Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Comparison – Which dog is better Berner or Lab?

"Find similarities and differences between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever" Compare Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?

Price and Availability Size Grooming, Hair and Care Personality / Temperament Good With Health As a Working Dog Reproducibility Recognition Show differences only

Name	Bernese Mountain Dog	Labrador Retriever
Origins	Switzerland	England Canada
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Working Dogs	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	25	1
Reviews	5	5
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Berner Bernese Cattle Dog Berner Sennenhund	Lab Labrador
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Price and Availability Comparison

Price Which is cheaper, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Which is more expensive? What is the difference in price between Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever?	$800-$1000	$1000-$2000
Availability Which is easier to get, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Very frequent: The Bernese Mountain Dog is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Labrador Retriever is quite easy to get.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Size Comparison

Size Which dog is bigger, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Is the Bernese Mountain Dog bigger than the Labrador Retriever breed? Is a Bernese Mountain Dog smaller than a Labrador Retriever?	Large	Large
Weight Which is heavier, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever weight comparison:	Male: 85-110 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 80-105 pounds (36–48 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)
Average Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 97.5 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 92.5 pounds (36–48 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Is a Bernese Mountain Dog taller than a Labrador Retriever?	Male: 24-28 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 23-27 inches (58–69 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)
Average Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 26 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 25 inches (58–69 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Grooming, Hair and Care Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever coat comparison:	Dense	Dense Waterproof Hard Short
Colors What are the original Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever color? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever color comparison:	White Black	Yellow Chocolate Black
Grooming Which dog is easy to maintain, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever grooming comparison:	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog requires average grooming effort. See more.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. See more.
Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds		High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
Shedding Level Who sheds more Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Do Bernese Mountain Dog dogs shed more than Labrador Retriever dogs?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs shed above average. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs shed moderately. See more.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Shed The Most
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. See more.	3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. See more.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Personality / Temperament Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever behavior/temperament comparison:	Affectionate Intelligent Faithful Loyal	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive
Intelligent Rank Which dog has more intelligence? Is a Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever smarter? Which is best? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever intelligence:	Very smart: Bernese Mountain Dog is an excellent dog breed. See more.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Trainability Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever trainability comparison. What's the difference between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are easy to train. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs are very easy to train. See more.
Least Obedient Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Easy To Train
Playfulness Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever playfulness comparison:	Average: Bernese Mountain Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. See more.
Most Playful Dog Breeds
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. See more.	Sensitive: Labrador Retriever dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.
Most Sensitive Dog Breeds		Less Sensitive Dog Breeds
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Average: Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are average dogs regarding their affection level. See more.	Slightly Below Average: Labrador Retriever dogs may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. See more.
Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
Social Needs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever social needs comparison:	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs need for social interaction is average. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of social interaction. See more.
Barking Which dog barks more/less: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog barks occasionally. See more.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. See more.
Quiet Dog Breeds That Don't Bark		Dog Breeds That Bark The Most
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs are average watchdogs. See more.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which is a better guard dog Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs are average defenders. See more.
Guard Dog Breeds List
Biting Potential Is a Bernese Mountain Dog more dangerous than a Labrador Retriever?	Low 🔽 The Bernese Mountain Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate ⏺ The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.
Bite Force Which bite is stronger: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Bernese Mountain Dog bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Labrador Retriever bite force: Ordinary.
Dog Breeds With The Lowest Bite Force		Dog Breeds With the Strongest Bite Force
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever mouthiness comparison:	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. See more.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? What's the difference between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs have average wanderlust potential. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs have average wanderlust potential. See more.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? What's the difference between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever? Which can be better for hunting?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs have a high impulse to chase and catch something. See more.	Labrador Retriever dogs have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. See more.
Dog Breeds With Low Prey Drive		Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	It is not recommended to keep the Bernese Mountain Dog breed in the home.	It is not recommended to keep the Labrador Retriever breed in the home.
The Worst Dog Breeds for Apartment Living		Apartment Friendly Dogs List
Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	Average: Bernese Mountain Dog dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Labrador Retriever dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Good With Comparison

Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Which dog is more friendly?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are average friendly towards strangers.	Labrador Retriever dogs are very stranger-friendly dogs.
Dog Breeds That Are Aloof With Strangers		Dog Breeds That Are Friendly To Strangers
Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally with other pets.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retriever dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.
Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Labrador Retriever dogs are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Cats
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Can a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Labrador Retriever be friends? Do Bernese Mountain Dog dogs get along with Labrador Retriever dogs?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.	Labrador Retriever dogs are very dog-friendly dogs.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is best for first time owners: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Yes Bernese Mountain Dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Labrador Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No Bernese Mountain Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Health Comparison

Health Issues Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever health comparison. Which is the healthier: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Very healthy dog breed.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Healthiest Dog Breeds
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever health problems comparison:	Bloat Cancer Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Panosteitis Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Rare The Bernese Mountain Dog should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Average The Labrador Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Life Expectancy Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever lifespan comparison. How long do Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy? What is the age limit of the Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever?	7-11 years The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog: 9 years	10-12 years The average lifespan of Labrador Retriever: 11 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No See more.	No See more.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Energy Level Who has more energy a Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever energy level comparison:	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Labrador Retriever dogs are high-energy dogs.
Low-Energy Dog Breeds		High-Energy Dog Breeds
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs have an average exercise need.	Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Bernese Mountain Dog dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend too much time with sleeping.	Labrador Retriever dogs don't need too much sleep.
Dog Breeds That Sleep A Lot
Average daily food consumption Which dog eats more: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Does the Bernese Mountain Dog breed eat more than the Labrador Retriever breed?	6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Dog Breeds That Eat A Lot
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever weight gain potential comparison:	Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Bernese Mountain Dog's weight, he can easily gain weight. See more.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. See more.
Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity
Weather and Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Prefers cold weather The Bernese Mountain Dog can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever?	Medium ⏺ The Bernese Mountain Dog has an average chance of bad smell.	High 🔼 The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.
Drooling Tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least? What's the difference between Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	The Bernese Mountain Dog drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed. See more.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. See more.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever As a Working Dog Comparison

Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.
Most Popular Service Dog Breeds
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: Bernese Mountain Dog or Labrador Retriever? Which is better for autism?	Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.
Therapy Dog Breeds
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog?	Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases.	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.
Boat and Sailor Dog Which one could be a boat dog: Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever?	Not really Bernese Mountain Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. See more.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a cart pulling or drafting dog?	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.
Fighting Dog / Military Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.
Litter Size How many puppies can Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador Retriever have? Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever litter size comparison:	1-14 puppies, average 8	5-10 puppies
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Bernese Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever Recognition Comparison

AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Australian National Kennel Council Canadian Canine Registry Canadian Kennel Club Continental Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club North American Purebred Registry, Inc. United Kennel Club American Canine Association, Inc.	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry

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