Bernese Mountain Dog vs Great Pyrenees

A side-by-side comparison of the Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Pyrenees across size, temperament, grooming, family fit, and more.

Bernese Mountain Dog front view

Bernese Mountain Dog

Great Pyrenees front view

Great Pyrenees

Verdict

Overall, Bernese Mountain Dog wins more categories — but the right choice still depends on your family's specific needs.

Bernese Mountain Dog

4 wins

Great Pyrenees

0 wins

More family-friendly

Bernese Mountain Dog edges ahead on kid-friendliness, affection, and trainability.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Lower maintenance

Bernese Mountain Dog sheds less and needs less grooming overall.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Longer-lived

These breeds have a similar expected lifespan.

Tie

Calmer

These breeds have similar energy levels.

Tie

Quieter

Bernese Mountain Dog tends to bark less.

Bernese Mountain Dog

More trainable

Bernese Mountain Dog picks up commands and new behaviors more readily.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Side-by-side comparison

BreedSizeWeightHeightLifespanEnergySheddingGroomingTrainableAffectionBarkingKidsDogsCatsApartmentFirst-timersLow-allergen
Giant71–120 lb23–28 in10 yr
Giant88–110 lb26–28 in9–11 yr

Helpful tools for these breeds

Share

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Great Pyrenees: which is right for you?

The Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Pyrenees are both popular breeds, but they differ meaningfully in day-to-day life. The verdict above scores them on six key dimensions — use it as a starting point, then factor in your specific home, activity level, and family situation.

Overall, Bernese Mountain Dog wins more categories — but the right choice still depends on your family's specific needs.

Learn more