Est. 1990 · Across Michigan

Big dogs,
bigger hearts

A community of Bernese Mountain Dog lovers — education, events, and lifelong friendship for the gentle giant of the Swiss Alps, right here in Michigan.

🐾 Founded 1990. Seven signature events a year. All breeds of weather.

Club members and their Bernese Mountain Dogs gathered in the snow at the Brrrner Blizzard Bash in Rockford, Michigan Brrrner Blizzard Bash — Rockford, MI 30+Years
Carting & DraftTherapy DogsRally & ObedienceAgilityHerdingTrackingConformationRescue Carting & DraftTherapy DogsRally & ObedienceAgilityHerdingTrackingConformationRescue
Where do you start?

Three ways into the breed

Whether you're dreaming of your first Berner or you've loved them for decades, there's a place for you here.

🔎 01 / Curious

New to Berners?

Gentle giants that shed daily, drool rarely, and love hard. Learn what life with a Bernese is really like — and whether it's right for you.

Is a Berner right for you?
🐕 02 / Searching

Looking for a Berner?

Talk to our Breed Education Committee first. Find a responsible Michigan breeder through our referral program — or open your home to a rescue.

Breeders & rescue
❤️ 03 / Belonging

Already have one?

Join a community that gets it. Draft tests, picnics, the holiday parade, the newsletter, and friends who'll always say yes to more dog photos.

Become a member
An old breed, a Michigan heart

From Swiss farms to Michigan family rooms

One of four tri-colored Swiss mountain dogs, the Bernese drove cattle, pulled carts, and watched over the farms of the Canton of Bern. Brought to the U.S. in 1926, they're now first and foremost a family companion — though many still pull a cart for the joy of it.

"Everything tastes better with a little dog hair in it."
1990Year the club was founded
7Signature events every year
13+Referral breeders across MI & OH
1Very good reason: the dogs
2026 Calendar

Upcoming events

Full calendar
Berner Summer Jam flyer
Berner Summer JamJune 20 · Bring a dish to pass — anything will be "pawfect!"
Annual Membership Meeting flyer
Annual MeetingMay 2 · Gathering 11:00, potluck noon, meeting 12:30
Membership

Belong to something tail-waggingly good

Membership keeps the club running and connects you to people who love this breed as much as you do.

  • Heart of the Berner newsletter
  • Free entry to all member events
  • Annual awards & title recognition
  • Member directory & community
  • Necropsy reimbursement program
  • Voting rights & a membership pin
Member
2026
Primary Adult Membership Heart of Michigan BMDC
$25/ year
Auto-renews Jan 1 — no more late fees

Secondary household +$12.50 · Junior from $5 · Prefer to mail a check or Venmo? That still works too.

Put your heart into it

We take Berner health seriously

The breed's average lifespan is only about eight years, and cancer takes too many too soon. Our Health Committee supports owners through hard days and funds the research working to change that — from grief counseling to advance directives to a necropsy reimbursement program.

Health Counseling Advance Directives Necropsy Reimbursement BernerGarde Database BMD Repository at MSU Histiocytic Sarcoma Research