The Golden Mountain Dog is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Bernese Mountain Dog and is also known as the Golden Bernese or Bernese Golden Mountain Dog. The cross blends the Golden Retriever's famously friendly, eager-to-please nature with the Bernese's calm loyalty, and many are bred with the specific aim of producing a healthier dog than the purebred Bernese. Despite the name, many Golden Mountain Dogs are black or brown rather than golden, with some inheriting the Bernese tricolour markings. As a hybrid the breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club.
This is a large dog: adults typically stand 61 to 71 cm at the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 30 to 50 kg. Golden Mountain Dogs are gentle, patient and sociable, known for being careful around small children and accepting of other pets, which makes them natural family companions. They are intelligent and respond well to reward-based training. The thick double coat sheds heavily all year, so expect to brush several times a week, and like both parents they cope far better in cool weather than in heat. Around an hour of daily walks and play keeps them content. Life expectancy is usually 9 to 12 years, a little longer on average than that of the Bernese parent.