Welcome to Swiss Charm BMD’s web site.  We hope you enjoy looking through our pages and learning.  Please feel free to drop us an e-mail if you are interested or have questions. 

I have been involved in breeding through my work as a technician and assistant as a veterinary hospital since 1996, an involved with my own Bernese since 2000.  We are  a family based kennel.

These are our house dogs and pets first.  Our goal is to produce sound working dogs with solid temperaments and healthy futures.

  Don’t forget to be patient.  Here are questions to ask when searching for a puppy:

  1. 1)Is the breeder a member of the parent club?  This is how I keep up with the goings on in

the breed, to promote the health. (www.bmdca.org)  

I also have a code of ethics to follow.  If they are not members, go to the web site to find             members. Click on the breed steward link for help.

  1. 2) Does the breeder only breed healthy stock that has passed hips/elbows for OFA?

www.offa.org  They may be breeding dysplastic dogs.  Ask for proof. So many “breeders” are

making false claims they are breeders.  All you need is the registered name of the dog and you              can double check at the OFA site.

  1. 3) Does the breeder screen for eye problems every year?  ( www.vmdb.org )  Not all breeders

register their CERF certificate every year, so it may not be listed, but they will have a copy to                show  you the results.

4)  Does the breeder clear the heart with a cardiologist?  That can also be listed on the OFA site.

  1. 5)  Does the breeder check for vWD? (A bleeding disorder)

  2. 6) Does the breeder show their dogs in hopes of helping to better the breed, talk with other

  breeders to discuss health problems in lines  (that helps to not double up on the bad things, but

  is  no guarantee )    and to find superior stud   dogs? If a breeder feels that showing is not             important  ask them why they are breeding dogs. Ask them how they get the information needed

to know what lines go together best.  Even if you have bred for 20 years, you don’t know             everything. A breeder who is making money for not showing any of their dogs, may have ulterior motives.  You say you “only want a pet”  Hopefully you want a healthy pet that looks like a Berner.                    That is where a good breeder comes in.

  1. 7) Does the breeder only have a litter with the intention of keeping something that may have a great impact on the breed? Only serious people should be breeding.  Unfortunately, there are so many  puppy mill types and back yard breeders that can’t tell you anything about health.

No line is free from problems.  A responsible breeder can help lessen those problems greatly.