Golden Mountain Dog: Breed Guide to the Golden Retriever Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

As a large crossbreed, the Golden Retriever Bernese Mountain Dog Mix, also known as the Golden Mountain Dog, is known for having a gentle temperament and being affectionate towards kids, making them ideal for families.

Combining the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever, the result is a gentle giant that’s going to win your heart if you prefer big, fluffy dogs. Due to this, they aren’t that ideal for apartments or condo units and most certainly not for tropical or hot climates.

Like many big dogs out there, this is an active breed and will need to be groomed regularly since they are fluffy-coated dogs. If you want to know whether this dog breed is for you or not, read our guide below.

Meet the Parents

The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are the two purebreds that were used to create the Golden Mountain Dog. Let’s check them out first:

History of the Golden Retriever

Although we know by heart that the Golden Retriever is by far one of the most popular breeds in America and around the world, this sporting and working dog has roots in Scotland for being a gun dog (retrieving shot waterfowl such as flying ducks).

Eventually, the Golden Retriever has earned its place as a working dog for PWDs and therapy. They are also employed by security groups for sniffing bombs and sometimes, they also appear on TV as movie stars.

History of the Bernese Mountain Dog

First arriving in the United States around 1926 (after World War I), the Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Switzerland and is related to the Swiss Mountain Dog. In the past, they were used by soldiers for herding and eventually, by helping out in the dairy industry by pulling carts.

We can see that the Bernese Mountain Dog has been a cold-country dog that has a passion for work. This powerful dog breed ranks 22nd in popularity in the United States, according to the AKC. Today, the Bernese Mountain Dog continues to be a great family or working dog.

Physical Appearance

Let’s check out the physical appearance of the Golden Mountain Dog:

Size

Height: 23 to 27 inches

Weight: 75 to 120 pounds

The Golden Mountain Dog is one heck of a big dog so it’s a plus point for those who want a large cuddle buddy and buff companion for life. That’s also why we mentioned above that it’s not ideal to be an apartment or condo unit dog. As with the majority of dog breeds, the female Golden Mountain Dog is usually smaller in size.

Coat

The double coat is what makes the Golden Mountain Dog suitable for cold weather. After all, the Bernese Mountain Dog is technically a mountain dog so only consider this breed if you tend to have more chilly winters in your area.

Other Features

Puppies will have most of the traits from their parents, such as floppy ears and a straight muzzle. They have sweet eyes and a fluffy coat that is either straight or wavy. The color is solely dependent on whether the pup has more Bernese Mountain Dog or Golden Retriever genes. They may end up having a single color coat or various patterns similar to the Bernese coat.

Because the Golden Mountain Dog is relatively a new crossbreed, there isn’t a standard for them. As with many other designer dogs, they aren’t recognized by the AKC but organizations, such as the Designer Dogs Kennel Club and American Canine Hybrid Club give them official recognition and name as the Golden Mountain Dog.

Temperament and Behavior

The best descriptions for a Golden Mountain Dog include friendly, calm, affectionate, loyal, and intelligent.

Friendliness

One of the best plus points of a Golden Mountain Dog is that they are very friendly, which makes them ideal for families. If this is your first dog or if you have a family member who might not do well with dogs, the friendliness of this crossbreed will probably change their mind.

Many owners keep their Golden Mountain Dog as a therapy dog or a companion due to their friendly nature. They also like to play with children and even other pets – ideal for owners who also have cats around the house.

A chill dog

What makes the Golden Mountain Dog stand out from the rest is their chill personality. They are usually very calm, thus being known as gentle giants.

If you’re the type of person who wants some quality time on the sofa, the Golden Mountain Dog will be down with you. Because they are big dogs, they are indeed huggable and will lounge with you in any activity that you do.

A loving dog

This dog is one of the most affectionate crossbreeds out there so it’s a good choice for people who tend to be scared of aggressive dogs (or dogs in general). This makes them a good family pet.

Loyalty

The Golden Mountain Dog is usually easy to train because they are very loyal to their owners. This is one of the dogs to choose from if you want to be greeted and licked when you get home from school or work.

With that said, it could develop separation anxiety so make sure you always have sufficient bonding time with them. Don’t get this dog if you’re always out of the house.

Intelligence

As an intelligent crossbreed, the Golden Mountain Dog needs a lot of mental stimulation. To do this, always provide them with something to do if, for some reason, you can’t play outside. Aside from the regular game of fetch, unique toys that will exercise their brain are a plus factor to keep them busy.

Golden Mountain Dog Training

As a crossbreed from two vigorous dogs, the Golden Mountain Dog needs a lot of training and exercise. They also need to be trained when they’re still young so that they’re properly socialized and not awkward with people when they grow up. Options that you can do include crate and potty training.

For casual workouts, you can try jogging with your dog or playing a simple game of fetch. Just be patient with your Golden Mountain Dog and they will eventually reward you with lots of love.

