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Bernese Mountain Dog vs Newfoundland: Which One Is Right for Me? (With Pictures)

Lindsey Lawson

By Lindsey Lawson

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Newfoundland

The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland are very popular large breeds that are known for being gentle giants. The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in the agricultural regions of Switzerland and was used as an all-purpose breed for guarding, herding, driving livestock, hauling carts, and companionship.

The Newfoundland was first developed in the cold, rugged terrain of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. These strong, massive dogs were most often used by fishermen to haul nets from the sea, and for hauling carts of wood and other goods.

While these breeds have quite a few similarities, they also have some key differences that set them apart from one another. When considering bringing a new dog into your home, you must choose a breed that is compatible with your lifestyle and personal preferences. Below we’ll discuss these two large working dogs in more detail to help you decide which one is right for you.

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Visual Differences

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Newfoundland
Image Credit: Left-Bernese Mountain Dog (Agatalina, Shutterstock); Right-Newfoundland(newfy.brothers, instagram)

At a Glance

Benese Mountain Dog
  • Average height (adult): 23–27½ inches
  • Average weight (adult): 70–115 pounds
  • Lifespan: 7–10 years
  • Exercise: 30 minutes – 1 hour a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, loyal, eager to please, easy to train
Newfoundland
  • Average height (adult): 26–28 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 100–150 pounds
  • Lifespan: 9–10 years
  • Exercise: 30 minutes – 1 hour a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, laid back, responds well to training

divider 9Bernese Mountain Dog Overview

Personality

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very sweet-natured dog that is highly devoted and affectionate toward the family and will never want to be far from its people. They are large and strong, so owners should prioritize proper training and socialization, but this breed is often great with young children.

These dogs also get along great with other animals, especially if socialized early. When it comes to vocalizing, they tend to bark only an average amount when they deem it necessary. Commonly referred to as the “Berner,” this breed is highly adaptable and tends to be open to strangers. They are working dogs, so they are very playful and have fairly high energy levels.

While they have a history of guarding, their watchdog nature is a bit more on the moderate side. They are eager to please and easy to train, making them excellent for first-time owners. Bernese Mountain Dogs are very hardy, especially in cold weather, and make excellent hiking buddies.

Bernese mountain dog in winter with harness
Image Credit: Jennifer McCallum, Shutterstock

Training

Bernese Mountain Dogs are known for their intelligence and eagerness to please their owners, making them a very trainable breed. They are very good-natured and affectionate dogs that do best with positive reinforcement training techniques. Harsh correction and negative reinforcement training are not recommended.

Obedience training and socialization should be started as soon as possible due to their size and natural guarding tendencies. Training sessions should be kept at 15 minutes or less, making them short, fun, and positive. While the breed is naturally great with people, young children, and other animals, they should be exposed to a variety of situations to ensure they remain well-rounded.

Dietary Needs

The Bernese Mountain Dog should be a high-quality, nutritionally balanced dog food that is appropriate for their age, size, and activity level. Whether the food is commercially bought or homemade, owners need to understand their dog’s nutritional needs and strive to provide them with a top-quality diet.

Large-breed puppies have certain nutritional requirements for proper growth and development. Up to 1 year of age, a Berner puppy should be fed food that meets the needs of large-breed puppies. Since they are prone to bloat, they should be fed smaller meals throughout the day and given plenty of time to digest before being let out to romp and play.

Treats should be given sparingly as a training aid, but never excessively to prevent obesity. Questions and concerns about diet should always be directed to a licensed veterinarian. Any dietary changes or supplementation should also be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.

large fluffy bernese Mountain Dog with huge paws eating out of blue bowl
Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock

Exercise Needs

Bernese Mountain Dogs are working dogs that will need regular daily exercise. Keeping up with their exercise needs is important, as it is great for their overall health and well-being. It is recommended that these dogs get at least 30 minutes to an hour of exercise each day.

