Bernese Mountain Dog

A Swiss farm dog once used to pull milk carts, the Bernese is tolerant and unhurried with children. Often weighing 40 kg or more, it is big enough that a toddler's hug never worries it. Read about its health before falling for one: studies in Switzerland and the UK put the median lifespan at about eight years, with cancer the leading cause of death. Some parents decide that is too early a goodbye for young children to face.