Berners come from the Swiss Alps and carry a coat for it. AKC calls them placid, sweet and affectionate, always up for a romp with the owner they live to please. The challenge in Dixon is not the dog's mood. It is July.
Business Class or First Class
AKC lists males at 25 to 27.5 inches and 80 to 115 pounds, females at 23 to 26 inches and 70 to 95. Business Class (5x6 ft, about 30 square feet inside and 60 outside) works for most females. A male near 100 pounds or more belongs in First Class (6x8 ft), and two Berners from one home share First Class for $72 plus $61 for the second dog.
A very thick coat
AKC scores Bernese shedding at 5 of 5, the top mark. The coat is long, silky and moderately wavy over a dense undercoat, so a brush at home before the stay sends less hair into the run. The bath chart cell is the Double Coated column: $65 for 51 to 75 pounds, $75 for 76 to 100, $85 over 100. A bath with a thick coat takes time and a drying period, so ask the price and the timing early.
Why summer matters most
A mountain breed in a valley with about 100 days of 90 degrees or more (NOAA 1991-2020 normals for nearby Vacaville) wants shade and cool air. The runs are air-conditioned in summer, and your dog picks inside or out. Plan outside play for morning and evening, and say so at drop-off if your dog tires or pants early.
Steady energy
AKC gives the breed 4 of 5 on energy. The usual Berner is happy with a long walk and a good lie-down. Walks are included, and the grass field is soft on big joints.
Before the stay
Brush your Berner well the day before and trim nothing; staff care for the coat as it comes. Mention any joint stiffness or medication, since a heavy dog on a Kuranda bed gets up and down all day. A tour any day from 9 to 11 AM or 2 to 4 PM lets you see the runs.
Meeting other dogs
Berners are friendly, and dogs see neighbors through the fence while keeping their own space. If yours is a gentle giant who gets pushed around by little dogs, tell us.
What a stay costs
A 5-night stay in Business Class is 5 x $59 on the 2026 rates. A second dog from the same home is $50, and 14 nights or more is $53 a night; active military families pay that same reduced rate (the rate sheet does not list the two as combining; call 707-678-6600 to confirm).
Food and records
Large-breed diets are welcome in the original bag with cups written on the form, and medications are given at no extra charge. Rabies, distemper/parvo, Bordetella and canine influenza records must be good through the last day, and your dog should be 16 weeks or older before the first day.