Bernese Mountain Dog vs Poodle
Compare the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Poodle. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Poodle is better suited for new owners.
- Children - Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle are great with children.
- Grooming - Both breeds have high grooming requirements, but the Poodle is slightly easier to groom between the two.
- Barking - Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle are average barkers.
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| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Poodle |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | Yes |
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 23-27 in. | 15-24 in. |
| Weight | 70-120 lb | 45-70 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Switzerland | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1892 AD | 1200 AD |
| 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 | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 15°F to 75°F | 35°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium | High |
| Exercise Required | Low | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 22 mph | 32 mph |
| Strength | Very High | Medium |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High | High |
| Shedding | High | None |
| Dander | High | None |
| Drool Amount | Low | None |
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 | Poodle |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | Yes |
| Average | Yes | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Very Low | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Very Low | Very Low |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Herding | Below Average | Average |
| Hunting | Very Low | High |
| Protection | Very Low | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Very Low |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Below Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Poodle |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 6-8 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Addison's Disease | No | Yes |
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | No |
| Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) | No | Yes |
| Cataracts | No | Yes |
| Cushing's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Ear Infections | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) | No | Yes |
| Optic Nerve Hypoplasia | No | Yes |
| Panosteitis | Yes | No |
| Patellar Luxation | No | Yes |
| Portosystemic Liver Shunt | Yes | No |
| Premature Graying | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | Yes |
| Runny Eyes | No | Yes |
| Sebaceous Adenitis | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | Yes | Yes |
| Breed Name | Bernese Mountain Dog | Poodle |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Corded Coat | No | Yes |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Shaggy | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | No |
| Rough | No | Yes |
| Wavy | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | No |
| Long | 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 |
| Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Black & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black & Brown | No | Yes |
| Black & Cream | No | Yes |
| Black & Gray | No | Yes |
| Black & Red | No | Yes |
| Black & Silver | No | Yes |
| Black & Tan | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Blue & White | No | Yes |
| Brown | No | Yes |
| Brown & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Brown & White | No | Yes |
| Cafe Au Lait | No | Yes |
| Cream | No | Yes |
| Cream & White | No | Yes |
| Gray | No | Yes |
| Gray & White | No | Yes |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Red & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Red & White | No | Yes |
| Silver | No | Yes |
| Silver Beige | No | Yes |
| White | No | Yes |
| White & Apricot | No | Yes |
| White & Silver | No | Yes |