Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Golden Retriever. Differences and Similarities

Last Updated: Nov 07, 2022

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Golden Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever? 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever.

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 Golden Retriever.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Golden Retriever is a medium-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 Golden Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever

FactorBernese Mountain DogGolden Retriever
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/52/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/53/5
General Health1/52/5
Good For Novice Owners2/53/5
Height23 to 28 inches21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly3/55/5
Easy To Groom3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/51/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Does NOT Drool2/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/51/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/53/5
NOT Rambunctious2/51/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Tolerates Cold Weather5/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/51/5
Does NOT chew on things1/51/5
Low Prey Drive1/53/5
Life Span6 to 10 years10 to 12 years
Weight70 to 115 pounds55 to 75 pounds
Average Lifespan8.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$2390$1870
Price Range$1500 – $2995$1500 – $2200
Temperament Score86.6 percent85.6 percent
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
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds253
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)224
    *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 Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever is 73 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Golden Retriever, we still believe that the Bernese Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Golden Retriever.

    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!

    Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever

    The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are very playful.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Size Comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever.

    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 Golden Retriever weighs 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. The Golden Retriever is 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Size of Golden Retriever

    Appearance (Colors) of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever

    Bernese Mountain Dog Colors

    The Bernese Mountain Dog comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Brindle
    • White / Cream

    The Bernese Mountain Dog comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • White / Cream
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    Golden Retriever Colors

    The Golden Retriever comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Golden
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • White / Cream
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Apricot / Beige

    The Golden Retriever comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • White / Cream
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    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 Golden Retriever is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Golden Retriever is 11.0 years.

    The Golden Retriever lives longer than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    Temperament of the Golden Retriever Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has a better temperament than the Golden Retriever.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 percent while the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 813 Golden Retrievers.

    Price of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Price of Golden Retriever

    The average price of the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is $2390. The price of the Bernese Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1500 – $2995. However, the price of a Bernese Mountain Dog can be as low as $300 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 920 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Golden Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2200. However, the price of the Golden Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 2668 Golden Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Golden Retriever.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Golden Retriever
    Average Price $2390 $1870
    Price Range $1500 to $2995 $1500 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Bernese Mountain Dog and Golden Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Bernese Mountain Dog puppies or how many Golden Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy or the Golden Retriever puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    The Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus the Intelligence of the Golden Retriever

    Bernese Mountain Dog Golden Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 22 out of 130 dog breeds 4 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 22 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Golden Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 4 out of 130 dog breeds. The Golden Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Golden Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Golden Retriever is more intelligent than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Bernese Mountain Dog. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 25 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Year Bernese Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Golden Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 32 3
    2014 32 3
    2015 29 3
    2016 27 3
    2017 25 3
    2018 22 3
    2019 23 3
    2020 22 4
    2021 20 3

    Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Golden Retriever

    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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Bernese Mountain Dog than for the Golden Retriever.

    6 health tests are recommended for Bernese Mountain Dog while 4 tests are recommended for the Golden Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Bernese Mountain Dogs and in Golden Retrievers.

    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.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

    Golden Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Bernese Mountain Dogs and Golden Retrievers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Bernese Mountain Dog Breed is Basic Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 2 out of 16 dog breeds for Basic Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 121 Bernese Mountain Dogs, 0 of them had Basic Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Bernese Mountain Dogs, and how common these diseases are in Bernese Mountain Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 11 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 17 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 17 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 37 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 47 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 62 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 65 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 82 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 91 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 127 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Golden Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Golden Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 out of 145 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Bernese Mountain Dog and in Golden Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever:

    Disease Bernese Mountain Dog Rank Golden Retriever Rank
    Basic Cardiac problems 2 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 11 out of 144 dog breeds 36 out of 144 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 17 out of 70 dog breeds 56 out of 70 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems 17 out of 22 dog breeds 11 out of 22 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 37 out of 49 dog breeds 39 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 47 out of 71 dog breeds 40 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 62 out of 159 dog breeds 56 out of 159 dog breeds
    Hips problems 65 out of 198 dog breeds 45 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 82 out of 115 dog breeds 33 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 91 out of 182 dog breeds 58 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 127 out of 145 dog breeds 112 out of 145 dog breeds
    Ichthyosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 17 out of 32 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Golden Retriever?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Golden Retrievers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Golden Retriever?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Golden Retriever?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Golden Retriever

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Golden Retriever?

    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.

    Golden Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Golden Retriever

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

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Golden Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Golden Retriever?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Golden Retriever?

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

    Golden Retrievers are OK 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 Golden Retriever. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog to other breeds:

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

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever better suits you and your family.