How much to feed a Bernese Mountain Dog: daily ration and growth
An adult, neutered Bernese Mountain Dog weighing 42 kg needs about 1,850 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 515 g of dry food or 1,850 g of wet food. A calm 35 kg female comes to about 1,410 kcal (390 g), an active 50 kg male to about 2,630 kcal (730 g). Elbow problems are common in Bernese, so a lean body shape and steady growth count for more than a full bowl.
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Adult weight
- Male:
- approx. 36–52 kg (64–70 cm)
- Female:
- approx. 32–43 kg (58–66 cm)
Weight according to the American Kennel Club (80–115 and 70–95 lb respectively), height at the withers according to FCI Standard No. 45. The FCI standard itself gives no weight.
Activity type
Originally a guard, droving and draught dog on farms around Bern; according to the FCI, today also a family dog and versatile working dog.
Breed watch points
Growth, elbows, bloat
Calculate how much to feed your Bernese Mountain Dog
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
515 g
Dry food per day
≈ 1,850 kcal · 2 meals of 260 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 465–565 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 260 g
- Energy
- 1,850 kcal (1,665–2,035)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 42 kg^0.75 ≈ 1155 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 1,850 kcal per day.
1,850 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 515 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Bernese Mountain Dog feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 kg | |||
| Calm | 1,410 | 390 | 1,410 |
| Normal | 1,610 | 445 | 1,610 |
| Active | 2,015 | 560 | 2,015 |
| 42 kg | |||
| Calm | 1,615 | 450 | 1,615 |
| Normal | 1,850 | 515 | 1,850 |
| Active | 2,310 | 640 | 2,310 |
| 50 kg | |||
| Calm | 1,845 | 515 | 1,845 |
| Normal | 2,105 | 585 | 2,105 |
| Active | 2,630 | 730 | 2,630 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 42 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 42 kg^0.75 ≈ 1155 kcal × factor 1.6 = 1,850 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 515 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Joints: why body shape matters in the Bernese
In the X-ray data of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals in the USA, the Bernese Mountain Dog was among the five breeds with the highest prevalence of elbow dysplasia: it was found in 26 per cent of the Bernese examined. The data come from voluntarily submitted X-rays and are therefore not representative of all Bernese, but they show a clear predisposition. The MSD Veterinary Manual explicitly names the Bernese among the large breeds in which such elbow conditions are most common – typically in fast-growing young dogs between 5 and 10 months.
According to MSD, treatment includes weight control as well as adapted exercise and pain relief. For the ration, this means: calculate with the weight at a good body shape, not the current weight. A 48 kg Bernese that should weigh 42 kg gets about 1,155 kcal a day while losing weight – roughly 320 g of dry food. In the calculator above, choose the goal “Lose weight” for this.
Spread large portions over several meals
A 42 kg Bernese eats about 515 g of dry food a day. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists risk factors for bloat including feeding only one meal a day, feeding dry food exclusively, eating hastily and stress at mealtimes. The Bernese is not on its list of typical breeds at risk. In a study by the University of Bern of 381 Bernese that had died, however, gastric or mesenteric torsion was the cause of death in 1.8 per cent.
Warning signs are unproductive retching, heavy drooling, restlessness and an increasingly distended belly. Then every hour counts: the MSD Veterinary Manual names signs that have been present for more than six hours as a risk factor for a fatal outcome.
- Split the daily amount into at least two meals.
- Rest rather than rough play before and after meals.
- Feed in a calm setting, and separately if you have several dogs.
- No raised food bowls – the MSD Veterinary Manual advises against them.
Bernese puppies: better to grow slowly
Bernese are among the large breeds whose skeleton, according to the MSD Veterinary Manual, only matures at 10 to 16 months. Too much food speeds up growth; according to MSD this is undesirable because it gets in the way of healthy skeletal development and encourages overweight later on. Large-breed puppies that received only 50 to 70 per cent of the amount eaten by their free-feeding littermates still grew just as large – only their body fat percentage was lower.
Feed a complete food for large-breed puppies until the skeleton has matured, weigh weekly and do not add extra calcium. Until about three months the puppy gets four meals, after that three.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Bernese Mountain Dog
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Bernese Mountain Dog – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Bernese Mountain Dog
How much should a Bernese Mountain Dog eat per day?
A neutered Bernese Mountain Dog weighing 42 kg with normal exercise needs about 1,850 kcal a day – roughly 515 g of dry food at 360 kcal per 100 g or 1,850 g of wet food. Females are usually lighter and need correspondingly less.
How much does a Bernese Mountain Dog weigh?
The American Kennel Club gives about 36 to 52 kg for males and about 32 to 43 kg for females. The FCI standard only gives the height at the withers: 64 to 70 cm for males and 58 to 66 cm for females.
How long does a Bernese need puppy food?
Until the skeleton has matured – in large breeds, according to the MSD Veterinary Manual, at 10 to 16 months, so not just until the dog looks fully grown. It is best to discuss when to switch with your vet.
Does a Bernese puppy need extra calcium?
Not with a complete puppy food. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, extra calcium, phosphorus or vitamin D on top of a complete growth food is rarely necessary and can even be harmful.
How often should I feed a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Adult Bernese get at least two meals a day, because a single large meal is considered a risk factor for bloat. Puppies get four meals until about three months, then three.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 45: Berner Sennenhund – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Bernese Mountain Dog – Breed Information – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Long-term genetic selection reduced prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in 60 dog breeds (Oberbauer et al., 2017) – PLOS ONE
- Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Feeding Practices in Small Animals – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Life expectancy and causes of death in Bernese mountain dogs in Switzerland (Klopfenstein et al., 2016) – BMC Veterinary Research
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
Read on
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