The general characteristics of Bernese Mountain Dogs are: self-assured, vigilant, good-natured, affectionate towards his family, friendly to strangers, average temperament, sensitive, pigheaded. How does this description apply to Beau. Depending on the situation, the environment and his condition, we observe the following elements of behaviour
Affectionate. Likes being petted.
Attached. His humans and Beau feel deeply connected. Beau likes to be with us to cuddle, play or purr like a cat.
Calculating. Looks for a maximum effect with a minimum of energy. For instance when he makes himself small by lying down in the middle of a path waiting a passing dog to come by, to stand up the minute the dog arrived close by carrying his ears, hairs and tail erect.
Cautious. For instance when softly sniffing or licking children´s faces and taking cookies out of one´s hand.
Clean (house and city trained). Does not leave messages at the fronts of houses or on pavements.
Clumsy. In his enthousiasme Beau somethimes knocks over people and dogs alike.
Communicative. Clearly indicates what he wants or needs. For instance when he occasionally needs to get out during midnight. Beau squeeles, comes to fetch his humans out of their bed, points his head and body towards his elevator, turns head to give his humans a penetrating stare.
Dominant (self-assured). Other male dogs have to pay respect and people should supposedly follow his wishes. For instance: Beau heaved his hind leg against the legs of two acquaintances talking to (and probably stalling) outlet Marleen during his outlet session in the woods.
Fearful. Incidentally Beau acts as if in agony on the street, he pulls away his humans from the gables carrying his tail between his legs and looking sideways and up when walking alongside the pavement. We suspect this behaviour being caused by a window being slammed spontaneously because of draught. At the age of 1,5 he was more scared than he is now at the age of four.
Food lover. Good food is one of the biggest delights of his life.
Friendly. Merrily wags his tail to known and unknown visitors or passers by.
Homy. Is a dog for home sweet home, having his best rests in his own house, at his spot at the foot of the staircase, between the coach and the coffee table, his fat boys or at the bedside of his humans.
Intelligent. Learns effectively when being rewarded with yummies. After having performed the requested action, he searchingly looks at his humans wishing to be acknowledged and rewarded.
Masculine. Looks for and stalks bitches of 30 kilos or more.
Observant. Tends to see and hear almost everything.
Picky. For instance he does not want to eat the same dog food for a too long a time. When he is fed up with it, he spits them out on the floor and demonstratingly lies down next to his not-emptied bowl.
Pigheaded. What he really does not want, he does not want. For Instance: At the dogclub instructors sometimes think that Beau is deaf, when he incidentally stays lying down, taking his time to look around not paying attention at all to the outcry of his humans to come forwards.
Quiet. Beau is never noisy, only barking a single bark when he is excluded from his humans because of a shut door or steep staircase or when he sees cats walking by outside on the other side of the glass front door in the hallway.
(non)Sport. Joins into ball games with his outlet group. Beau does not want to stay behind feeling the leader of the gang and tries his best to compete with fast retrievers (or takes the ball afterwards and lies down on it).
Strategical. For Instance: Beau likes to go his own way. When he is lined up and wants to go the other way, he first sits down or walks a little while alongside his boss to turn around as soon as possible trying his humans not to notice this specific action.
Stuck in his ways. Likes to have his daily routine and rituals.
Trusting. Totally relies on his humans in times of pain or trouble. For instance when visiting the vet Beau meekly lets himself be treated even when having cleaned his teeth without anaesthesia when his humans stay very close to him.
Watchful. Likes to lie down near doors and gates, also when staying with others.