Bernese Mountain Dog vs Giant Schnauzer
Side by side
Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 36–52 kg (80–115 lb); females 32–43 kg (70–95 lb) (breed club figure)1
35–47 kg (77–104 lb)2
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Daily brushing
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (far more likely); Bone cancer (much more likely)6
Toe melanoma (far more likely); Skin melanoma (much more likely)6
Class
Family
Watchdog
Which suits you
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Giant Schnauzer lives longer: a median of 12.1 years, against 10.1 for the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Bernese Mountain Dog sheds through the year, the Giant Schnauzer holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Grooming
The Bernese Mountain Dog needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Giant Schnauzer needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Bernese Mountain Dog: a lap or leaning dog; Giant Schnauzer: likes its own space) and on independence (Bernese Mountain Dog: keen to work with you; Giant Schnauzer: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Giant Schnauzer are much the same size as adults, both about 41 kg (90 lb).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Bernese Mountain Dog
Pinschers & molossoids · Large
In temperament it is good-natured and calm, steady rather than excitable, and closely attached to its family.
Giant Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Large
In temperament the Giant Schnauzer is bold, alert and strongly territorial, reserved with strangers and devoted to its household.
Breed traits
Day to day
Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 42 kg.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
More comparisons
Compare the Bernese Mountain Dog with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Bernese Mountain Dog breed page. ↑
- 2
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
- 7Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 8Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 9American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
Parts of this page were written by AI ·