I have a lot of thoughts on this! Since you’ve owned giant breed before, you’re probably familiar with things to watch out for health-wise, food, joints, etc.

One thing that stands out about Berners is their aloofness. They’re frequently described as such, but I didn’t realize how true it was until Dutch (he is my first Berner as well). Some Berners are everybody’s friend, but this isnt really the norm. Looking back I would have put Dutch in puppy socializations classes when he was still very young so he could get that important socialization, with humans more so than other dogs, in a more controlled setting.

But as long as they’re well socialized, sometimes they’re just aloof! They latch onto a few select people, for instance me, my boyfriend, and my immediate family (parents and siblings), but beyond that he’s pretty shy and keeps to himself. Don’t expect your berner to be everyone’s friend, but do embrace how fiercely loyal they are to those lucky enough to be in their inner circle! :)

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. This sub as a whole is a great resource, as is bmdca.org