The Bernese Mountain Dog was primarily bred to be used as a guard and herding dog. He is a watchful dog and can show a certain distrust towards strangers.
The undemanding Bernese impresses with its sensitive traits, but can show a certain stubbornness and dominance.
The Golden Retriever, on the other hand, was bred as a retrieving dog for game hunting.
These characteristics have survived to this day. In some dogs they are more or less pronounced, depending on disposition. Furthermore, he loves to be led.
Due to his sociable character and his docile nature, the Retriever is a great companion. In hectic moments and also under stress, the Retriever can keep calm.
Choosing whether the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Golden Retriever is a better fit for you is not so easy.
Fundamentally different, yet somewhat similar, both breeds of dog have the prerequisites to fit your lifestyle.
Bernese Mountain Dog – a guard and herding dog
- Character: Friendly, undemanding, reliable
- Size 58 – 70 cm
- Weight up to approx. 50 kg
- Colour Black with brown-red markings
- Life expectancy up to 8 years
The Bernese Mountain Dog is the epitome of the faithful companion. He is not only an excellent herding dog, but a gentle giant for the whole family. He has never lost his characteristics as a herding dog, but they do not stand out negatively either.
Nothing can easily upset a Bernese Mountain Dog. He seeks closeness to people, convinces with his friendly nature and is reliable.
However, in order for your Bernese Mountain Dog to develop well, it is necessary that you consistently carry out your training.
An animal needs a lot of attention and care. You should bear this in mind if you want to take a Bernese Mountain Dog into your home. Especially the coat care takes a lot of time. Daily brushing of the curly coat should be part of the routine.
How often does the Bernese Mountain Dog need to go to the groomer? Regular visits to the groomer are recommended so that your fur friend gets an extra portion of care and his coat always shines.
A Bernese Mountain Dog is an impressive 58-70 cm tall and weighs up to 40 kg, so it needs high-quality food. It should be nutrient-rich and well-balanced.
Young dogs can be fed several times a day, older dogs receive fewer meals.
The Bernese Mountain Dog loves to run around in the fresh air. Remember that such a large dog needs a lot of exercise. You should give him plenty of space and exercise. A large garden is ideal. Plan extensive walks with your Bernese Mountain Dog.
Golden Retriever – a hunting dog
- Character: intelligent, trusting, sociable
- Size 50 – 60 cm
- Weight 25 – 35 kg
- Colour golden or blond
- Life expectancy up to 14 years
The Golden Retriever is a loyal and trusting dog. This congener is not only an ideal family dog, but is also used as a rescue or therapy helper.
Its friendly nature and quick perception are impressive. The Golden Retriever is also a very sociable animal that gets along well with its conspecifics.
The Golden Retriever will probably never become an attentive watchdog. He simply has too playful a nature for that. With a Golden Retriever you get a gentle companion in your home.
Because of their resilience and agility, Golden Retrievers are often used as companion animals. Typical of the dog’s character is a high degree of intelligence.
You will probably not find a Golden Retriever that does not listen to your commands. Obedience is in the dog’s cradle.
The Golden Retriever is uncomplicated to keep.
You can even walk your dog with the predominantly cream-coloured coat in uncomfortable weather, which does not bother the Golden Retriever. The coat is very dense, so that cold and water cannot penetrate it completely.
In any case, this dog breed needs plenty of exercise to satisfy its urge for movement. With a height of 50 to 60 cm, the Golden Retriever is one of the larger dogs.
As a hunting dog, the Golden Retriever loves to retrieve, so ball and search games are particularly suitable.
Like any other dog, the Golden Retriever needs a species-appropriate diet. In addition to the animal’s weight of 25 to 35 kg, the amount of exercise must also be taken into account when feeding.
With insufficient exercise, the Golden Retriever tends to become overweight. High veterinary costs can develop from the overweight.
The differences in character of both dog breeds
The differences in character between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever are rooted in their origins.
The Bernese Mountain Dog was primarily bred to be used as a guard and herding dog. He is a watchful dog and can show a certain distrust towards strangers.
The undemanding Bernese impresses with its sensitive traits, but can show a certain stubbornness and dominance.
The Golden Retriever, on the other hand, was bred as a retrieving dog for game hunting.
These characteristics have survived to this day. In some dogs they are more or less pronounced, depending on disposition. Furthermore, he loves to be led.
Due to his sociable character and his docile nature, the Retriever is a great companion. In hectic moments and also under stress, the Retriever can keep calm.
Despite their differences, both breeds are suitable as family dogs. With good and consistent training, you can do justice to every dog character.
Who are these breeds for?
As soon as you decide to get a dog, you have a big responsibility. First and foremost, you should have a love of animals, because from now on they will be your constant companions.
Whether Bernese Mountain Dog or Golden Retriever, they both have good prerequisites to make you happy.
If you like to be active, spend a lot of time outdoors and you want to have an active time with your dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog is ideal.
The Bernese Mountain Dog loves the cold season and feels especially at home in the snow. Accordingly, you should also enjoy being outdoors in cold temperatures.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is also a very active dog that loves long walks and also likes to run along on the bicycle. You should not be averse to these activities once you choose this dog breed.
The Bernie is a watchful animal and is not afraid to defend you. It is important for him to have a garden where he can run around.
Compared to other breeds, the Golden Retriever has a very friendly and adaptable character.
With a lot of composure and patience, he can handle many dicey situations. The dog is open-minded towards children and strangers, making it ideal for families.
The dog is a really popular family dog.
You should train your Golden Retriever consistently so that living together is harmonious. Besides the basic commands, it is important that all members get along with the Retriever and that he listens to everyone.
Because of his “will-to-please” quality, training him will be easy for you. The Golden Retriever needs special attention during his leisure time.
As an owner, you should always plan for search games or the popular retrieve training. Mental exercise is a great way to keep your Golden Retriever busy. Not only physical activity, but also mental activity is important to keep your dog happy.
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Conclusion of two quite similar dog breeds
Guard and herding dog or hunting dog, they are similar, but at the same time they are not. Where the workload for daily exercise is almost identical, you might think the retriever should be easier to handle because it is so popular.
But the distinction between the dogs, which are almost the same size, shows itself in the details.
Whereas the Bernese Mountain Dog tends to stay at the house and guard, the Golden Retriever really gets going when it picks up a scent for hunting.
Do I want a Golden or a Bernie?
