The Bernsky is a distinctive mix between the good-natured Bernese Mountain Dog and the playful and energetic Siberian Husky.
The Bernsky is a mix of playfulness and calmness, as well as athleticism and courage. This Husky mix breed often makes for a wonderful family companion.
We understand that huskies are unique and require special care, so we’ve created this one-stop shop to help you find the must-have items for your furry friend.
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What is a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix called?
A Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix is called a Bernsky!
How much is a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix?
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mixes could cost anywhere from $600 up to $3000.
Where to buy a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix?
We recommend visiting LancasterPuppies.com to buy a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix. If they don’t have any, try Googling ‘Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix for sale’ or ‘Bernsky for sale’.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Traits & Characteristics
- Affectionate
- Alert
- Outgoing
- Good-natured
- Gentle
Traits Summary Table
| Traits | Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Blue, brown or both. |
| Coat Color | Gray and white, sable and white, black and white, white and red, and black and agouti, black rust, and white and black tan. |
| Shedding | Lots of shedding! |
| Height | 21 to 25 inches tall |
| Weight | 70 to 100 pounds |
| Temperament | Incredibly affectionate and lovey dovey! |
| Lifespan | 8 to 12 years |
| Intelligence | Highly intelligent |
| Activity Level | Average activity level |
| Good With Kids? | Great with kids! |
| Origin | Unknown |
| Price | $600 to $3000 |
| PROS | Loving, affectionate, loyal and outgoing. |
| CONS | Shedding, reduced life expectancy, stubborn. |
Appearance
The Bernsky is a large double coated, fluffy dog with a long and bushy tail. Its ears may be triangular and point straight, or they may be the opposite and fall down. Some are a little bit of both, with ears that point up at the base of the ear but fall over near the top of the ear.
Color
Siberian Huskies can be of various colors and have a variety of markings for their breed standard, including gray and white, sable and white, black and white, white and red, and black and agouti. They can even be entirely white.
The Bernese Mountain dog’s colors are a bit more limited, with only black rust and white and black tan and white being a part of the breed standard.
A mix between the two could look more like the Husky’s colors or patterning or the Bernese Mountain dog’s colors or patterning, or it could be a combination of both!
The eye color of a Bernsky will likely be blue, brown or both.
Further reading: 23 Husky Colors & 17 Unique Markings
Coat & Shedding
The coats of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Siberian Husky are quite similar, except that the Bernese Mountain dogs coat may be just ever so slightly longer. Nevertheless, both have a thick double coat that helps protect them from both the cold winters and hot summers.
Both breeds are heavy shedders year-round, but especially when the seasons change.
So you can expect a Bernsky to have a similar coat and shedding.
Size
The Bernsky is a fairly large dog, thanks especially to the Bernese Mountain Dog side. The male Bernese Mountain Dog typically stands at 25 to 27.5 inches and weighs between 80 and 115 pounds. The female Bernese Mountain Dog will usually stand at about 23 to 26 inches in height and weigh about 70 to 95 pounds.
Male Siberian Huskies, on the other hand, generally stand between 20 and 23.5 inches tall and weigh between 35 and 60 pounds. Female Siberian huskies are typically shorter and lighter, standing at 20 to 22 inches in height and weighing in at 35 to 50 pounds.
A mix between the two will likely fall in the middle and will stand at about 21 to 25 inches in height and weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.
Temperament & Personality
The Bernese Mountain Dog Husky mix is usually an incredibly affectionate and lovey-dovey dog who wants to constantly be next to its humans.
They are usually eager to please, and most act as though they have never met someone they didn’t like. They just want everybody to be their friend!
Lifespan
Both parent breeds are relatively healthy breeds. The Siberian Husky’s lifespan is somewhere between 12 and 14 years.
However, the Bernese Mountain Dog’s life expectancy is only around 7 to 10 years. This is quite a common occurrence in larger dog breeds, unfortunately.
A Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix will therefore live to around 8 to 12 years.
Further reading: How old is my Husky in humans years?
