“The Bernese Mountain Dog shows almost human characteristics” – Interview with János Pintér, the president of MBE

The impressive intelligence and working ability of Bernese Mountain Dogs are truly noteworthy. We asked János Pintér, the president of the Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association (Magyar Bernipásztor Egyesület; MBE), why he considers the breed special and what the tasks of a breed conservation organization are.

János Pintér has been keeping Bernese Mountain Dogs since 1985, making him a dedicated enthusiast of the breed for 35 years. He is an honored master breeder with a kennel (named Abony-Bérci berni pásztorkutya kennel; Abony-Bérci Bernese Mountain Dog), and holds the title of an FCI International conformation judge. He first learned about this special breed in 1978 and can be said to have fallen in love with it. Since 1996, he has been the respected president of the Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association. The official breed conservation organization for Bernese Mountain Dogs in the country is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. János Pintér’s respect and expertise for the breed shine through in every aspect.

LMD: – What captured you about the breed? What makes it special?

JP: – Its wonderfully impressive appearance, its captivatingly friendly behavior, its patience and gentleness towards children, its nature of attentively serving and focusing on its owner, and its temperament that almost displays human-like qualities.”

– Whom do you recommend the breed to? What kind of owner is it suitable for?

JP: – Based on the experiences of previous decades, I confidently recommend it to almost anyone. Its ‘usability’ is inexhaustible, but of course, it should be noted that for those with specific requirements regarding a Bernese Mountain Dog, it is essential to carefully select the puppy (I recommend seeking the assistance of a professional). Just like people, dogs are extremely diverse, so not every individual is suitable for any special task. Expectations should take into account its size, weight, long coat, the black base color (light-absorbing effect), and its fundamentally ‘historical’ development for the purpose of a herding dog.

– Is the Bernese Mountain Dog a popular breed in our country? How many puppies are registered annually?

JP: – The Bernese can be considered quite popular, but most importantly, it is not in the top 10, nor even in the top 20. We are pleased with this because when a breed becomes very trendy, more people tend to engage in breeding. This, in itself, wouldn’t be a problem, but unfortunately, many individuals decide to breed dogs not out of a love for the breed but rather for financial gain.

In accordance with the current breeding and registration regulations, purebred Bernese Mountain Dog puppies can be registered through two breed conservation associations under the auspices of the Hungarian National Association of Dog Breeders (Magyar Ebtenyésztők Országos Egyesületeinek Szövetsége; MEOESZ). Breeders who choose our association register, on average, 70-80 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies annually under the supervision of the Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association.

– Unfortunately, we often hear about backyard breeders who prioritize quantity over quality. Does this problem also affect the Bernese Mountain Dog, and what are the experiences?

JP: – Unfortunately, I have to say yes. In numerous cases, people call and inquire about Bernese puppies. It’s shocking to hear from them how many places across the country are involved in Bernese Mountain Dog breeding, or more accurately, in mass breeding. What is even more frightening is that many of them, without any documents or official certifications, ask for the same purchase price for a puppy as those who go through all the proper and professional procedures for purebred breeding, for preserving the values of the breed, and for the health of the parents and future generations.

– What does a breed conservation organization exactly do? What are its main tasks?

JP: – The representation of the Berner Sennenhund (Bernese Mountain Dog) in the international organization for the breed, the development and implementation of breeding programs, professional advocacy, maintaining records for members, handling registry-related tasks, participating in events organized by other organizations, maintaining communication with the International Canine Federation (FCI), organizing and conducting dog shows, breed surveys, and competitions.

Something that has been somewhat overshadowed recently but has always been important to us is organizing canine courses, lectures, editing and publishing canine-related books and magazines, holding lectures at club events, and organizing events showcasing the usability of the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Here it is important to mention our club magazine titled “a Berni,” initiated by the BSH Club and published for nearly 15 years. Unfortunately, the demand for the printed magazine has almost completely ceased in recent years, so the transmission of information had to be shifted to another dimension. In our rapidly digitized world, delivering credible and balanced information to those involved is becoming increasingly challenging. I still see many untapped opportunities in this regard.

– The Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. What have been the defining milestones in the life of the association?

JP: – The first and most important: on November 9, 1996, in Kecskemét, with the presence of nearly 100 individuals and an initial membership of 54, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club was established. At the inaugural meeting, Mr. László Erdős represented the Presidency of the Hungarian National Association of Dog Breeders.

In March 1997, the first issue of our magazine titled “a Berni” was released, which we published four times a year. Over nearly 15 years, we published a total of 54 issues – in the later years, only two combined editions annually. In the same year, we organized a (still unforgettable) Bernese meetup in Tiszavárkony, on the premises of the creative house. The fundamental idea behind the Bernese Friends Meeting is associated with Ferenc Páll, his family, and their circle of friends, who first organized this fantastic dog event in 1993. Since then, every September, Hajdúszoboszló and its main street, the resort promenade, have been filled with Bernese dogs and teams. At that time, it was a massive tourist attraction, a truly populous “parade.” Already during the first event, there arose a demand for us, Bernese enthusiasts, to establish a separate breed club.

