Bernese Mountain Dog Day 2024: What & When Is It?
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The Bernese Mountain Dog, affectionately known as the “Berner” by many, is a beautiful, large dog breed known as one of the world’s best herding dogs. Besides that, Berners are affectionate, protective, great with children and other dogs, and are a highly desired breed.
Berners are so celebrated and beloved that they have their own day! It’s called, not surprisingly, Bernese Mountain Dog Day, and it’s held every year on different dates depending on where you live in the US. At this grand get-together, Bernese Mountain Dog owners and their furry friends celebrate the breed for all the wonderful traits they possess.
When, Exactly, Is Bernese Mountain Dog Day Celebrated?
Based on the evidence we found when researching this article, there are several Bernese Mountain Dog Days in the United States. The most famous and popular seems to be the Bernese Mountain Dog Day thrown by Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm, which is held on October 1, 2023.1 However, a Bernese Mountain Dog Day was thrown by Dogtopia of Milford in Milford, Connecticut, which was held on February 9, 2023.2
If there isn’t a Bernese Mountain Dog Day in your town or city, why not consider starting one? The local BMD owners would love an excuse to celebrate their precious pups!
The 10 Ways You Can Celebrate Bernese Mountain Dog Day with Your Berner
The best way to celebrate Bernese Mountain Dog Day is to do something for your Bernese Mountain Dog (BMD) that they love, give them extra time with you, and also give them things they love to eat and play with. Below are a few ideas your BMD will genuinely enjoy on their special day.
1. Teach Your BMD a New Agility Skill
Bernese Mountain Dogs are excellent at agility skills and love learning new ones. Some include tracking, pulling carts with kids, running obstacle courses, and other similar activities. Learning a new skill is something BMDs enjoy.
2. Let Your Berner Herd Something
As you probably know, Bernese Mountain Dogs are excellent herders and were bred for the job hundreds of years ago. Of course, most Berners don’t get to herd other animals like sheep, but you can certainly let them if you plan it well.
Herding a group of older kids who know what to expect is perfect, as well as chicken and ducks if you happen to live on a farm. Of course, if you live on a farm with sheep, your Berner will love herding them also (and probably do already).
3. Go for a Long Hike in the Wilderness Together
Bernese Mountain Dogs like to hike and can hike with you in almost any type of weather, from sunny days to rainy, snowy, or windy ones. With their thick coats, the weather is barely a problem for most BMDs, even frigid cold. In fact, because of the heat their coats provide, the average Bernese Mountain Dog loves hiking in the cold!
4. Treat Your BMD to a New Dog Toy
If your Berner is like most dogs, they will greatly appreciate a new toy they can chew, chase, fetch, or otherwise have fun with. There are many great toys for big dogs, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, so be sure to start searching early to find one your Berner will enjoy destroying.
5. Give Your BMD a Rare, Plain Steak Cut Into Bite-Size Chunks
Like all dogs, your Berner loves meat of every kind, even if they don’t get it often. On Bernese Mountain Dog Day, why not give your furry buddy a rare steak cut into chunks they can quickly wolf down without any condiments or spices? Why no spices? Because many, like onions and garlic, are toxic, and some, like butter and salt, aren’t great for their health.
6. Teach Your Berner a New Trick
As with agility skills, the average Bernese Mountain Dog loves to learn new tricks and will quickly pick up on them if given the proper training and time. Even better, teaching them will create a stronger bond between you and your Berner.
7. Throw a Party for All the Bernese Mountain Dogs in Your Town
There’s no better way to celebrate Bernese Mountain Dog Day than to throw a party and invite all the BMD owners and their dogs in your town to come! Bernese Mountain Dogs get along very well with other dogs and other Berners especially, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know the other BMD owners in your area and make some long-lasting human and canine friendships.
8. Spend the Entire Day With Your Berner
In today’s hectic, non-stop world, you might not get to spend many hours each day with your Berner. On Bernese Mountain Dog Day, you can plan to spend the entire day, or at least most of it, with your furry buddy. By the end of the day, you’ll both feel fantastic and have a stronger bond than ever.
9. Take Your Berner to Your Local Dog Park and Let Them Play With Other Dogs
As we know, Bernese Mountain Dogs get along swimmingly with other dogs, so why not take yours to the local dog park and let them make some new friends? Not only will your BMD love meeting and playing with other dogs, but you’ll also get to know the folks in town who share your love for this wonderful breed.
10. Take Your Berner to the Beach
The average Bernese Mountain Dog doesn’t exactly like the water and, even worse, isn’t a good swimmer. They’re too big and bulky to float well. However, some Berners like the water and most love digging in the sand. That’s why a day at the beach is such a great activity and one your BMD will likely enjoy to the fullest. Just remember to bring a big towel!
Conclusion
There seem to be several Bernese Mountain Dog Days across the United States, although the most famous is the one thrown by Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay, California. That one will be held on October 1 this year (2023) and has been celebrated for 18 years!
Wherever you celebrate this dog-based holiday, it’s all about giving extra love, time, praise, and treats to your loving Bernese Mountain Dog. If you own a BMD, you know they deserve all the extra TLC because they’re such wonderful, affectionate, loyal, and loving pets. Although Bernese Mountain Dog Day is only observed once a year, you can count on your beautiful Berner to make every day of the year a special day for you!
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Featured Image Credit: Enna8982, Shutterstock
