A common misconception with Berners is that people believe they are just a big Golden Retriever with a tri-color coat who love everyone.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is much different than that. A Berner is loyal and loving to it's owner but that doesn't necessarily mean with everyone
it encounters. Berners can be friendly with strangers but are also known to be aloof, cautious and indifferent with newcomers until they get familiar with you.

A Berner is not a natural guard dog, but can show great watch dog instincts. Watching would mean that a dog would bark and alert their masters to any visitors, especially unwelcome ones. They are alert to any changes in their environment and are particularly watchful of property. Guarding would involve actual protection, meaning that the dog would attack in order to defend property, person, etc. Thus, it is normally said that a BMD is a good watchdog (will carefully attend to their property and alert owners to any changes or visitors) but not necessarily a good guard dog.

Don't ring the doorbell and not expect to be barked at until at least one of the family comes to the door. Barking is also just a way of telling you that something out of the ordinary is taking place. The Berner has no problem sensing this and expressing it.

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