Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Norfolk Terrier. Differences and Similarities

Last Updated: Nov 07, 2022

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Norfolk Terrier: Introduction

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

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

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 Norfolk Terrier.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Norfolk Terrier is a tiny-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 Norfolk Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Norfolk Terrier 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 Norfolk Terrier

FactorBernese Mountain DogNorfolk Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/54/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/54/5
General Health1/55/5
Good For Novice Owners2/55/5
Height23 to 28 inches9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly3/55/5
Easy To Groom3/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/52/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/51/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/53/5
NOT Rambunctious2/52/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Tolerates Cold Weather5/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/54/5
Does NOT Shed1/55/5
Does NOT chew on things1/54/5
Low Prey Drive1/55/5
Life Span6 to 10 years12 to 15 years
Weight70 to 115 pounds11 to 12 pounds
Average Lifespan8.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$2390$3000
Price Range$1500 – $2995$2750 – $3250
Temperament Score86.6 percent92.9 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
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Ichthyosis
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds25130
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2256
    *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 Norfolk Terrier. 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 Norfolk Terrier is 94 out of 125.

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

    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 Norfolk Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are most different:

  • Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Norfolk Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Norfolk Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Norfolk Terriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Norfolk Terriers are good for new dog owners.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Norfolk Terriers do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Norfolk Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Norfolk Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Norfolk Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier

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

  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier 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 Norfolk Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Size Comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier.

    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 Norfolk Terrier weighs 11 to 12 pounds when fully grown. The Norfolk Terrier is 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Size of Norfolk Terrier

    Appearance (Colors) of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier

    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

    Norfolk Terrier Colors

    The Norfolk Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Bicolor

    The Norfolk Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier

    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 Norfolk Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Norfolk Terrier is 13.5 years.

    The Norfolk Terrier lives longer than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier

    Temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog Versus the Norfolk Terrier

    The Norfolk Terrier has a better temperament than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Norfolk Terrier is 92.9 percent while the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 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 92.9 percent, the Norfolk Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Norfolk Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 14 Norfolk Terriers.

    Price of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Price of Norfolk Terrier

    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 Norfolk Terrier puppy is $3000. The price of the Norfolk Terrier typically ranges from $2750 – $3250. However, the price of the Norfolk Terrier can be as low as $2500 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 2 Norfolk Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Norfolk Terrier is more expensive than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Norfolk Terrier
    Average Price $2390 $3000
    Price Range $1500 to $2995 $2750 to $3250

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Bernese Mountain Dog and Norfolk Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Bernese Mountain Dog puppies or how many Norfolk Terrier 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 Norfolk Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Norfolk Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy or the Norfolk Terrier 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 Norfolk Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus the Intelligence of the Norfolk Terrier

    Bernese Mountain Dog Norfolk Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 22 out of 130 dog breeds 56 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Norfolk Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 56 out of 130 dog breeds. The Norfolk Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Norfolk Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more intelligent than the Norfolk Terrier.

    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 Norfolk Terrier

    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 Norfolk Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Bernese Mountain Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Norfolk Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 25 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norfolk Terrier is 130 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Norfolk Terrier

    Popularity of Norfolk Terrier

    Year Bernese Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Norfolk Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 32 129
    2014 32 131
    2015 29 131
    2016 27 134
    2017 25 128
    2018 22 126
    2019 23 131
    2020 22 130
    2021 20 130

    Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Norfolk Terrier

    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 Norfolk Terrier 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 Norfolk Terrier.

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Bernese Mountain Dog while 5 tests are recommended for the Norfolk Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Bernese Mountain Dogs and in Norfolk Terriers.

    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.

    Norfolk Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Ichthyosis
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Norfolk Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Bernese Mountain Dogs and Norfolk Terriers

    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 Norfolk Terrier Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Norfolk Terrier ranks 1 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 592 Norfolk Terriers, 30 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

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

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 1 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 20 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 29 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 37 out of 145 Dog Breeds

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

    Disease Bernese Mountain Dog Rank Norfolk Terrier Rank
    Basic Cardiac problems 2 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 11 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 17 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 17 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 37 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 47 out of 71 dog breeds 2 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 62 out of 159 dog breeds 1 out of 159 dog breeds
    Hips problems 65 out of 198 dog breeds 20 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 82 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 91 out of 182 dog breeds 29 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 127 out of 145 dog breeds 37 out of 145 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 Norfolk Terrier

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Norfolk Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Norfolk Terriers?

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

    Norfolk Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Norfolk Terrier?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Norfolk Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Norfolk Terrier?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Norfolk Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Norfolk Terriers?

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

    Norfolk Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Norfolk Terrier?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Norfolk Terriers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Norfolk Terrier

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Norfolk Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Norfolk Terriers?

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

    Norfolk Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norfolk Terrier?

    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.

    Norfolk Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Norfolk Terriers?

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

    Norfolk Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norfolk Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norfolk Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Norfolk Terrier

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

    Norfolk Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norfolk Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Norfolk Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Norfolk Terrier?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norfolk Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Norfolk Terrier?

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

    Norfolk Terriers 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 Norfolk Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog to other breeds:

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

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Norfolk Terrier. 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 Norfolk Terrier better suits you and your family.