Golden Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Golden Retriever | Bernese Mountain Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 24.9 to 34 kg | 31.8 to 52.2 kg |
| In pounds | 55 to 75 lb | 70 to 115 lb |
| Adult height | 55 to 61 cm | 58 to 70 cm |
| Energy | High | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coat | Medium double | Medium double |
| Shedding | High | High |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years | 7 to 10 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | Switzerland |
The main differences
- The Bernese Mountain Dog is the bigger dog: 31.8 to 52.2 kg against 24.9 to 34 kg for the Golden Retriever.
- Both have high energy in their published profiles.
- Grooming is moderate for both.
- The Golden Retriever usually lives longer: 10 to 12 years against 7 to 10 years.
Temperament
Golden Retriever: Kindly, friendly and confident, biddable and intelligent with natural working ability.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Calm, good natured and strong, the Bernese Mountain Dog is generally placid but is always up for a romp with the owner they live to please.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Golden Retriever
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Progressive retinal atrophy (GR_PRA1 and GR_PRA2), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Ichthyosis (ICT-A), detectable by DNA test on both parents
Bernese Mountain Dog
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for under the hip and elbow scoring schemes
- Cancer, picked up on a veterinary examination with imaging and biopsy of any new lump
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
- Von Willebrand's disease and eye disorders including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, the first detectable by DNA or blood test and the second by an ophthalmologist eye examination
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Golden Retriever or the Bernese Mountain Dog?
The Bernese Mountain Dog. Adults weigh 31.8 to 52.2 kg, against 24.9 to 34 kg for the Golden Retriever, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Golden Retriever or the Bernese Mountain Dog?
The published life expectancy is 10 to 12 years for the Golden Retriever and 7 to 10 years for the Bernese Mountain Dog. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Golden Retriever or the Bernese Mountain Dog better with children?
They score the same: reliably good with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- royalkennelclub.com for the Royal Kennel Club exercise or grooming band, used where it asks for more than the AKC score
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin