Great Pyrenees vs Bernese Mountain Dog
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Great Pyrenees | Bernese Mountain Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 38.6 to 45.4 kg | 31.8 to 52.2 kg |
| In pounds | 85 to 100 lb | 70 to 115 lb |
| Adult height | 64 to 81 cm | 58 to 70 cm |
| Energy | Moderate | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coat | Medium double | Medium double |
| Shedding | Moderate | High |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years | 7 to 10 years |
| Good with children | Fine with supervision | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Fine with supervision | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | France | Switzerland |
The main differences
- They are about the same size: the Great Pyrenees is 38.6 to 45.4 kg and the Bernese Mountain Dog 31.8 to 52.2 kg.
- The Bernese Mountain Dog needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the Great Pyrenees.
- Grooming is moderate for both.
- The Great Pyrenees usually lives longer: 10 to 12 years against 7 to 10 years.
- With children, the Bernese Mountain Dog is rated reliably good and the Great Pyrenees fine with supervision.
Temperament
Great Pyrenees: The Great Pyrenees is a livestock guardian with a thick weatherproof coat, usually calm and patient but independent and quick to respond to anything they see as a threat. They bark at night by instinct and roam if the boundary is not secure.
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.
Great Pyrenees
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests
- Inherited eye disorders, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Neurological and immune mediated disorders, which the breed club asks breeders to test for
- Bone cancer and other cancers, which is why persistent lameness should be x-rayed
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 Great Pyrenees or the Bernese Mountain Dog?
They are about the same size. Adults weigh 38.6 to 45.4 kg for the Great Pyrenees and 31.8 to 52.2 kg for the Bernese Mountain Dog, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Great Pyrenees or the Bernese Mountain Dog?
The published life expectancy is 10 to 12 years for the Great Pyrenees 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 Great Pyrenees or the Bernese Mountain Dog better with children?
The Bernese Mountain Dog scores higher for children (3 against 5 out of 5). 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
- 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