Facts & Origin
What is a Golden Mountain Dog?
The Golden Mountain Dog is an affectionate and impressive hybrid dog that is the result of crossing a Golden Retriever with a Bernese Mountain Dog. This mix combines the friendly, people-oriented nature of the Golden Retriever with the calm, down-to-earth nature of the Bernese Mountain Dog. The result is a large, loyal and family-friendly companion dog that is particularly appealing due to its gentle temperament and eye-catching appearance.
There is no clear German name for this mix. Sometimes it is informally referred to as the Bernese Retriever, Golden Mountain Dog or simply Golden-Berner-Mix, but the name Golden Mountain Dog is the most common - even in German-speaking countries.
Origin: Two popular family breeds united
The Golden Mountain Dog is a classic example of a targeted cross between two family-friendly breeds. The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in the world - intelligent, friendly and easy to handle. The Bernese Mountain Dog, on the other hand, is known for its gentle, calm and loyal nature. The aim of this breed is to combine the Retriever's family friendliness and love of work with the steadfastness and calmness of the Mountain Dog - a dog that is a pleasant companion both in the house and in the garden, with children or on walks.
Criticism: Between a desirable dog and responsibility
Even if the Golden Mountain Dog looks promising due to its parents, there are critical voices. Crossbreeds like this are often created without breeding standards or health precautions, which can lead to problems. Size, coat structure, temperament and grooming requirements are not uniformly predictable. In addition, inherited diseases of both breeds can occur, such as joint problems or cancer tendencies. If you are interested in a Golden Mountain Dog, you should therefore make sure that it comes from a responsible source and has transparent health certificates - and not just be guided by its appearance or the "trend factor".
Suitability: For families with heart and space
A well-socialized Golden Mountain Dog is a warm, intelligent and very affectionate family dog. He loves contact with people, is usually child-friendly and is even-tempered as long as he gets enough exercise and attention. He is particularly suitable for active families or individuals with a house and garden who enjoy spending time outdoors. Due to its size and coat, it is less suitable for small apartments or very warm regions. If you do him justice, you will have a loyal, reliable and impressively gentle dog at your side.
| Alternate Name | Golden-Berner-Mix, Golden Mountain Dog |
| Origin | Switzerland - UK |
| Life expectancy | 6 - 12 years |
| Care requirements | high-maintenance |
| Activity level | average |
| FCI group | not recognised |
| AKC group | not recognised |
| KC group | not recognised |
More Bernese Mountain Dog mixes
Attitude, character and temperament of the breed
Character: Friendly, balanced and loyal
The Golden Mountain Dog usually has the best traits of its parent breeds. They are considered calm, friendly and extremely people-oriented. Thanks to the Golden Retriever, he often shows a love of learning, willingness to work and gentleness, while the Bernese component ensures patience, calmness and a protective instinct. This mixture makes it an ideal family and companion dog that gets along well with both children and other animals. He seeks closeness to his humans and finds it difficult to be alone - loneliness or neglect does not agree with him. Overall, the Golden Mountain Dog is an emotionally stable and balanced dog that will become a reliable partner for life with the right training.
Character
Health and breeding information
Health and care: Robust, but not easy to care for
Although mixed breeds are often considered to be somewhat more robust, the Golden Mountain Dog also carries possible health risks from both parent breeds. These include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, cancer and a certain tendency to be overweight. Healthy breeding, regular veterinary check-ups and appropriate exercise are crucial to ensure the dog's quality of life.
When it comes to grooming, the Golden Mountain Dog requires regularity and time. Its coat is usually dense, medium to long and heavily furred, making weekly grooming necessary (or more frequently during shedding). Typical tasks include:
- Brushing to prevent matting
- Paw and ear checks
- occasional bathing if necessary
- as well as the care of claws and teeth
Its thick coat makes it weatherproof, but it should be taken care of in hot weather.
What does this mixed breed look like?
Visually, the Golden Mountain Dog is an impressively beautiful and harmoniously built dog. It combines the elegant body shape of the Golden Retriever with the strong build of the Bernese Mountain Dog. As a rule, it is large and muscular, with a shoulder height of 55 to 70 cm and a weight of 35 to 50 kg. The head is friendly in shape, with brown, expressive eyes and medium-length hanging ears.
The coat is soft to slightly wavy, often in golden, black-brown or tricolor variations, sometimes with white markings. Many Golden Mountain Dogs have the typical coat markings of the Bernese Mountain Dog, but with the golden luminosity of the Retriever - which makes them real eye-catchers.
| Fur length | medium |
| Fur | flat coated - wavy |
| Ear shape | Floppy Ear - Triangle |
| Tail | fanned out |
| Anatomy | massive, hefty, strong |
| Size ♀ | 51 - 66 cm |
| Weight ♀ | 25 - 48 kg |
| Size ♂ | 56 - 70 cm |
| Weight ♂ | 30 - 50 kg |
| Suitable For | Children, Beginner, Blind people, Children, Seniors |
Known Diseases
Hip dysplasia (HD)
Hip dysplasia (HD) is a genetic condition in dogs where the hip joint is not shaped properly. This leads to pain, stiffness and restricted movement.
Cancer
May be common in older dogs.
Kidney disease
Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs: increased urination (polyuria) increased water intake. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Loss of appetite
Overweight
Often, unfortunately, the dogs very much under excess weight. But the dogs themselves are never to blame!
Elbow dysplasia (ED)
Elbow joint dysplasia is a chronic disease complex of the elbow joint of fast growing dog breeds.
Epilepsy
Definition: Dog has epilepsy if, for example, at least two epileptic seizures occur more than 24 hours apart.
Cataract
Cataracts are still one of the most common causes of blindness, even in dogs.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a slowly progressive death of the retina in dogs.
FAQ
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A Golden Mountain Dog is a cross between two of the most popular dog breeds - the Golden Retriever and the Bernese Mountain Dog. These two popular breeds are combined to create a friendly, intelligent and loyal dog that is great with families.
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A Golden Mountain Dogx can take on the physical characteristics of both parent breeds, but most have a large and muscular build with a dense coat. The coat is usually golden or brown with white markings on the chest and paws.
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A Golden Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog mix can grow quite large, with some dogs reaching a shoulder height of up to 76 cm. However, the average size of this mix is between 61-66 cm.
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Golden Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dog mixes have an average life expectancy of 10-12 years.
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Absolutely! Golden Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dog mixes are known as wonderful family dogs. They are gentle, loving and loyal dogs who thrive in human company.
