Bernese Mountain Dogs are friendly and affectionate companion dogs, and they’re often recommended for first-time dog owners. Their good-natured personality and patience with children have made them a popular and beloved dog breed among American families.
While anyone will benefit from having a Bernese Mountain Dog in their life, we can’t overlook the fact that bringing home a new dog is a significant financial commitment. You’ll have to budget for initial costs and monthly costs that will last throughout your dog’s entire lifetime.
We’ve calculated the estimated costs of bringing home and living with a Bernese Mountain Dog. You’ll be able to have a better idea of what supplies you need to purchase and how much it’ll cost you every month to take care of a Bernese Mountain Dog.
Bringing Home a New Bernese Mountain Dog: One-Time Costs
You can expect to pay at least $1,000 for initial costs. This amount includes the adoption fee or purchase price for the dog along with basic equipment your Bernese Mountain Dog will need as soon as they arrive in your home.
It’s important to note that initial costs for Bernese Mountain Dogs will be more expensive because of their large size. Equipment and supplies for larger dogs are usually more expensive than products for small dog breeds.
Free
It’s rare to find a Bernese Mountain Dog for free. The most common way to bring one home for free is to adopt them from a family member or friend who can no longer care for theirs. Sometimes, you may find Bernese Mountain Dog rescues with dogs who are ready for adoption and have their adoption fee waived. Just keep in mind that this usually happens if the dog is a senior dog or has special needs.
Adoption
It’s rare for adoption centers to have purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs, and it’s more common to find Bernese Mountain Dog mixes. Adoption centers will have varying adoption rates that depend on the dog’s age, veterinary care bills, and the center’s operational costs. In general, older Bernese Mountain Dogs will have lower fees than Bernese Mountain Dog puppies.
Breeder
As Bernese Mountain Dogs are relatively popular in the US, it’s fairly easy to find a Bernese Mountain Dog breeder. Prices for puppies depend on various factors. Show-quality dogs with prestigious pedigrees will be much more expensive than companion dogs. The popularity of the breed in the general region of the breeder’s location can also influence prices.
Initial Setup and Supplies
Most of your initial set and supplies will go to vet bills and equipment. If you bring home a puppy or younger dog, you can expect higher vet bills due to vaccine schedules and spay and neuter surgeries.
Some of the more expensive initial supplies include dog beds, crates, and carriers. You can save on costs in the long run by purchasing products in sizes for adult Bernese Mountain Dogs. Bernese Mountain Dog puppies grow pretty quickly and will grow into their beds and crates in no time.
List of Bernese Mountain Dog Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $10–$20 |
| Leash | $15–$35 |
| Spay/Neuter | $100–$300 |
| Vaccines | $80–$120 |
| Vet Office Visit | $25–$100 |
| Microchip | $25–$60 |
| Crate | $50–$100 |
| Carrier | $75–$150 |
| Bed | $30–$70 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $15–$25 |
| Brush | $10–$20 |
| Shampoo | $10–$20 |
| Nail Clippers | $10–$15 |
| Toys | $10–$25 |
How Much Does a Bernese Mountain Dog Cost Per Month?
Monthly care costs for Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually at least a couple of hundreds of dollars. These costs include health care, environment maintenance, and entertainment. Here’s a general breakdown of items you can expect to pay for on a monthly basis.
Health Care
The main monthly health care costs will go into preventative medication. The most common types of medication that your Bernese Mountain Dog will take are heartworm medication and flea and tick medication.
Food will also be a significant monthly expense. Bernese Mountain Dogs can eat a lot and go through bags of food relatively quickly. As your dog gets older, you may need to start adding supplements to their diet that support healthy aging.
Food
Bernese Mountain Dogs will thrive on eating food formulated for large dog breeds. Dogs of different sizes have unique nutritional needs, and it’s best to receive dog food recommendations from a veterinarian to ensure your Bernese Mountain Dog is getting all their nutritional needs met.
It’s also important to feed your Bernese Mountain Dog high-quality dog treats. Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to getting overweight and obese, so it’s important to feed them healthy snacks that use high-quality ingredients.
Grooming
Bernese Mountain Dogs don’t require extensive haircuts that require advanced skills. They can usually get by with a minimal trim. However, they’ll still benefit from professional grooming because they shed a lot, and a groomer can help with managing shedding. As a general rule of thumb, professional grooming is usually much more expensive for bigger dogs than smaller dogs, so you can expect to pay a lot more for your Bernese Mountain Dog.
