically.
If you are looking to get your puppy from a small breeder, make sure that your dog has had the necessary health testing as well as microchipping, vaccinations and treatments that they are required to receive before being presented to prospective owners.
To get a good idea of the dog you’re buying, it’s always a good idea to ask if you can see the parents. This way, you can see it’s purebred, you can anticipate what your puppy’s temperament will be like, and you can check the parents’ medical history to see if there are any genetic health issues that it might inherit.
A Bernese Mountain dog costs about $1500 on average per year to maintain. Here are the costs split up into each part of their lives:
Making sure your puppy comes into a loving family environment also means purchasing some supplies, such as a dog bed, bowls, and toys. Therefore, you can expect to pay anything between $300 and $650 for buying initial goods to make your pup happy.
Since these are big dogs, you can expect to pay quite a bit per year for their food supply. Generally, owners state that they pay between $450 and $650 per year for their dog food and snacks.
Healthcare does vary quite a bit, as the initial year of owning your dog might weigh a bit heavier on your pocket as there are a lot of necessary vaccinations that need to be had. In addition, you might want to get your dog spayed or neutered, which can total about $1000 in the first year and anything between $100 to $800 every following year.
Grooming is definitely where you will be able to save the most money. Naturally, Bernese Mountain dogs do not need to be groomed by a professional, so if you give your dog a little trim at home, you will surely save a lot of money.
Thanks to their good temperaments and gentle nature around families with children, these dogs make excellent pets and companions and are definitely worth the price.
Bernese Mountain dogs are not the cheapest of breeds, but this is mainly due to their size and the amount of food they will munch on throughout one year.
If you feel purchasing a pup is too expensive, you could visit your local animal shelter and consider adopting instead of buying from a newly bred litter, as this might be the better option!
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