Saint Bernards and Bernese Mountain Dogs are similar in many ways but the two breeds are still known for some rather different sets of characteristics.
Bernese Mountain Dogs and Saint Bernards are great family dogs, and suitable for individuals who are moderately active. Both breeds get along with other pets and do well in compact living spaces, such as apartments. Both are also prone to a number of health issues and can be expensive to maintain. Bernese Mountain Dogs are much easier to train, so they might be a better choice for novice dog owners and families with young kids.
Overview Of The Breeds
| Breed | Bernese Mountain Dog | Saint Bernard |
| Size | up to 27 in (69 cm) | up to 30 in (76 cm) |
| Weight | up to 110 lbs (50 kg) | up to 180 lbs (81 kg) |
| Lifespan | 8 years | 8-10 years |
| Exercise needs | moderate | low to moderate |
| Suitable for children | great with kids of any age | great with kids of any age |
| Hypoallergenic | no | no |
When You Consider Welcoming a Dog to Your Home:
Think about what matters for you and your household and consider the breed’s characteristics.
You need to be able to enjoy the dog’s characteristics and also support your pet’s needs. In other words, there is no point in being interested in border collies for their exceptional intelligence, for example, if you don’t have the time and energy to entertain them!
Questions to Consider When Choosing a Dog:
- Do you need to train your dog well – to be around children, runners, cats, and in busy environments, in general? Is the breed of your choice easy to train?
- Do you like being active outdoors? Will your pet join you to run, hike, or swim? If so, will the dog meet your energy/activity level? On the other hand, if the dog is very sporty, do you have the time and energy to support your pet?
- Do you live in a climate with regular extreme temperatures? If so, the dog should be able to tolerate high or low temperatures.
- Do you have young children or small pets in the household? Then, your dog should respond well to training and not be reactive or prone to aggression.
- Do you live in a compact space, such as an apartment? This is fine for most breeds. Some breeds that are very active and energetic need room and a yard.
- Is the breed you are looking into generally quite healthy or prone to some specific health concerns?
- Some breeds are more expensive to purchase and maintain than others. You need to be able to afford your pet.
BREED TRAITS TO CONSIDER
1. Is the Dog Intelligent and Easy to Train?
Bernese Moutain Dogs are more intelligent and have higher obedience scores than Saint Bernards. Berners are much easier to train than Saints.
An interesting fact about Saints, however, is that they learned from each other to save people in the mountains when they were emerging as a breed. If the dogs found a lethargic and freezing pilgrim or hiker in the mountains, they would huddle around the person and lick him or her to keep the person warm until help arrived. So, Saint Bernards are pretty much self-taught rescue dogs.
Stanley Coren, a well-known canine psychologist has studied dogs and their types of intelligence extensively. He and a team of dozens of dog obedience judges ranked over 120 breeds of dogs, based on their response to training, retention of skills and commands, and several other parameters.
The Bernese Mountain Dog’s Working Intelligence
Bernese Mountain Dogs are among the top 25% of best-performing breeds when it comes to their working intelligence.
Berners are smart and easy to train but this is what it means in practical terms:
- The dog memorizes a new simple command after 5-15 repetitions
- The dog retains new commands and skills well but improves with practice
- The dog might be less responsive to a trainer who is at a distance
- Even if the trainer is inexperienced, a dog of such high intelligence can acquire and retain knowledge very quickly
The Saint Bernard’s Working Intelligence
Saint Bernards are among the lowest-performing 25% of dogs when it comes to their working intelligence. They are categorized as fair in their obedience and working ability. This is what that means for a trainer:
- The dog could take up to 40 repetitions of a new simple command to begin to understand what is required of him or her
- It could take up to 80 repetitions to remember the command reliably
- Even after multiple repetitions, the dog might suddenly forget the skill or perform inconsistently
- You need to refresh commands and skills now and then to remind the dog of what they know
- These dogs do better if the trainer is right next to them and you might need to repeat the command a couple of times
- The dog might seem aloof or not interested when you try to train them
- Even very experienced trainers often have a difficult time getting reliable performance from these pups
2. Energy Level and Activity Requirement
Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally more active and energetic than Saint Bernards.
Saints are known to be relatively lazy and calm dogs. They do need daily walks, which can be shorter or longer, depending on your pet’s age or health status. Saints also do well with hikes but might struggle with hills and warm weather.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are known for being bubbly and rambunctious as puppies, so most of these dogs are very energetic when they are young. Berners also mature quite late, so they resemble puppies for the first three or four years of their lives.
In general, neither breed is ideal for high-impact activities, such as running, for example. Both breeds are better for people who are moderately active outdoors but have the time to take the dog on daily walks.
3. Typical Behavioral Issues
In general, both breeds are well-behaved and friendly and there are no particular behavioral problems that are known to be typical for either breed.
Despite their modest ability to learn, Saint Bernards rarely run into situations due to their calm and dignified disposition. For that reason, these pups are not particularly challenging even if they do not know many commands.
Bernese Mountain Dogs, other than being very clumsy and bubbly youngsters, are also good pets, known to be friendly and cheery. In conjunction with training, these pets become amazing companions and can be great guard animals if needed, too.
