Bernese Mountain Dog vs Great Dane
Compare the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Great Dane. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bernese Mountain Dogs and Great Danes.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Bernese Mountain Dog is a good choice for new owners, whereas the Great Dane is not recommended for new/inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Dane are great with children.
- Grooming - The Great Dane is very easy to groom. The Bernese Mountain Dog has very high grooming needs.
- Barking - The Great Dane bark/howls frequently. The Bernese Mountain Dog has an average level of barking.
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| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Great Dane |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 7-10 yrs. |
| Height | 23-27 in. | 28-38 in. |
| Weight | 70-120 lb | 100-200 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Switzerland | Not Specified |
| Origin Year | 1892 AD | 1400 BC |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | Yes |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | Yes | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 15°F to 75°F | 55°F to 85°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium | Medium |
| Exercise Required | Low | Medium |
| Top Running Speed | 22 mph | 30 mph |
| Strength | Very High | Very High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High | Medium |
| Shedding | High | Medium |
| Dander | High | Medium |
| Drool Amount | Low | Medium-High |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Great Dane |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Very Low | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Very Low | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Very Low | Average |
| Protection | Very Low | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Watch | Below Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Great Dane |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 7-10 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Mitral Valve Disease | No | Yes |
| Panosteitis | Yes | No |
| Patent Ductus Arteriosis | No | Yes |
| Persistent Right Aortic Arch | No | Yes |
| Portosystemic Liver Shunt | Yes | No |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | No |
| Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis | No | Yes |
| Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Great Dane |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Shaggy | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | No |
| Short | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black & Rust | Yes | No |
| Black & White | Yes | Yes |
| Black, Rust, & White | Yes | No |
| Black, Tan, & White | Yes | No |
| Rust & White | Yes | No |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Blue & White | No | Yes |
| Blue Brindle | No | Yes |
| Brindle | No | Yes |
| Chocolate | No | Yes |
| Chocolate & White | No | Yes |
| Chocolate Brindle | No | Yes |
| Fawn | No | Yes |
| Harlequin | No | Yes |
| Mantle | No | Yes |
| Mantle Merle | No | Yes |
| Merle | No | Yes |
| Merlequin | No | Yes |
| Silver | No | Yes |
| White | No | Yes |