They are an outdoorsy breed that will enjoy plenty of different activities including hiking, outdoor play, and various canine sports. They are a fantastic breed for adventurers that have the room to travel with a dog this large. Hauling carts comes naturally and many owners will allow their Berners to pull the little ones around in a cart through the yard.

Health

Like any dog, Bernese Mountain Dogs should receive regular veterinary care and have an oral hygiene routine. They should also be kept up to date with all necessary vaccinations and parasite prevention. Most purebred dog breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions, and this breed is no exception. Reputable breeders should screen their dogs for these health conditions to ensure the betterment of the breed.

Owners should be aware of the health conditions that could likely affect their dog and be educated on what to look for and unusual signs or behaviors should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian. Bernese Mountain Dogs are predisposed to the following health conditions:

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • Bloat
  • Histiocytosis
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease

Grooming

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a stunning, tricolored breed that has a silky outer coat and a thick, wooly undercoat. While their medium-length coat has them built to withstand the cold weather conditions of their homeland, they are heavy shedders. You can expect hair everywhere all the time but shedding will intensify twice a year during the heavy shedding seasons of spring and fall.

As far as grooming requirements go, Bernese Mountain Dogs should be brushed about once per week to remove any loose hair and prevent tangling and matting. Like with any dog, their nails should be trimmed regularly, starting at a young age. It’s also a good idea to check their ears for any dirt, debris, or signs of infection and wipe them clean as needed.

hair of bernese mountain dog
Image Credit: DenisProduction.com, Shutterstock

Suitable for:

The beloved, stunningly beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog makes an excellent companion for owners of any experience level, including first-time dog owners. They do very well in families with children, even those with young children due to their gentle nature and trainability.

While these dogs should always be kept as indoor dogs, they are built for cold weather conditions, so they do very well in areas that experience harsh winters or have colder climates overall. They are perfect for hikers and those that have a sense of adventure.  The breed is also great to have on the farm or in a rural environment since they are hard workers that were initially bred to help out with various duties in the agricultural areas of Switzerland.

Pros
  • Good-natured
  • Gentle
  • Great with children and families
  • Great with other dogs
  • Cold hardy
  • Active and playful
  • Adaptable

Cons
  • Heavy shedding
  • Predisposed to some serious health conditions
  • Shorter-than-average lifespan

divider 9Newfoundland Overview

Personality

Like the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Newfoundland is also a very sweet-natured breed that is known for being highly devoted and affectionate with their families. Their massive size and bear-like appearance may make them look intimidating, but they are truly gentle giants that display lots of patience and do very well with children of all ages.

Often called the Newfs or Newfies, this breed is incredibly loyal with a strong protective nature. They can be quite territorial but not in an aggressive way. They tend to do very well with strangers and make friends with everyone, especially if welcomed by their families. As far as barking tendencies go, the Newfoundland barks very infrequently, much less than your average dog.

These dogs are incredibly cold hardy and will enjoy spending time outdoors. They are also built for the water and are no strangers to getting wet. Their low prey drive and gentle nature make them a great breed to have if you have other animals.

Newfoundland-dog
Image Credit: Pandas, Shutterstock

Training

The Newfoundland is very outgoing and intelligent, making them rather easy to train. They are extremely trusting of their owners and eager to please, so will thrive with positive reinforcement training. Harsher training methods should be avoided altogether. Keep training sessions 15 minutes or less to keep them engaged and excited for training time.

Early socialization and obedience training are essential for any dog and should be started as soon as they are brought home. If they are going to be used in any form of water work, it’s a good idea to get them introduced to water and comfortable at a very young age.

Dietary Needs

The Newfoundland will do best on high-quality dog food that is either commercially sold or prepared at home under proper nutritional guidance. A nutritionally balanced diet is essential for overall health and well-being and the food should be suited for the dog’s age, size, and activity level.

It’s important to remember that large-breed puppies will require a diet properly suited for the growth and development of large breeds. Treats should be offered during training, but the frequency should remain well controlled, as excessive treats and overfeeding could lead to obesity.