Caring for a Golden Mountain Dog

If you want to own the Golden Mountain Dog, make sure you know the following about feeding them, grooming, and exercising them:

Grooming and Shedding

The Golden Mountain Dog is quite a shedder due to their fluffy coat so you need to brush them at least 2 to 3 times a week. Brush them daily during the shedding season to avoid matted and tangled hair, which are difficult to remove and may cost you frequent salon trips.

As with fur grooming, trimming down the nails and brushing their teeth should also be done regularly. It’s best to start while your Golden Mountain Dog is still young. We all know how difficult it is for a dog to get acquainted with a dog coat trimmer, toothbrush, or anything unfamiliar to them.

Ear cleaning is also important for the Golden Mountain Dog since they are prone to infections. Check your dog’s floppy ears for any signs of infection and don’t hesitate to call your vet if you find that your dog is in pain.

Be wary that the Golden Mountain Dog is also an intense drooler so this might not be your breed if you feel off-putted with that.

Feeding

A good amount of 3 to 4 cups a day, divided into two or three meals, is recommended for the Golden Mountain Dog. You can add more depending on how big they are and how much physical activity they have daily.

The Golden Mountain Dog, despite being a large breed, is still susceptible to obesity if their food intake isn’t managed. Always include your reward treats in the computation of their daily diet.

When choosing dog food for this breed, look for one that’s formulated for big dogs. Since the Golden Mountain Dog is a workaholic, consider a high-protein diet. You may also consult your vet if your dog has certain food allergies and they may recommend certain alternatives.

Exercise and Activities

A Golden Mountain Dog should receive about an hour of daily exercise, which may include jogging with you, swimming, fetch, hiking, and the like. Since they are a mountain dog, if you like to hike around hills and mountains then this would be a great partner to take with you.

Due to the intelligence of the Golden Mountain Dog, make sure to mix and match your exercise routines or activities at least weekly to avoid getting your canine friend bored. If you live on a ranch or farm, you may also ask your Golden Mountain Dog to pull some carts – an activity that the parent Bernese Mountain Dog was bred to, do anyway.

We did mention that the Golden Mountain Dog is a large breed so it’s only natural that they need a big yard. They need a large area for running around and playing so they might not do well for small homes or those without a yard.

While this dog is good with kids, as with any dog breed, always supervise your children to avoid any untoward incidents. That’s called being a responsible owner.

The health of the Golden Mountain Dog

As a crossbreed, the Golden Mountain Dog will inherit most of the diseases troubling their parents. A few examples of what to expect are the following:

• eye problems
• arthritis
• hypothyroidism
• hip dysplasia
• elbow dysplasia
• heart problems
• Von Willebrand’s disease (blood problems)
• dog cancer

When it comes to life expectancy, your Mountain Golden Retriever might live between 7 and 12 years. That range combines the average lifespan of the two parent breeds. To increase this lifespan, you should focus on maintaining your dog’s health in terms of physical and mental aspects while giving them some well-deserved TLC.

Family-Friendly Breed?

With proper socialization, yes, a Golden Mountain Dog is a good family pet. They do well with children due to their gentle nature. Even family members who are easily intimidated by big dogs will feel safe and secure due to this calm and collected temperament of the Golden Mountain Dog.

However, if you want to have this dog in your household, you better prepare a lot of vacuuming and air purifying. Make sure they are also groomed and brushed regularly, especially during the shedding season.

The Golden Mountain Dog is also prone to separation anxiety so they should be with someone if other family members are going out of the house (and Fido isn’t allowed to the destination).

Finding a Golden Mountain Dog

So, how do you find a Golden Mountain Dog? There are generally two ways, as with most dog breeds: though a breeder and through a shelter.

Look for a responsible breeder

If you want a Golden Mountain Dog puppy, prepare to search for quite a long time since this designer dog breed isn’t as popular as the others yet. Look online and through local breeders for a responsible breeder, then make sure you do the following:

1. Meet the puppy’s parents. You must know the puppy’s parents so you’ll know what and how they will turn out to be when they grow up (or at least have an idea about it).
2. Ask for health certificates. Look for tests regarding hip, elbow, and eye health, as well as a cardiac exam. You may also want to ask for a Von Willebrand’s Disease DNA test.
3. Visit the location of the puppy in question. You should know whether the puppy received decent care and lived in quarters that enabled them to feel at ease with sufficient food, water, and protection from the elements.
4. Keep asking all the questions from the breeder. You may also want to know the temperament of the puppy or the parents, what they are like, any specific traits, and much more.

Adoption

If you want to save up some bucks and puppies aren’t your forte, consider getting a Golden Mountain Dog from your local shelter. It is difficult to find them since they are crossbred dogs but they are out there. You can try rescues that focus on designer dog breeds.