The successful meetings were hosted in various locations, including Makó, Nagykanizsa, Göd, Szekszárd, Zalaegerszeg, and Budapest (at multiple venues). Round-number anniversaries were celebrated with CAC-Breed and CAC-Club Shows in Hajdúszoboszló and Makó.

Starting from 1998, we organized an annual CAC-Club Show with the participation of recognized international conformation judges. The memory of the first CAC-Club Show is still vivid, held in Budapest in 1998, with 81 Bernese participating, including 11 foreign dogs.

The year 2001 was outstanding, also in Budapest, with 116 entered Bernese dogs, followed by 2002 with 132 entries.

In 2006, we celebrated our tenth anniversary with a Super Bernese (Szuper Berni) Mountain Dog weekend and the associated Super BIS (3 Bernese dog shows) in Göd, on the premises of the Nemeskéri Manor.

In the previous two decades, our dog shows were only canceled twice: in 2005 and 2014. Breed surveys have been organized since 1998.

We published trilingual publications in 2000 and 2002, featuring not only a club overview but also providing an opportunity for breeders associated with the club, or more precisely, kennels, to present themselves briefly with photos. Additionally, we showcased champion and veteran dogs.

An International Forum: In the organization of our Swiss sister club, the KBS, the first international congress of Bernese clubs took place in Langenthal on September 9, 2000. Representatives from clubs, including those from Hungarian Bernese enthusiasts, gathered from twenty countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, and the USA, in addition to European countries. The purpose of the congress was to facilitate greater collaboration among the clubs, present achievements, discuss problems, and draw attention to the most important issues related to breed breeding.

The Swiss club organized the second Bernese congress on September 28, 2002, in Lenzburg. Our club was represented at this meeting by a three-member delegation. Over 100 delegates from 24 countries attended the event, including representatives from Brazil and South Africa, countries that did not participate in the first meeting.

In line with the agreement reached at the previous congress, the central theme of the 2002 Symposium was the health situation of Bernese dogs, primarily focusing on various cancer-related issues.

We participated in the 100th-anniversary event series of the KBS on August 10-11-12, 2007. In addition to valuable professional meetings, we were pleased with the excellent performance of Hungarian exhibitors.

In 2009, at the request of the new Hungarian National Association of Dog Breeders Presidency, the BSH Club prepared its new breeding regulations and took over the breed conservation tasks for Swiss mountain dogs.

At the general meeting held on March 29, 2010, our membership declared the dissolution of the Hungarian National Association of Dog Breeders BSH Club, designating the independently established Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association as the successor breed conservation club. After asserting membership rights, the Association general meeting elected the leadership and committees. The Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association became a member of the MEOE as an independent social organization and, simultaneously, became the breed conservator for Swiss mountain dogs.

From September 6, 2013, the Association, as an independent social organization, became a state-recognized breeding organization by appointment from NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), in accordance with the new legal regulations. From this point forward, the MBE led the Bernese pedigree in Hungary and issued pedigrees for Bernese Mountain Dogs based on it.

At the end of 2013, the Hungarian National Association of Dog Breeders declared its dissolution, and the associations already registered as independent social organizations (including several ETSZ, such as the MBE) established the MEOE Federation.

For several years, we have been assisting the breeding workgroup led by Martha Cehrs operating within the framework of the KBS. We provided information to support the publication of the book ‘The World of Bernese Mountain Dogs’ in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

On September 19, 2016, the dog breeding regulations were modified. The breeders of the nine Hungarian dog breeds remain under official supervision, while the legal regulation for organizations dealing with other dog breeds ceases to exist. The MEOESZ became the top canine organization in Hungary. Its presidency decided to entrust breed conservation for Bernese Mountain Dogs to the Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association.

– How many years have you been the president of the organization? What tasks does this involve?

JP: – On November 9, 1996, the founding general assembly of the BSH Club elected me as president, and since then, considering the transformations, I have been fulfilling this role. Generally, there has been a re-election every 4 years, and during these occasions, the membership has always expressed confidence in me.

As we do not have separate office or other staff, the tasks are quite diverse. The first and most important is the operation of the organization, leading administration, maintaining communication with the MEOESZ and other organizations, keeping the membership registry, liaising with members, ensuring the functioning in accordance with our breeding regulations, organizing and hosting events, ensuring compliance with legal regulations, fulfilling reporting and declaration obligations, etc.

As a final thought, I would like to mention that the successful operation of the club is owed to many fellow dog enthusiasts who, both during the time of the BSH Club and later in the MBE period, selflessly and wholeheartedly supported our leadership, assisted in our work, and shared our goals. There were tougher and easier periods, successful and less successful years, but for almost 25 years, we have been here with the same belief, perseverance, and dedication. I trust that the young generation that follows us will carry on our flag, eloquently speaking, continue to roll the ‘Bernese carriage’ forward! Repeating our motto from 1996: What connects us: the BERNESE!

We thank János Pintér, the president of the Hungarian Bernipásztor Association for the interview and wish him a lot of success in his work!

Thank you to János Pintér, the president of the Hungarian Bernese Mountain Dog Association, for the interview, and we wish him continued success and achievements in his work!