Saint Bernard vs Tosa
Side by side
Saint Bernard
Tosa
Adult weight
Males 64–82 kg (140–180 lb); females 54–64 kg (120–140 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 45–90 kg (99–198 lb); females 40–70 kg (88–154 lb) (breed club figure)2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Sheds through the year
Grooming
No sourced figure
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (far more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Watchdog
Which suits you
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Saint Bernard moults most as the seasons change, the Tosa sheds through the year.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Saint Bernard: a lap or leaning dog; Tosa: likes its own space) and on independence (Saint Bernard: cooperative, with its own ideas; Tosa: decides for itself).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 66 kg (145 lb) for the Saint Bernard and 61 kg (135 lb) for the Tosa.
Alike
Both are rated the same on intelligence: easy-going, simple routines.
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
Saint Bernard
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
In temperament it is calm, gentle and good-natured, playful with its household and watchful towards strangers without being quick to aggression.
Tosa
Pinschers & molossoids · Large
In temperament it is quiet, patient and steady, reserved with strangers, and brave rather than excitable.
Breed traits
Day to day
Saint Bernard
Tosa
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Easy-going, simple routines
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Saint Bernard
Tosa
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Saint Bernard
Tosa
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
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 67 kg.
Saint Bernard
Tosa
More comparisons
Compare the Saint Bernard with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Saint Bernard breed page. ↑
- 2American Kennel Club. Tosa 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 ·