Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne. Differences and Similarities

Last Updated: Nov 06, 2022

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Bernese Mountain Dog and for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Basset Fauve de Bretagne based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Factor Bernese Mountain Dog Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 1/5
General Health 1/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Height 23 to 28 inches 12 to 15 inches.
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Life Span 6 to 10 years 12 to 15 years.
Weight 70 to 115 pounds 25 to 35 pounds.
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2390 No Data
Price Range $1500 – $2995 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bernese Mountain Dog in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is 91 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne, we still believe that the Bernese Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    This is because Bernese Mountain Dogs are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Bernese Mountain Dog will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Bernese Mountain Dog :-). We are for the Bernese Mountain Dog. So get a Bernese Mountain Dog!

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Below is a list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are most different:

  • Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes adapt well to apartment living.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them. However, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are most similar:

  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are very easy to train.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are very playful.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size Comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog weighs 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. The Bernese Mountain Dog is 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne weighs 25 to 35 pounds. when fully grown. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is 12 to 15 inches. when fully grown.

    Size of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Size of Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    The lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 8.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is between 12 to 15 years. . The average lifespan of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is 13.5 years.

    The Basset Fauve de Bretagne lives longer than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Bernese Mountain Dog than for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    6 health tests are recommended for Bernese Mountain Dog while 3 tests are recommended for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Bernese Mountain Dogs and in Basset Fauve de Bretagnes.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bernese Mountain Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bernese Mountain Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bernese Mountain Dogs for:

  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bernese Mountain Dogs here.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagne Health Problems

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Basset Fauve de Bretagne puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Basset Fauve de Bretagne puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Basset Fauve de Bretagne breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Basset Fauve de Bretagnes for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Basset Fauve de Bretagnes here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Basset Fauve de Bretagnes?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Basset Fauve de Bretagnes?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Basset Fauve de Bretagnes?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Basset Fauve de Bretagnes?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Basset Fauve de Bretagnes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Basset Fauve de Bretagnes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Basset Fauve de Bretagne?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very good for new dog owners.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Bernese Mountain Dog compares to other breeds aside from the Basset Fauve de Bretagne. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog to other breeds:

    Bernese Mountain Dog versus Rottweiler     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Alaskan Malamute     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Cane Corso     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Bernedoodle     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Saint Bernard     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Vizsla     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Leonberger     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Tibetan Mastiff     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Great Pyrenees     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Bullmastiff     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Labrador Retriever     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Newfoundland     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Dalmatian     Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mastiff     

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Basset Fauve de Bretagne better suits you and your family.