Bernese Mountain Dog vs Leonberger
Compare the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Leonberger. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bernese Mountain Dogs and Leonbergers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Bernese Mountain Dog is a good choice for new owners, whereas the Leonberger is not recommended for new/inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Leonberger are great with children.
- Grooming - The Leonberger is very easy to groom. The Bernese Mountain Dog has very high grooming needs.
- Barking - The Leonberger has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Bernese Mountain Dog is an average barker.
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| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Leonberger |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 8-10 yrs. |
| Height | 23-27 in. | 25½-31½ in. |
| Weight | 70-120 lb | 100-170 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Switzerland | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1892 AD | 1849 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | No |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | Yes |
| Medium Yard | No | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 15°F to 75°F | 20°F to 75°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium | Medium |
| Exercise Required | Low | High |
| Top Running Speed | 22 mph | 16 mph |
| Strength | Very High | Very High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High | Medium-High |
| Shedding | High | Medium |
| Dander | High | Medium |
| Drool Amount | Low | Low |
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 | Leonberger |
| 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 | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Very Low | Below 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 | Leonberger |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 8-10 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Addison's Disease | No | Yes |
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Ectropion | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Entropion | No | Yes |
| Eosinophilic Panosteitis | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Inherited Polyneuropathy | No | Yes |
| Panosteitis | Yes | No |
| Portosystemic Liver Shunt | Yes | No |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | No |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Leonberger |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Shaggy | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black & Rust | Yes | No |
| Black & White | Yes | No |
| Black, Rust, & White | Yes | No |
| Black, Tan, & White | Yes | No |
| Rust & White | Yes | No |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Reddish Brown | No | Yes |
| Sandy | No | Yes |
| Yellow | No | Yes |