{"id":6807,"date":"2022-02-07T17:04:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T10:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allaboutsheepdogs.com\/?p=6807"},"modified":"2022-02-07T17:04:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T10:04:56","slug":"golden-retriever-vs-saint-bernard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/golden-retriever-vs-saint-bernard\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden Retriever vs Saint Bernard – Which One Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For decades, Golden Retrievers and Saint Bernards have been among the most popular dog breeds in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of their popularity is due to the pop-culture prominence, but also the cuddly and adorable appearance of both breeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their sweet, calm, and friendly nature is also a big reason why so many owners choose them as family dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, both breeds have fascinating histories and are deeply steeped in the cultural traditions of their native regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, with all these similarities, it’s the differences between the two that should play the key role when deciding which one is better suited for your family and lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, you’ll find a detailed Golden Retriever vs Saint Bernard comparison, with all the key distinctions explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attributes<\/span><\/strong><\/td>Golden Retriever<\/span><\/strong><\/td>Saint Bernard<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Good For First Time Owners<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
Good Guard Dog<\/strong><\/td>Not The Best Choice<\/td>Average<\/td><\/tr>
Apartment Friendly<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
Good Family Dog<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Shedding<\/strong><\/td>Moderate To High<\/td>High<\/td><\/tr>
Barking And Howling<\/strong><\/td>Low<\/td>Moderate<\/td><\/tr>
Height<\/strong><\/td>20-24 inches (51-61 cm)<\/td>26-35 inches (65-90 cm)<\/td><\/tr>
Average Life Expectancy<\/strong><\/td>10-12 Years<\/td>8-10 Years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

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Golden Retriever – Dog Breed Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Golden Retrievers have aristocratic roots and their origins can be traced to the 1800s and Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were originally developed to serve the British upper class, helping them on their hunting trips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite keeping all the traits that made them great hunting dogs, nowadays they are mainly seen in different roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to their kind and affectionate personality, Golden Retrievers are now mostly used as family or therapy dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Goldies are medium-sized, muscular, and athletic dogs. They’re quite strong and sturdy, but still exceptionally agile and light on their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coat of a Golden Retriever is lush, silky, and abundant. It’s water-resistant and protects them against all kinds of harsh weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hair can be wavy or straight, but in both cases, it’s fairly long. The feathering is even heavier around the chest, tail, and back of the legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coat coloring may feature various shades of golden and there are no noticeable markings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Golden Retriever’s head is large and broad with a straight muzzle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eyes are medium-large and dark brown with a friendly and intelligent expression. Ears are rather short and high-set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The height of male Golden Retrievers is in 22-24 inches (56-61cm) region and they weigh 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult females are 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) high and weigh 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperament<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retrievers are very friendly, trustworthy, outgoing, and sweet dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love being around the family and are always ready to join in any type of activity. They’re very careful and kind around kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, they are also great with older or sick people, which makes them great therapy dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retrievers usually do well with other pets in the household, too. This extreme kindness also extends to strangers, so they don’t excel as watchdogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This breed is highly trainable and can be easily taught to perform various tricks. They’re eager to please, very smart, and respond to training very well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to their working history, Golden Retrievers have developed as intelligent and exceptionally active dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that they need almost constant mental and physical stimulation, so potential owners should be prepared to offer them plenty of exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Bernard – Dog Breed Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Probably the most popular giant breed, Saint Bernards are famous worldwide for their heroics as well as their appearances on TV and movies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These gentle giants were first developed in the Swiss Alps and were named after Great St Bernard Hospice where they served as search and rescue dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They still often provide valuable help in finding people stained in the mountains but are also very popular as family dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that catches the eye when seeing a Saint Bernard is their size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re one of the largest breeds in the world but still manage to have an adorable and lovely appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Bernards have a double coat, protecting them in cold climates. It can be short or long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short variant features smooth and flat hair, while the longhaired dogs have a thicker and more coarse coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coloration may vary, but the most frequent combinations are red and white, brown and white, and brindle and white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The head is massive and round, with a slightly raised muzzle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ears are floppy and set high on the head, while the eyes are deep-set, droopy, and dark-colored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult males reach 24-28 inches (63-71 inches) in height and 119-199 pounds (54-90 kg) in weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female St. Bernards grow 23-28 inches (60-69 cm) and weigh 114-188 pounds (52-85 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperament<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite their imposing presence, St. Bernards are very gentle, friendly, and sweet dogs. They have a very calm nature and almost never show any aggressiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are loving and loyal to their families. With kids, Saint Bernards are very patient and careful, as they are aware of their size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love to hang out with their humans and cherish every chance to be around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, they don’t like being alone, and can quickly get bored or suffer from separation anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re also very friendly towards strangers, but, due to their natural alertness, still can serve as watchdogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re not super active, but still, need moderate exercise and lots of space due to their size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they are intelligent and eager to please, the training usually goes very smoothly, although it’s best to start early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retriever vs Saint Bernard – What’s The Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Golden Retriever<\/mark><\/strong><\/td>Saint Bernard<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\"\"<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These are the two breeds you can hardly confuse one for another. Besides the coat color, the size difference is the most glaring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Bernard is a giant breed, one of the largest in the world, while Goldies belong to a medium-to-large group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two breeds have a lot of common personality traits, as they are both friendly, loving, and loyal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Golden Retrievers are slightly more intelligent and more trainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides, while St. Bernards can sometimes be a bit lazy, Goldies are more active, always playful, and ready to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, this also means that they are less likely to wander off as they don’t have a prey drive as strong as Golden Retrievers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to health, the advantage is on the side of Saint Bernards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have fewer genetic health issues and potential concerns. However, they also have a lower life expectancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retriever vs Saint Bernard – Which One is Better?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Which dog will be better for you mainly depends on what type of owner are you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re an inexperienced or first-time owner, then Golden Retriever is probably the better choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re more trainable and easy-going, plus St. Bernards can be sometimes difficult to handle due to their size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The size also matters when taking into consideration your living arrangement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While both breeds can live in the apartment, Saint Bernards need much more space and, ideally, you should have at least a small yard if you plan to own this breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retrieves should also be the preference for more active owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They need more activity, more regular exercise, and constant attention in engagement from the owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Bernard is suitable for more couch potato-type of owners as they can be rather lazy, often perfectly happy just lying around.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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