Bernese Mountain Dogs do require regular brushing to prevent tangles in their coat. Bathe them with a high-quality shampoo whenever they start to smell or get exceptionally dirty. So, you usually won’t end up spending too much on grooming supplies every month.
Medications and Vet Visits
Healthy Bernese Mountain Dogs usually just need an annual vet visit after they’ve completed their puppy vaccine schedule and have been spayed or neutered. So, it’s unlikely you’ll have recurring monthly vet bills. The most common recurring medication your Bernese Mountain Dog will take is preventive medication for parasites like heartworms, fleas, and ticks.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance can help immensely with budgeting and paying for vet bills. However, pet insurance for Bernese Mountain Dogs is notoriously expensive because of the risk of high vet bills they can accumulate as they age.
Along with age and breed, your location will affect pet insurance premiums. Larger cities with higher costs of living often experience higher premiums.
Environment Maintenance
When it comes to environmental maintenance, you usually won’t have significant monthly costs. You may just need to replace basic supplies once you run out, such as poop bags and paw wipes.
While environment maintenance costs are generally low, it’s still a good idea to save some money for replacing old dog beds, crates, and carriers if they break or become worn out.
| Dog Poop Bags | $5–$15/month |
| Paw Wipes | $10–$15/month |
| Deodorizing and Stain Remover Spray | $12–$20/month |
Entertainment
Toys aren’t just for splurging and spoiling your dog. They’re an essential part of your Bernese Mountain Dog’s health and well-being. Toys enable dogs to engage in enriching activities that promote mental stimulation and physical exercise. They can also help reduce challenging behaviors, including destroying furniture, excessive barking, and separation anxiety.
Bernese Mountain Dogs can be heavy chewers, and they can easily rip apart plush toys and break rubber toys. Therefore, it’s important to purchase high-quality toys specifically designed for heavy chewing. Of course, these toys are usually more expensive than your typical average dog toy.
You can save on costs by subscribing to a monthly dog box. Dog box subscription services deliver two to three new toys, treats, and other fun dog supplies and products every month at a discounted price. They’re also a great way to find unique dog toys from small businesses that you wouldn’t be able to find at your local pet store.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Bernese Mountain Costs
Many factors will affect how much you spend on your Bernese Mountain Dog each month. In general, young Bernese Mountain Dogs have the lowest expenses, and caring for them becomes more expensive as they age. Because monthly costs will change gradually, it’s helpful to evaluate your expenses and budget every once in a while, to continue to keep care costs affordable.
Additional Costs to Factor In
Bernese Mountain Dogs are people-oriented dogs that require a lot of attention and care. They don’t do well being left alone for long hours, so it’s best to budget for dog care services, like dog walkers, daycare, and pet sitters.
Dog training is another expense to consider. You can schedule individual training sessions with a professional dog trainer or sign up for group classes. In general, group training classes are more affordable than individual classes.
It’s also important to be prepared for emergencies and unforeseen events. So, make sure to set aside money for significant expenses, including emergency treatments for accidents and illnesses and pet sitters.
Owning a Bernese Mountain Dog on a Budget
Bernese Mountain Dogs aren’t a recommended breed for dog owners on a budget. Their large size alone increases costs for food, toys, and other basic supplies. Care costs often rise significantly as they age and start to experience health issues.
It’s best to expect significant changes to your budgeting when you bring home a Bernese Mountain Dog. However, you can do some things to keep costs down. One of the main ways to save on costs is to choose generic brands over premium brands. You can find many high-quality generic products that perform just as well as premium products. They may not have all the bells and whistles, but your Bernese Mountain Dog won’t need the fanciest products to be happy and healthy.
Saving Money on Bernese Mountain Dog Care
If you do a little bit of research, you can find ways to cut costs without it significantly affecting your Bernese Mountain Dog’s quality of life. One way to receive discounts consistently is to sign up for subscription services or auto-shipments. Many pet supply stores will place a discount on recurring auto-ship orders, so you can reduce costs for food, toys, and other basic supplies.
You can also subscribe to newsletters from your favorite brands or sign up for free membership rewards programs. Brands usually have several sales throughout the year and will alert their customers through emails.
Conclusion
In general, you can expect to spend between $500 to $3,000 in initial costs for your Bernese Mountain Dog. This estimate includes the price of the dog and the equipment and supplies you need before you bring them home. After your Bernese Mountain Dog settles into your home, you can expect to budget about $227 to $500 a month for your dog.
There is some wiggle room for lowering your budget. Choosing generic brands, signing up for membership rewards programs, and taking good care of your dog’s health are all ways you can lower care costs for Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Featured Image Credit: Kristeroso, Shutterstock