Intelligence
Bernese Mountain Dogs are often considered to be exceptionally intelligent and are often among the top-ranking breeds as far as intelligence goes. Siberian Huskies too also have an innate intelligence.
As with most especially intelligent dogs, the Bernsky does not respond well to harsh or negative training methods. But their intelligence really shines when they feel safe and supported.
Bernskies take after both their parent breeds and are also highly intelligent.
Activity Level
While not the most energetic mixed breed, the Bernsky still does need a fair amount of activity and exercise every day to be fulfilled. This can include daily walks, runs, or hikes, as well as even just playing in the backyard.
All of these options are great ways to maintain their physical and emotional well-being. This breed also enjoys activities like agility training, playing fetch, and all sorts of various dog sports.
Are Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mixes Good With Kids?
Bernskies are wonderful dogs for kids. Both parent breeds are affectionate, cheerful, and friendly. Bernese Mountain Dogs are especially known for being gentle and calm around children while still knowing how to interact with children and play safely despite their large size.
Speed, Strength & Endurance
Siberian Huskies are certainly known to be fast dogs who can go the distance. And while the Bernese Mountain dog may not be the fastest dog around, they are quite the athletes themselves!
After all, while Bernese Mountain dogs may not have pulled sleds with a pack, they did pull heavy carts, often all by themselves!
Bernskies will therefore get a bit of speed from their Husky parent, but mostly strength from their Bernese Mountain Dog parent.
Behavior
While they are very loving and friendly dogs, the Bernsky, like most energetic and affectionate breeds, can develop some less-than-desirable behaviors or habits if they feel bored or are left alone and unsupervised for too long.
As mentioned earlier, they want nothing more than to be with their humans and their family, so these dogs are often more prone to developing separation anxiety and all the behaviors that often go along with that.
Dogs with separation anxiety might exhibit increased barking and howling, try to escape, chew or dig, and just overall can become quite destructive. This breed can even develop these behaviors simply because they are bored as well.
Training will be incredibly important if you want to save your pillows from being shredded or save your garden from extra holes being dug up!
Visit our Husky Behavior hub to learn more.
History & Origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix
Siberian Husky
It is believed that Siberian Huskies‘ ancestry goes as far back as 4,000 years. In northern Siberia, their ancestors were developed by the Chukchi people, who used them as a tool for survival but also as companions.
These dogs would help transport food and other goods by pulling sleds stocked full of essentials. These dogs would also cuddle up with their people to keep each other warm during the frigid nights!
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain dogs‘ origins date back to antiquity when Roman soldiers brought their mastiff-type dogs with them when they invaded Switzerland.
The breed further developed in Berne, Switzerland, their namesake. They worked tirelessly as watchdogs, draft dogs, and drovers and would even pull carts loaded with goods.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix
As cute and loving as this mixed breed is, it is not very common. There are some breeders who may breed the Siberian Husky and the Bernese Mountain Dog together for the love of both breeds.
But it is more likely that Bernskies are born from accidental litters that are the result of unspayed or unneutered pets or strays.
Dogs born from such accidental litters often end up in shelters and rescues, so those places are always a great place to start your search if you think the Bernsky may be the perfect dog for you.
How to Take Care of a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix
Nutrition
Because of their large size and how fast they grow, a healthy and nutritious diet is incredibly important to the health and longevity of the Bernsky. A diet high in protein is especially important.
The average adult Bernsky will likely eat between 4 to 6 cups of food every day.
This may vary from dog to dog, depending on their size and activity level. It is usually best to refer to the feeding guidelines that come with whatever dog food you choose.
Visit our Husky Nutrition hub to learn more.
Exercise
The Bernsky is an energetic and active breed of dog who loves to get its daily exercise and activity.
Like with many other large breed dogs, it will be important not to over-exercise this breed, especially when young, as it takes a while for the bones and joints to develop, and it can be harmful to put undue stress on them.