If you are new to dogs as pets, Bernese Mountain Dogs might be a better choice for you because they respond so much better to training. If any behavioral concern arises, it will likely be easier to correct with training than if your furry friend is a Saint Bernard.
4. The Ability to Live Peacefully With Young Kids or Pets
Saint Bernards and Bernese Mountain Dogs are excellent family pets for households with children and pets in the house.
Berners are especially known to be great with children and friendly with cats.
Both breeds are quite calm and are not usually reactive to noises or stimuli in general. Both are quite friendly around strangers, as well as subjects that are moving, such as running kids or dogs.
A word of caution about both breeds, however, is that both Saints and Berners can be nippy and jumpy when they are young. Of course, they are very large dogs and such behaviors can be an issue if you have young kids at home.
If you notice any resource-guarding behaviors in your, for example, if your dog seems protective of your child when they are at home, do not take that lightly. The dog should never behave as if the child is his or hers to protect from any family members.
Neither Berners nor Saints are known to be prone to this behavior but it can happen to a dog of any breed. It would be harder for a Saint to give up this habit, a Berner is more likely to learn.
5. Shedding and Grooming Needs
Although not always long-haired, Saint Bernards shed a lot. That adds to their reputation as high-maintenance dogs. Spring and late summer are the seasons when shedding is especially heavy but expect a moderate to high amount of dog fur around your house throughout the year.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are also heavy shedders and, given their fluffy coats, that leads to the reality of abundant fur around the house.
On the other hand, neither breed requires any elaborate grooming practices. Occasional baths and regular brushing with a shedding comb are sufficient to keep the dog’s fur healthy and shiny, provided your pet gets all the essential nutrients, of course. These dogs’ fur sheds in lumps, so it is easy to pick up with vacuum and lint rollers.
6. Will Your Dog Need To Stay Alone Much? Is the Breed Prone To Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is not usually a problem for Saint Bernards.
Saint Bernards love spending time with the family, so your pet should get plenty of interaction regularly. At the same time, these dogs are quite independent. They do not need much exercise or entertainment. If you spend some time away from home when you work and your dog is alone for a few hours, your pet will probably tolerate that well.
Bernese Mountain Dogs have a harder time with being alone than Saints, due to their high intelligence and being very owner-oriented. They also tend to need more physical exercise than Saints, so Berners need more of your time, in general. As a result, Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to separation anxiety, although not every Berner develops it.
7. Temperature Requirements
If you live in a warm climate, consider the fact that Saint Bernards do not tolerate heat but love cold weather. The same, however, is true for Bernese Mountain Dogs: they are intolerant of hot weather.
Occasional heat waves can be mitigated by staying home during the hot hours, a cooling mat, and AC. Endless summer, however, could be hard on these dogs because they just don’t have the adaptations to cool down in hot weather.
Both breeds do very well in cold and temperate climates.
8. Health Concerns
Saint Bernards have a short life expectancy, up to ten years, which is typical for the breed. They are also prone to several health problems.
It is crucial to only work with responsible breeders when you are planning to get a purebred puppy of this breed because genetically inherited health conditions are common for Saints. Among the most common issues are the following:
- Hip dysplasia is common, as well as arthritis and problems with bones, including bone cancer.
- Saints are prone to some issues with their eyes
- Hemolytic anemia induced by abnormal immune responses
- Similar to other large dogs, Saints are at risk for bloat.
Bernese Mountain Dogs were bred from a rather narrow gene pool, similar to Saint Bernards. For that reason, genetically inherited problems are common for them. If you don’t mind a mixed breed Berner, your dog is far less likely to have the usual genetically inherited health concerns.
If you have a purebred dog, Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America recommends the following health screenings:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Eye examination (for progressive retinal atrophy)
- Cardiac Evaluation
Berners are also at risk for certain cancers blood disorders and bloat, which is an acute and life-threatening gastrointestinal illness. Joint dysplasia and arthritis are by far the most common problems.
An average Bernese Mountain Dog has a short lifespan of up to eight.
9. Financial Responsibility
Large dogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Saint Bernards in particular are expensive pets to purchase and provide good care for.
A Berner puppy could cost you anywhere from $1200 to 2600 if you are in the U.S. The cost of a Saint Bernard puppy is typically about $1000-2000.
Expensive veterinary care is just part of the reality for many large dog breeds. Insurance for a Saint Bernard can be up to 40-50% more expensive than average. Insurance for a Berner could be even more expensive – the breed is often listed among the five most expensive dog breeds to purchase pet health insurance for.
Good quality food (and the amount a large animal needs), and supplies, taking your family dog on airplanes when you travel – everything is rather pricey for large canines.
The cost of welcoming and maintaining a Saint Bernard and a Bernese Mountain dog is roughly similar, and it is significant.
It is worth noting that a Bernese Mountain Dog can be easily trained by the owner, so you do not need to hire a professional for that. A Saint Bernard, on the other hand, might need to work with a trainer if you want your dog to be well-trained.
To Conclude
Bernese Mountain Dogs and Saint Bernards are quite similar as breeds, and, of course, there is plenty of individual variation within any given breed.
Novice dog owners might do better with a Bernese Mountain Dog. Berners might also be a preferred choice for families with young children. A Saint Bernard is likely to be a challenging pup to train, which is why this breed is for experienced dog owners.
