Bernese Mountain Dog VS Golden Retriever: 19 Differences

The similarities between golden retrievers and Bernese mountain dogs are limited to high grooming needs and a friendly, gentle, affectionate, and social nature.

These breeds have a different lifespan, exercise needs, size, barking level, health, and potential behavior problems, affecting their suitability for a particular person.

While both breeds deserve your attention, one will inevitably be a better fit for your personality and lifestyle.

Size & Weight

Golden retrievers are medium-sized dogs. Male golden retrievers weigh 65-75 pounds on average and reach 24 inches in height, although English golden retrievers may be shorter.

Females are leaner, weighing 55-65 pounds and usually not exceeding 22 inches in height.

Bernese mountain dogs are a larger breed that ranges from 23 to 27 inches in height and can weigh up to 120 pounds. They are very strong, muscular dogs that were bred to work.

Shedding

Golden retrievers are notorious shedders. If you want to have a beautiful dog with lustrous gold fur, be prepared to find hair everywhere and never leave the house without using a lint roller.

Goldens shed with extra intensity in spring and fall when they blow out their dense undercoat.

Bernese mountain dogs aren’t any better in this regard. They, too, have a double coat that sheds year-round, with intense shedding phases twice a year.

Personality

Golden retrievers are energetic, affectionate, social dogs that love to be in company and get along with everyone. They are rarely aggressive and quickly bond with owners, genuinely suffering when they aren’t around.

These dogs are loyal, confident, and intelligent. Goldens are protective of their owners but are generally friendly towards strangers.

Bernese mountain dogs are equally affectionate and loyal but a bit more aloof towards strangers. They aren’t as energetic as goldens and therefore are better suitable for calm people.

Child-Friendliness

Golden retrievers are some of the best dog breeds for families with children because of their affectionate and gentle nature. They are an excellent fit for older kids who can play with the dog.

However, a golden retriever may unintentionally knock over a young child. Bernese mountain dogs are brilliant companions for children of all ages.

They are patient and aren’t as energetic as golden retrievers. For this reason, they are unlikely to unintentionally hurt a child.

Pet-Friendliness

Golden retrievers want to be friends with everyone, including other pets. They get along with most dogs and have a low prey drive, so they are unlikely to chase smaller animals. However, tension may arise between two dogs of the same sex.

Bernese mountain dogs are kind giants that don’t mind other pets in the house, provided that the owner pays equal attention to both animals.

But because of a relatively high prey drive, they aren’t the best companions for small animals like rabbits.

Barking Level

Golden retrievers are quiet dogs. They rarely bark because they were bred to retrieve waterfowl, and barking would scare off the birds. Still, golden retrievers may use barking for communication when necessary.

Bernese mountain dogs also aren’t huge barkers. They only bark when necessary but tend to have powerful, loud barks that can easily scare a stranger or child.

Intelligence & Trainability

Golden retrievers are ranked fourth on the most intelligent dog list by American Kennel Club. They are obedient, eager to please, and able to memorize commands quickly.

Bernese mountain dogs are ranked 27th among 138 dog breeds participating in the intelligence study. They may not memorize commands as quickly as golden retrievers, but the difference is insignificant.

Both breeds are easy to train and always strive to please the owner, often excelling among other dogs in competitions.

Common Behavior Problems

No dog is born well-trained and social. A dog may develop behavior problems without proper training, socialization, and care.

Golden retrievers are susceptible to separation anxiety, phobias, destructive behavior (chewing on things, digging, howling), pulling on the leash, jumping on people, and hyperactivity.

Bernese mountain dogs are prone to chewing, digging, and excessive barking, but they rarely pull on the leash or become hyperactive because they aren’t as curious and energetic as goldens.

Exercise Needs

Like any hunting dog, golden retrievers have high energy levels and need plenty of physical activity to stay fit and prevent behavior problems. An adult golden retriever needs at least an hour of exercise daily.

