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

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Karelian Bear Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and for the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog.

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

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear Dog: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are Working Dogs. This means both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog 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.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog

Factor Bernese Mountain Dog Karelian Bear Dog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Height 23 to 28 inches 19 to 24 inches
Dog Friendly 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Life Span 6 to 10 years 10 to 13 years
Weight 70 to 115 pounds 44 to 50 pounds
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 11.5 years
Average Price $2870 $900
Price Range $1800 – $3438 $900 – $900
Temperament Score 86.6 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • 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
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Karelian Bear Dog is 66 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Karelian Bear Dog is not better or worse than the Bernese Mountain Dog. So, you can get the Karelian Bear Dog or the Bernese Mountain Dog!

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog

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

    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Karelian Bear Dogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Karelian Bear Dogs do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers. However, Karelian Bear Dogs are not very friendly towards strangers.

    The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog

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

    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are very playful.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear Dog

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs weigh 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. Bernese Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Karelian Bear Dogs weigh 44 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Karelian Bear Dogs are 19 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear Dog

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

    The lifespan of Karelian Bear Dogs is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of Karelian Bear Dogs is 11.5 years.

    Karelian Bear Dogs live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog Versus the Karelian Bear Dog

    The Karelian Bear Dog has a better temperament than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Karelian Bear Dog is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 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 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Karelian Bear Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 3 Karelian Bear Dogs.

    Price of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Price of Karelian Bear Dog

    The average price of the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is $2870. The price of the Bernese Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1800 – $3438. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 446 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Karelian Bear Dog puppy is $900. The price of the Karelian Bear Dog typically ranges from $900 – $900. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Karelian Bear Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Karelian Bear Dog.

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Karelian Bear Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Karelian Bear Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy or the Karelian Bear 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Karelian Bear Dogs?

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Karelian Bear Dog

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Karelian Bear Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Karelian Bear Dog

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Karelian Bear Dogs?

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not easy to train.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

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

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Karelian Bear 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Karelian Bear Dog better suits you and your family.