A good starting point is 30 minutes of exercise every day. The easiest thing to do, though, is simply to follow the dog’s cue. If it seems restless and is getting itself into trouble, it may be that it is bored and needs more exercise.
If it is completely exhausted after a walk, you may need to dial it back and not go quite as far next time. Even though they can’t talk, dogs are often great at telling us what they need!
Further reading: How much exercise does a Husky need?
Grooming
While the Bernsky may not require regular visits to the local posh grooming salon, they do still require fairly extensive brushing to keep their coats in good shape and to reduce shedding.
The Bernsky is a double-coated dog and sheds a lot, and as such, requires frequent brushing. Once a week at the very minimum, but it is recommended to brush more often if the Bernsky has a bit longer fur like the Bernese Mountain dog to reduce the chances of the fur getting tangled or matted.
The more brushing you do, the easier it is to manage the fur and the shedding. The most important tools in your grooming kit will include a metal comb, a slicker brush, a deshedding brush or rake, and a vacuum!
Though not frequently needed, Bernskies can sometimes benefit from a good bath and blowout to help reduce shedding. During the winter, their fur can get especially dry. A moisturizing shampoo and conditioner can help add some much-needed moisture to their coat.
Training
Both parent breeds are considered to be intelligent breeds of dog. The Bernese Mountain Dog, especially, is considered to be a breed that is quite easy to train thanks to its intelligence and eager to please disposition.
The Siberian Husky is just as intelligent but can be a bit stubborn and hardheaded, so it hasn’t yet earned the distinction of being easy to train!
A mix between the two will be an intelligent dog, and with the right motivation, whether it be food or being eager to please, can be trained.
The Bernsky can be prone to obesity, however, so it will be important to use a low-calorie treat for training sessions!
Visit our Husky Training hub to learn more.
Puppies
Bringing a puppy home is probably one the most exciting and fun parts of owning a dog, if not the most exciting and fun part of owning a dog! But they are a lot of work and can sometimes be a little bit of a headache, no matter how cute they are.
To avoid too many headaches, it will be important to stick to a regular schedule and routine. Doing so will help significantly with potty training as well as crate training, two of the most important aspects of training.
Further reading: Why does my Husky sleep so much?
General Health
Overall, Siberian Huskies are a relatively healthy breed though there are some health concerns that they are known to experience at a higher rate than others.
For example, Siberian Huskies are more likely than others to develop:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Luxating patellas
- Arthritis
- Progressive retinal atrophy
Bernese Mountain dogs are also a relatively healthy breed, but in part due to their large size, they have a shorter life expectancy than many other dogs. They face many of the same health concerns as Siberian Huskies.
However, Bernese Mountain dogs also face more serious possible health concerns like:
- Bloat
- Gastric torsion
- Obesity
- Various forms of cancer
Visit our Husky Health hub to learn more.
Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix Price
Because this mixed breed isn’t very common, it can be difficult to predict or determine what the prices may be. It may vary based on circumstances, locations, breeders, and various other factors.
Looking at the individual breeds that make up the Bernsky, we can get a closer estimate. Depending on the breeder, Siberian Huskies cost somewhere between $600 and $1,200. Bernese Mountain Dogs cost somewhere between $1,200 and $3,000.
A Bernsky from a breeder could therefore cost somewhere between $600 and $3,000.
As mentioned earlier, they can also be found in shelters, so it is likely they will be at a lower price there.
Visit our Husky Price hub to learn about maintenance costs.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Loving, affectionate, loyal and outgoing
Cons: Shedding, reduced life expectancy, stubborn
Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Alternatives
Here are a few Husky mix alternatives:
- Bullmastiff Husky Mix
- Great Dane Husky Mix
- Great Pyrenees Husky Mix
- Wolf Husky Mix
- Rottweiler Husky Mix
- Cane Corso Husky Mix
Recommendation
If you are in the market for an affectionate dog who is fun-loving and loves to stick to you like glue, a Bernsky may just be the perfect dog for you!
Do you have a Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix?
Share your experience and photos in the comments below!