The Newfoundland, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, is also prone to bloat due to their large size. It’s best to feed smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day and allow plenty of time for digestion after a meal before they become active. Concerns about diet and nutrition should always be discussed with a veterinarian.

brown newfoundland dog standing in the park
Image Credit: B.Stefanov, Shutterstock

Exercise Needs

Newfoundlands will require at least 30 minutes or up to an hour of moderate exercise each day for optimal health. They may be indoor dogs, but they will certainly enjoy outdoor activities. Their webbed paws and water-resistant coats make swimming a great exercise, they are also ideal for hiking and long walks.

Newfs will enjoy pulling around carts and will even enjoy a variety of games and canine sports. Good old-fashioned family play time with their beloved people is also a great way to get in their physical activity needs.

Health

The Newfoundland should be taken to the veterinarian for regular checkups and stay up to date on all necessary vaccinations and parasite prevention medication. The breed is predisposed to various health conditions, so it’s important to work with responsible breeders that have the necessary health testing performed on their dogs.

It’s a good idea to get on a regular dental care routine starting at a young age. As an owner, it’s important to be mindful of your dog’s health and reach out to your veterinarian if they are experiencing any unusual signs or behaviors. The health conditions that Newfoundland is genetically predisposed to include:

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Bloat
  • Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
  • Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Grooming

Newfies have very heavy double coats, with an outer coat that is water resistant.  They will require thorough brushing at least once a week to prevent any tangles and matting. You can expect regular shedding throughout the year but it will get intense during the spring and fall during the shedding season. Once-per-day grooming will help you get through these seasons.

This breed is known for excessive drooling, so be prepared to carry around a towel all the time. Newfoundland owners should be comfortable being slimed regularly. Clean-up after drinking can be very messy and you can expect to find drool on any surface their mouths touch. As with any breed, nails should be trimmed regularly and ears should be checked for dirt, debris, or infection.

Newfoundland in the river
Image Credit: rzoze19, Shutterstock

Suitable for:

Newfies make fantastic family pets and do very well with children of all ages. They are great for owners of all experience levels. They make a great choice of dog for first-time owners because of their loving, gentle nature, and being easy to train.

These dogs do great on land and in the water, so they make excellent companions for outdoorsy people that enjoy hikes and spending time on the water. Since they are very cold-tolerant, they do well in areas that experience extreme cold weather conditions.

Pros
  • Gentle and patient
  • Protective but not aggressive
  • Sweet-natured
  • Great with children and families
  • Great with other dogs
  • Cold hardy
  • Loves water

Cons
  • Heavy shedding
  • Excessive drooling
  • Predisposed to some serious health conditions
  • Shorter than average lifespan

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Which Breed Is Right for You?

Making a final decision on which breed is right for you is dependent on your personal preference and overall lifestyle. When it comes to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland, you can see they have some very similar personality traits with a few differences that set them apart from one another.

Bernese Mountain Dogs do not have as strong of a watchdog nature as the Newfoundland, but they are more adaptable overall. Bernese Mountains Dogs have the tricolored coat while Newfoundlands come in the colors black, brown, gray, and black and white (known as the Landseer.)

Both breeds have thick, double coats and will shed all year round with excessive shedding during the spring and fall. Grooming needs are very similar, but the Newfoundland will produce excessive amounts of drool, while the Bernese Mountain Dog drools an average amount.

Each breed makes incredible family dogs and is great for first-time owners. They are both intelligent, easy to train, and do great with small children despite their massive size. Both are extremely cold hardy but Newfoundlands are built for the land and water, so they tend to love water more.

They have very similar exercise and care needs and make excellent companions. Regardless of which breed you choose, you are sure to have a loving, devoted family member that will shower you with love and affection.


Featured Image Credit: (L) Eve Photography, Shutterstock | (R) Pandas, Shutterstock

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