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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a gentle giant with a deep chest, a slow-maturing frame, and a thick tricolor coat — a combination that makes how and when you feed one genuinely matter for their joints, their digestion, and the long, comfortable years you want with them.

Here is exactly how to feed a Berner on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, supports a slow steady puppyhood, and keeps that famous coat full.

  • Adult weight70–115 lb
  • SizeGiant
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan7–10 years
  • CoatThick tricolor double coat — heavy shedder
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A healthy Bernese Mountain Dog
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Bernese Mountain Dog's body needs

Every Bernese Mountain Dog trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Giant, slow-maturing frame

    Needs: Steady growth, not fast growth

    Real meat, organ and ground bone deliver clean protein and naturally balanced minerals so a Berner puppy builds bone and muscle in unison — slow and even is what protects the joints.

  • Deep chest, bloat-aware build

    Needs: Calm, measured meals

    A minimally processed, highly digestible raw diet fed in two measured floor-level meals helps a deep-chested Berner eat without gulping huge dry volumes — feed slowly and never from a raised bowl.

  • Hip & elbow dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Whole-food meat, cartilage and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean keeps load off growing, weight-bearing joints.

  • Thick tricolor double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, easing the heavy year-round shedding and supporting healthy skin under that dense coat.

  • Calm, easygoing temperament

    Needs: Honest portions, no filler

    Berners love the couch as much as the trail, so calories add up quietly. Measured freeze-dried raw with no carb fillers keeps a laid-back Berner lean without leaving them hungry.

How much to feed a Bernese Mountain Dog

Quick answer: a healthy adult Bernese Mountain Dog (70–115 lb) needs about 10.5–17.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
70 lb 10.5 oz 5.3 oz
81 lb 12.2 oz 6.1 oz
92 lb typical Bernese Mountain Dog 13.8 oz 6.9 oz
103 lb 15.5 oz 7.7 oz
115 lb 17.3 oz 8.6 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Bernese Mountain Dog

For a Bernese Mountain Dog we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. It is highly digestible and naturally rich in the joint and skin nutrients a giant breed leans on.

Rotate proteins for variety and full nutrition: rich Beef suits active or growing Berners, Wild-Caught Salmon brings extra omega-3 for the coat and joints, and Wild-Caught Cod is a lean, gentle option for easy keepers. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Bernese Mountain Dogs

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Daily support for Bernese Mountain Dogs

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Treats Bernese Mountain Dogs love

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Feeding a Bernese Mountain Dog by life stage

  • Puppy: As a giant breed, Berner puppies must grow slowly so bone and muscle develop in unison — fast growth raises hip and elbow dysplasia risk. Feed a complete raw diet across 3–4 smaller meals a day, aim for steady not rapid growth, and keep them lean and never overfed during this long maturing stage.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, hand-felt waist across two measured floor-level meals a day. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition — calm, couch-loving Berners need fewer calories than you might expect.
  • Senior: Berners age sooner than smaller breeds, so support them early. Keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, trim portions as activity drops, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting omega-3 nutrition to keep them comfortable.

Common Bernese Mountain Dog concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaLargely genetic in the breed, but a slow growth rate in puppyhood, a lifelong lean body, and joint nutrients (natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3) help support comfortable, mobile joints.
  • Bloat / GDV awarenessDeep-chested giants are more prone to bloat. A digestible diet fed in two calm, measured floor-level meals — never from a raised bowl, never one giant meal a day — supports relaxed, lower-risk eating.
  • Heavy year-round shedding & skinThat thick double coat sheds constantly and the skin beneath needs support. A whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet feeds the skin barrier and helps maintain a fuller, healthier coat.
  • Lean weight & longevityCarrying extra weight strains a giant frame and shortens an already shorter life expectancy. Measured raw feeding and an honestly lean body condition are among the simplest ways to support more good years.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Bernese Mountain Dog: what to know

A Berner is big enough that small feeding mistakes scale up fast. Feed to body condition, not to the bowl size: you should be able to feel the ribs easily under that coat and see a waist from above. Because the coat hides weight gain, run your hands over them, do not just look.

Their deep chest means meal mechanics matter. Feed two measured meals a day from a bowl on the floor — not an elevated stand — give them a calm moment to settle before and after eating, and avoid hard play right around mealtimes.

Bernese Mountain Dog feeding questions

How much should I feed my Bernese Mountain Dog?
A healthy adult Berner (70–115 lb) needs roughly 11–17 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean, hand-felt waistline and adjust every few weeks.
How do I feed a Berner puppy so it grows the right way?
Slowly and steadily. As a giant breed, fast growth raises joint problems, so feed a complete raw diet across 3–4 smaller meals a day, keep your puppy lean, and aim for even growth rather than maximum size as fast as possible.
Does feeding affect bloat risk in Bernese Mountain Dogs?
Meal mechanics help. Feed two measured meals a day from a bowl on the floor rather than one large meal or from an elevated stand, give your deep-chested Berner a calm moment around mealtimes, and avoid vigorous play right after eating.
What is the best food for a Berner's heavy shedding and coat?
A whole-food diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids supports the skin barrier under that dense double coat. Freeze-dried raw with real meat and fish fats — paired with our Skin & Coat Omega — feeds the coat from the inside while you keep up regular brushing.
How do I switch my Bernese Mountain Dog to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It is rich and digestible, so start at the lower end of the range, watch the stool and the waistline, and settle into two measured meals a day.
Does a Bernese Mountain Dog need joint support?
Most benefit from it, given the breed's size and hip and elbow risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, our Hip & Joint supplement adds targeted support, and keeping your Berner lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

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  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

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    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.