Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. Differences and Similarities

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Last Updated: Nov 07, 2022

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen? 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

FactorBernese Mountain DogPetit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/54/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/53/5
General Health1/53/5
Good For Novice Owners2/53/5
Height23 to 28 inches13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly3/55/5
Easy To Groom3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/51/5
Easygoing2/53/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/52/5
Easy To Train4/51/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/51/5
NOT Rambunctious2/51/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Tolerates Cold Weather5/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/52/5
Does NOT chew on things1/53/5
Low Prey Drive1/51/5
Life Span6 to 10 years12 to 14 years
Weight70 to 115 pounds30 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan8.0 years13.0 years
Average Price$2390No Data
Price Range$1500 – $2995No Data
Temperament Score86.6 percent88.9 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
    		• No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds25152
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2262
    *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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is 74 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, we still believe that the Bernese Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

    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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    Below is a list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are most different:

  • Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens adapt well to apartment living.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train. However, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens are not easy to train.

    • The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are most similar:

  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are very playful.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    • Size Comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

    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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen weighs 30 to 40 pounds when fully grown. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Size of Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    Appearance (Colors) of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

    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

    Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Colors

    The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

      Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is 13.0 years.

      The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen lives longer than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

      Temperament of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

      The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has a better temperament than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

      This is because the temperament score for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is 88.9 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 88.9 percent, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

      The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 9 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens.

      The Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog versus the Intelligence of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      Bernese Mountain Dog Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
      Intelligence Rank 22 out of 130 dog breeds 62 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has an obedience intelligence rank of 62 out of 130 dog breeds. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

      The Bernese Mountain Dog is more intelligent than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

      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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen over the years.

      Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Bernese Mountain Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is 152 out of about 200 dog breeds.

      Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

      Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

      Popularity of Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      Popularity of Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      Year Bernese Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Popularity Rank
      2013 32 138
      2014 32 150
      2015 29 143
      2016 27 148
      2017 25 160
      2018 22 156
      2019 23 152
      2020 22 164
      2021 20 161

      Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens can be left alone only for a short time.

      Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

      Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

      Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

      Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens get along very well with other dogs.

      Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

      Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens are not easy to train.

      Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

      Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens do have a very low tendency to drool.

      How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

      Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

      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.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens 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.

      Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

      Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens Tolerate Cold Weather?

      Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens can very well tolerate cold weather.

      Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

      Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

      Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens adapt very well to apartment living.

      Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?

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

      Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog to other breeds:

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

      Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. 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 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen better suits you and your family.