Comparison
Bernese Mountain Dog vs Saint Bernard
By Casa Trufa ·
They are two different Swiss mountain breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is tricolor — black, white and tan — and smaller: up to 70 cm (28 in) at the withers. The Saint Bernard is white and reddish and considerably bigger: up to 90 cm (35 in) according to the FCI standard. Both are calm family dogs, and neither does well in the hot lowlands.
How do they differ, point by point?
| Aspect | Bernese Mountain Dog | Saint Bernard |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Switzerland, canton of Bern: farm dog | Switzerland, Great St Bernard Hospice: mountain and rescue dog |
| FCI name | Bernese Mountain Dog (No. 45) | Saint Bernard (No. 61) |
| Height at the withers (FCI) | Males 64–70 cm (25–28 in); females 58–66 cm (23–26 in) | Males 70–90 cm (28–35 in); females 65–80 cm (26–31 in) |
| Adult weight | 36–50 kg (79–110 lb) | Heavier; the standard sets no weight |
| Color | Tricolor: black, with white and tan | White with reddish patches, or reddish with white |
| Coat | Long, with a double layer | Two varieties: short-haired and long-haired |
| Temperament | Calm, patient, protective | Calm and friendly, according to its standard |
| Energy | Moderate | Moderate to low |
| Drooling | Little | Usual |
| Climate | Cool and fresh temperate | Cool |
| Hot lowlands | We don’t recommend it | Not for the hot lowlands either |
| Does Casa Trufa raise it? | Yes | No |
Sizes and weights of the breeds we raise: those on our breed pages. They are typical ranges, not a promise about a particular puppy.
Which one to choose, depending on your life?
- You want a large but manageable dog in a house with a patioBernese Mountain Dog
- You have a lot of space and want a giant dogSaint Bernard
- Drooling bothers youBernese Mountain Dog
- You live in the cool highlands, from about 1,800 m (5,910 ft) upwardEither; the Bernese is the one we can help you choose
Neither is for you if you live in the hot lowlands, in a small apartment, or if you cannot take on what it costs to keep a dog of this size. In those cases the honest thing is to say no.
Why do they get confused?
Because both come from Switzerland, both are large, hairy mountain dogs, and both have white on the chest and face. The quick way to tell them apart is the base color: the Bernese is black; the Saint Bernard, white and reddish. And size: next to an adult Saint Bernard, a Bernese looks medium-sized.
Another common confusion, in Spanish-language searches, is between “Bernés de la Montaña” and “Boyero de Berna”: those really are the same dog — the Bernese Mountain Dog — under two names.
Which adapts better to Colombia?
Neither to the hot lowlands. Both are cool-climate dogs, and the bigger the dog, the worse it sheds heat. We recommend the Bernese from about 1,800 m (5,910 ft) upward — Bogotá and the Sabana, Boyacá, Pasto, Manizales, eastern Antioquia — and with reservations in the lower temperate zone.
We cannot give you a city-by-city recommendation for the Saint Bernard, because we do not raise it: what we say about it on this page comes from the FCI standard, not from our experience. If it is your breed, look for someone who raises it with health tests and ask them about climate.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Saint Bernard the same breed?
No. They are two different Swiss breeds. The Bernese is tricolor and stands up to 70 cm (28 in); the Saint Bernard is white and reddish and reaches 90 cm (35 in) according to the FCI standard.
Which is bigger, the Bernese or the Saint Bernard?
The Saint Bernard. According to the FCI, males stand 70–90 cm (28–35 in) at the withers, against 64–70 cm (25–28 in) for the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Are the Boyero de Berna and the Bernés de la Montaña the same dog?
Yes, they are two Spanish names for the same dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog. “Bernés de la Montaña” is more common in Colombia; the FCI’s Spanish nomenclature lists it as “Boyero de Montaña Bernés”.
Sources
Breed profiles