Bernese mountain dogs are a better fit for people who can’t spend much time exercising their dogs. Because of lower energy levels, Bernese mountain dogs need about a half-hour of moderate exercise daily.

Still, Bernese mountain dogs aren’t couch-type pets, and their exercise needs shouldn’t be neglected. Regardless of the breed, puppies and old dogs need less exercise than adult dogs.

Grooming Needs

Golden retrievers need daily brushing and regular bathing to maintain their coat beauty and health. The bathing frequency depends on a dog’s lifestyle and season, but the general recommendation is to wash the dog every four weeks.

Bernese mountain dogs also need to be brushed daily and bathed when necessary. Goldens and Bernese mountain dogs don’t need haircuts, but both will benefit from fur trimming to keep it off the ground and prevent tangling.

Lifespan

Golden retrievers have a relatively short lifespan of 10-12 years. The most common cause of death in golden retrievers is cancer, affecting approximately 60% of all dogs. Bernese mountain dog lifespan is the shortest among all purebred dogs.

These gorgeous dogs only live for six to eight years on average, although they can live up to 11 years with proper care. That’s a pity because losing a friend so quickly is heartbreaking.

Health Issues

Like all purebred dogs, golden retrievers are prone to specific health issues because of irresponsible breeding.

The most common golden retriever health problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, obesity, hypothyroidism, cancer, and aortic stenosis.

Bernese mountain dogs are at a high risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, Von Willebrand’s disease, cancer, gastric torsion, and ear infections.

Some of these diseases can be avoided with genetic screening and proper care, but owners should be cautious and monitor any abnormalities to spot the conditions in the early stages.

Price

Golden retrievers and Bernese mountain dogs lie within the same price range. High-quality puppies from reputable breeders cost $1,00-$2,500 on average.

Some puppies are available for as little as $500, and show-quality puppies with champion bloodlines may cost over $5,000. Rescue dogs are available for under $500, and service goldens or Bernese mountain dogs usually cost over $20,000.

Suitability for Inexperienced Dog Owners

Golden retrievers are suitable for first-time owners ready to invest time and effort into exercising and training the dog. Their high energy levels, curiosity, and need for mental stimulation can raise issues for inexperienced people.

Bernese mountain dogs are among the best dog breeds for first-time owners looking for a large, devoted family dog. They are calm, quiet, intelligent, obedient, and rarely aggressive.

Suitability for Apartments

Golden retrievers aren’t born for apartment life. There can be exceptions – goldens can live a healthy and happy life in a large enough apartment provided the owner dedicates enough time to exercise the dog.

However, an under-exercised golden retriever can engage in destructive behavior and develop health conditions.

Bernese mountain dogs are a better choice for people living in apartments because they are calmer and have lower exercise needs. Half an hour in a local park is sufficient to keep a Bernese mountain dog healthy.

Suitability as Service Dogs

Golden retrievers are among the best service dog breeds because of their friendliness, obedience, problem-solving skills, and size. They can perform tasks smaller dogs can’t and support their owners when they can’t stand.

The same can be said about Bernese mountain dogs. They are strong, intelligent, social, loyal, and have low exercise needs, making them perfect for people with disabilities.

Suitability as Guard or Protection Dogs

Golden retrievers are loyal dogs that will never let a stranger hurt their owner. Although they don’t bark often, they can scare an intruder with a powerful voice and are large enough to be protection dogs.

However, goldens are way too friendly and often miss signs of danger, letting strangers get too close. Bernese mountain dogs, too, are physically capable of being great protection dogs.

These gentle giants are protective of their owners but must be trained at a young age to serve as guard dogs because of their inherited kindheartedness.

Suitability as Hunting Dogs

Golden retrievers are natural-born hunters and have everything it takes to be a perfect hunting companion.

Bernese mountain dogs can also be of great help in hunting despite being bred for a different purpose. These dogs are often used for tracking prey, but they don’t have the stamina necessary to chase it.

Rarity

Golden retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. Bernese mountains dogs are ranked 32nd in popularity among 197 dog breeds, so they aren’t rare either.

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