This Editorial Policy explains how content on BerneseMountainLover.com is created, reviewed, and kept accurate, and how we handle health information and commercial relationships. Our goal is simple: be a practical, honest, owner-first resource for Bernese Mountain Dog families.
Who writes our content
Articles are written and edited by Todd Grasse, the owner and founder of Bernese Mountain Lover. Todd writes from real, first-hand experience living with Bernese Mountain Dogs (Scarlett, Reba, and Indy), combined with research from reputable veterinary and breed-health sources. Content reflects an experienced owner’s perspective, not that of a veterinarian.
Use of AI tools
Some articles are drafted or edited with the help of AI writing tools. When we use them, it is as a drafting aid only: every article is directed, reviewed, and shaped by Todd against real ownership experience and the reputable sources listed below before it is published. AI is never a substitute for that first-hand experience, the veterinary sources we cite, or human review, and we do not publish unreviewed AI output.
How we research and source information
Where an article covers health, nutrition, safety or cost, we source it and we say where the claim came from. We prefer sources in roughly this order:
- Veterinary teaching hospitals and veterinary schools — Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center, the Tufts Cummings School Clinical Nutrition Service, NC State Veterinary Hospital, Penn Vet, UC Davis.
- Veterinary specialty colleges — the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO).
- Peer-reviewed veterinary journals, open access where possible.
- The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and PennHIP for health screening and grading.
- National Bernese Mountain Dog breed clubs, including the BMDCA, for breed-specific health policy and recommended testing.
- General veterinary references such as the Merck Veterinary Manual or VCA, used only where nothing better exists on a topic.
We do not use content farms, pet-insurance blogs or general pet-content sites as the authority for a clinical claim. Health articles name their sources and link to them directly.
Two habits we hold ourselves to. First, owner observation and clinical guidance are labelled separately — anything drawn from living with the breed is presented as one owner’s experience, never as medical advice. Second, where the evidence is genuinely thin or contested, we say so rather than picking the tidier answer. “There is no good published figure for this in the breed” is a more useful sentence for a reader than a confident number with nothing behind it.
Veterinary disclaimer
The health and care information on this site is educational and written from an owner’s perspective. It is not veterinary advice and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to serious conditions including bloat/GDV, cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, and heart issues. Always contact a licensed veterinarian for diagnosis, treatment, diet changes, supplements, or emergency symptoms.
Independence from our store and affiliate links
Bernese Mountain Lover runs a small store of Berner-themed merchandise and includes some affiliate links. Our editorial guidance is kept independent of these commercial interests: we do not recommend a product simply because it earns a commission, and we are not paid by brands to review or endorse their products. Commercial relationships are explained in our Affiliate Disclosure and Advertising Disclosure, and disclosures also appear near affiliate content.
How we update content
We review and update key articles periodically to keep pricing, guidance, and sources current, and we note when an article has been revised. Costs, availability, and health guidance change over time, so figures are presented as estimates that vary by location, breeder, and market.
Corrections
We want our content to be accurate. If you spot an error or something out of date, please tell us and we will review and correct it promptly. Full details are in our Corrections Policy. You can reach us through our contact page or by email at support@bernesemountainlover.com.
Comments and community
Where community input appears, it is moderated. We aim to keep discussion helpful, respectful, and relevant to Bernese Mountain Dog owners.