Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Saint Bernard: Introduction
- Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Overview
- Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard
- The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard
- Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard
- Temperament of the Curly-Coated Retriever Versus the Saint Bernard
- The Intelligence of the Curly-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Saint Bernard
- The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Saint Bernard
- Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Saint Bernard
- Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard
- Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard
- Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Saint Bernards?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?
- Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Saint Bernards?
- Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Saint Bernards Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Saint Bernards Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?
- Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Saint Bernard?
- Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Saint Bernard
- Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Saint Bernards?
- How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards?
- Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saint Bernard?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Saint Bernard
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard. Which One is a Better Pet?
Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Saint Bernard: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Saint Bernard. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Overview
A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Saint Bernard is a giant-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
On the other hand, the Saint Bernard 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.
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Saint Bernard 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.
Factor | Curly-Coated Retriever | Saint Bernard |
---|---|---|
Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Height | 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the | 2 feet, 2 inches to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the s |
Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 1/5 |
General Health | 2/5 | 2/5 |
Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Easygoing | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Tolerates Being Alone | 3/5 | 1/5 |
Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Easy To Groom | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 1/5 |
Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Train | 4/5 | 2/5 |
Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Does NOT chew on things | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 5/5 |
NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Weight | 65 to 100 pounds | 120 to 180 pounds |
Life Span | 9 to 12 years | 8 to 10 years |
Average Lifespan | 10.5 years | 9.0 years |
Price Range | No Data | $875 – $1525 |
Average Price | No Data | $1320 |
Temperament Score | 91.7 percent | 84.9 percent |
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 162 | 49 |
Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 41 | 65 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Saint Bernard. 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 a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Saint Bernard is 81 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Saint Bernard is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Saint Bernard!
Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard
Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are most different:
The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard
The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard.
Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.
On the other hand, Saint Bernards weigh 120 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Saint Bernards are 2 feet, 2 inches to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the s when fully grown.
Temperament of the Curly-Coated Retriever Versus the Saint Bernard
The Curly-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Saint Bernard.
This is because the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Saint Bernard is 84.9 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 they 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 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 84.9 percent, the Saint Bernard has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 53 Saint Bernards.
The Intelligence of the Curly-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Saint Bernard
Curly-Coated Retriever | Saint Bernard | |
---|---|---|
Intelligence Rank | 41 out of 130 dog breeds | 65 out of 130 dog breeds |
Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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:
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 Curly-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Curly-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Saint Bernard has an obedience intelligence rank of 65 out of 130 dog breeds. The Saint Bernard belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Saint Bernards tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
The Curly-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Saint Bernard.
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 Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Saint Bernard
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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Saint Bernard is more popular with dog owners than the Curly-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Saint Bernard is 49 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever
Popularity of Saint Bernard
Year | Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank | Saint Bernard Popularity Rank |
---|---|---|
2013 | 163 | 47 |
2014 | 163 | 51 |
2015 | 151 | 50 |
2016 | 164 | 49 |
2017 | 171 | 48 |
2018 | 162 | 48 |
2019 | 163 | 48 |
2020 | 159 | 52 |
Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Saint Bernard
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.
Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Saint Bernard.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Saint Bernard.
7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Saint Bernard.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Saint Bernards.
Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems
Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.
Saint Bernard Health Problems
Saint Bernards are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernards for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Saint Bernards here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards
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 Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.
This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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 Saint Bernard Breed is Hips problems.
This is because the Saint Bernard ranks 7 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2618 Saint Bernards, 1295 of them had Hips problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Saint Bernards, and how common these diseases are in Saint Bernards relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Saint Bernard and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard:
Disease | Curly-Coated Retriever Rank | Saint Bernard Rank |
---|---|---|
Exercise Induced Collapse problems | 1 out of 6 dog breeds | Not Common |
Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems | 10 out of 32 dog breeds | Not Common |
Congenital Cardiac problems | 24 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
Hips problems | 73 out of 198 dog breeds | 7 out of 198 dog breeds |
Eyes problems | 84 out of 182 dog breeds | 23 out of 182 dog breeds |
Elbow problems | 136 out of 144 dog breeds | 33 out of 144 dog breeds |
Degenerative Myelopathy problems | Not Common | 45 out of 70 dog breeds |
Patella problems | Not Common | 99 out of 145 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.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Saint Bernards adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard
Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Saint Bernards have a very high tendency to drool.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.
Saint Bernards are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard
Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.
Saint Bernards do not like to be left alone.
Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Saint Bernards?
Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.
Saint Bernards shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.
Saint Bernards require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Saint Bernards?
Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.
Saint Bernards are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Saint Bernards Tolerate Cold Weather?
Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Saint Bernards can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Saint Bernards Tolerate Hot Weather?
Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.
Saint Bernards cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Saint Bernards get along very well with other dogs.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.
Saint Bernards are not easy to train.
Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Saint Bernard
Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Saint Bernards do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Saint Bernards?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Saint Bernards are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards?
Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Saint Bernards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saint Bernard?
Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.
Saint Bernards have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Saint Bernard
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Saint Bernard that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Saint Bernard:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Saint Bernard compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Saint Bernard to other breeds:
Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Leonberger Curly-Coated Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Curly-Coated Retriever versus Afador Curly-Coated Retriever versus Miniature Pinscher Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogue de Bordeaux Curly-Coated Retriever versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Curly-Coated Retriever versus Scottish Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus Belgian Sheepdog Curly-Coated Retriever versus Plott
Saint Bernard Versus Other Dog Breeds
Saint Bernard versus Scottish Deerhound Saint Bernard versus Braque du Bourbonnais Saint Bernard versus Vizsla Saint Bernard versus Icelandic Sheepdog Saint Bernard versus French Bulldog Saint Bernard versus Canaan Dog Saint Bernard versus Valley Bulldog Saint Bernard versus Belgian Sheepdog Saint Bernard versus Redbone Coonhound Saint Bernard versus German Shepherd Dog
Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard better suits you and your family.