Bernese Mountain Dog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Side by side
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Adult weight
Males 36–52 kg (80–115 lb); females 32–43 kg (70–95 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 52–64 kg (115–140 lb); females 39–50 kg (85–110 lb) (breed club figure)2
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (far more likely); Bone cancer (much more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Family
Which suits you
Size
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a little larger on average: about 51 kg (113 lb) as an adult, against 41 kg (90 lb) for the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Bernese Mountain Dog sheds through the year, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog moults most as the seasons change.
Grooming
The Bernese Mountain Dog needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog needs brushing a few times a week.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Bernese Mountain Dog: keen to work with you; Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: cooperative, with its own ideas) and on sensitivity (Bernese Mountain Dog: average; Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
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.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
In temperament the breed is calm, confident and watchful, attached to its household and inclined to bark at strangers without being aggressive. It matures slowly.
Breed traits
Day to day
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog grows to the heavier adult, about 51 kg against the Bernese Mountain Dog's 42 kg.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
More comparisons
Compare the Bernese Mountain Dog with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Bernese Mountain Dog breed page. ↑
- 2American Kennel Club. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed page. ↑
- 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
- 7
- 8Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 9Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 10American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
Parts of this page were written by AI ·