Officially the Berner Sennenhund has its origin, together with the other Swiss Mountain Dogs, at the Roman dogs brought north by the conquering Roman legions. But, as the case is with the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, the Celtic Dogge may also have had some influence in the development of the breed.
The Berner Sennenhund, the most popular of the Swiss Mountain Dogs, has for centuries been used on the livestock in Switzerland; guarding, protecting and driving the cattle in the canton of Bern, therefore the name Berner were applied to the breed when deciding the breedname in modern time. Originally the breed was named "Dürrbächler" since the breed was especially appreciated in Dürrbach, near Riggisberg. Other names used on the Berner Sennenhund includes names such as "Blass"; white fronted, "Ringi"; white ring around their neck, "Barri"; dogs with very little white in their coat, "Vieraugler"; (four eyes) brown spots above the eyes.
During the centuries the Berner was used as a farm dogs, with several different working duties: guarding the house, watch and defend the herd, and used as a draught dog to pull the milkcart; the same way as his short haired cousin the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund.

Berner Sennenhund in 1906.
Picture from the Natural History Museum in Berne.

In 1907 a few breeders of the region of Burgdorf founded the "Schweizerische Dürrbach-Klub", and they also wrote the breed's first standard. By this they hoped to promote the breeding for a pure dog, the old and original tricolor long-haired mountain dog of Switzerland.
The history of the Berner Sennenhund can not be told without mentioning the famous Professor Heim, and without his consern and interest in the Swiss Mountain Dogs they would not had the position in the dogworld they have today, and maybe even been extinct, at least the other three Sennen dogs besides the Berner.
The Berner Sennenhund are now primary a companion and family dog but it should not be forgotten that the dog have been a drought dog and I encourage owners of the Berner to train their dog to this kind of work. Berner Sennenhund clubs usually arranges shows where Berner owners and their dogs can compete for a certificate in cart pulling. This is an excellent idea and clubs for other Molosser breeds should follow their example and arrange similar contests, suitable for their breed of course.

Picture by Huub & Edith van Liempd, Holland.