As part of our mission to improve the health and longevity of our Berners, the Berner-Garde Foundation (BGF) and Michigan State University (MSU), with support from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), have established a Repository that collects, stores and maintains DNA and tumor tissue samples from Bernese Mountain Dogs. The goal of the Repository is to facilitate research on serious genetic diseases affecting the breed. The samples collected, along with the health and pedigree information in the Berner-Garde Data Base, will assist researchers who have been hampered in the past by the lack of samples as well as insufficient medical and pedigree information.