Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Chihuahua Versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chihuahua and for the Bernese Mountain Dog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chihuahua or the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Overview

A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Bernese Mountain Dog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog

Factor Chihuahua Bernese Mountain Dog
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 18 years 6 to 10 years
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 1/5
General Health 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Weight 3 to 6 pounds 70 to 115 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Height 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 8.0 years
Average Price $1840 $2410
Price Range $850 – $2500 $1500 – $2995
Temperament Score 69.6 percent 86.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 29 26
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 67 22

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Bernese Mountain Dog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chihuahua is a better pet than the Bernese Mountain Dog. So, you should get a Chihuahua!

    Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most different:

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas do not have the tendency to drool. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Chihuahuas are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Chihuahuas adapt well to apartment living. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most similar:

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Bernese Mountain Dogs weigh 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. Bernese Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    Here is our article on Chihuahua size, Chihuahua growth, and Chihuahua weight.

    Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

    Chihuahuas live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.

    Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 percent while the temperament score for the Chihuahua is 69.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 69.6 percent, the Chihuahua has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Bernese Mountain Dog

    The average price of the Chihuahua puppy is $1840. The price of the Chihuahua typically ranges from $850 – $2500. However, the price of a Chihuahua can be as low as $100 and as high as $25000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1982 Chihuahua puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is $2410. The price of the Bernese Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1500 – $2995. However, the price of the Bernese Mountain Dog can be as low as $300 and as high as $18000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 921 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Chihuahua.

    Chihuahua Bernese Mountain Dog
    Average Price $1840 $2410
    Price Range $850 to $2500 $1500 to $2995

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Bernese Mountain Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Bernese Mountain Dog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua cost and price.

    Check out our list of best Chihuahua breeders here

    Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Adopting the Chihuahua versus Adopting the Bernese Mountain Dog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Chihuahuas and many Bernese Mountain Dogs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Chihuahua named Toon that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Chihuahuas like Toon on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Chihuahuas, Bernese Mountain Dogs are also available for adoption. For example, Brody is a Male Bernese Mountain Dog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Bernese Mountain Dogs like Brody that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Slim Jxmmi is the name of another Chihuahua (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Bernese Baby Male Or Female is an adorable Male Bernese Mountain Dog on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Chihuahuas and Bernese Mountain Dogs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Chihuahuas and Bernese Mountain Dogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Chihuahua Bernese Mountain Dog
    Intelligence Rank 67 out of 130 dog breeds 22 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Chihuahua has an obedience intelligence rank of 67 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chihuahua belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chihuahuas tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 22 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more intelligent than the Chihuahua.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Bernese Mountain Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Chihuahua. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 26 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 29 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Year Chihuahua Popularity Rank Bernese Mountain Dog Popularity Rank
    2013 22 32
    2014 24 32
    2015 28 29
    2016 30 27
    2017 32 25
    2018 33 22
    2019 35 23
    2020 34 22

    Health Problems of Chihuahua versus Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chihuahua.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Bernese Mountain Dog than for the Chihuahua.

    3 health tests are recommended for Chihuahua while 6 tests are recommended for the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chihuahuas and in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Chihuahua Health Problems

    Chihuahuas are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chihuahua puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chihuahua puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chihuahua breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chihuahuas for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chihuahuas here.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bernese Mountain Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bernese Mountain Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bernese Mountain Dogs for:

  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bernese Mountain Dogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chihuahuas and Bernese Mountain Dogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chihuahua Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Chihuahua ranks 2 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 129 Chihuahuas, 2 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chihuahuas, and how common these diseases are in Chihuahuas relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 2 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 24 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 50 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 64 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 92 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 157 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Bernese Mountain Dog Breed is Basic Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 2 out of 16 dog breeds for Basic Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 121 Bernese Mountain Dogs, 0 of them had Basic Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Bernese Mountain Dogs, and how common these diseases are in Bernese Mountain Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 11 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 17 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 17 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 37 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 47 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 62 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 65 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 82 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 91 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 127 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chihuahua and in Bernese Mountain Dog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog:

    Disease Chihuahua Rank Bernese Mountain Dog Rank
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 2 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 24 out of 145 dog breeds 127 out of 145 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 50 out of 70 dog breeds 17 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 64 out of 159 dog breeds 62 out of 159 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 92 out of 182 dog breeds 91 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 157 out of 198 dog breeds 65 out of 198 dog breeds
    Basic Cardiac problems Not Common 2 out of 16 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 11 out of 144 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 17 out of 22 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 37 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 47 out of 71 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 82 out of 115 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    To learn more on Chihuahua training, check out our article on how to train a Chihuahua.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Bernese Mountain Dogs?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Bernese Mountain Dog

    Chihuahuas do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Chihuahua Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Chihuahua compares to other breeds aside from the Bernese Mountain Dog. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Chihuahua to other breeds:

    Chihuahua versus Australian Kelpie     Chihuahua versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Chihuahua versus Black Russian Terrier     Chihuahua versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Chihuahua versus Ibizan Hound     Chihuahua versus Standard Schnauzer     Chihuahua versus Cairn Terrier     Chihuahua versus Vizsla     Chihuahua versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Chihuahua versus Black Mouth Cur     Chihuahua versus Boerboel     Chihuahua versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Chihuahua versus Coton de Tulear     Chihuahua versus Lowchen     Chihuahua versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Chihuahua versus Border Collie     Chihuahua versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Chihuahua versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Chihuahua versus Pug     Chihuahua versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Chihuahua versus Bluetick Coonhound     Chihuahua versus Shiba Inu     Chihuahua versus German Longhaired Pointer     Chihuahua versus Miniature Pinscher     Chihuahua versus Black Mouth Cur     

    Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Bernese Mountain Dog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chihuahua and the Bernese Mountain Dog better suits you and your family.