Which is Better Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi?

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Mudi: Introduction

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

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

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 Mudi.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Mudi belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog to the Mudi 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 Mudi

Factor Bernese Mountain Dog Mudi
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 4/5
Height 23 to 28 inches 14 to 20 inches
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
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 5/5
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 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Life Span 6 to 10 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 70 to 115 pounds 18 to 29 pounds
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2870 No Data
Price Range $1800 – $3438 No Data
Temperament Score 86.6 percent 40.0 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
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
  • WSU VCPL
    		•

    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 Mudi. 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 Mudi is 76 out of 125.

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

    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 Mudi 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 Mudi

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

    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Mudis 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, Mudis do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers. However, Mudis are not very friendly towards strangers.

    The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi

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

    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi 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 Mudi are very easy to train.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi are very playful.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi

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

    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, Mudis weigh 18 to 29 pounds when fully grown. Mudis are 14 to 20 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi

    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 Mudis is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Mudis is 13.0 years.

    Mudis live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Temperament of the Mudi Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 percent while the temperament score for the Mudi is 40.0 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 40.0 percent, the Mudi has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 5 Mudis.

    Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Mudi

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mudi 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 Mudi is prone to more genetic health problems than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Bernese Mountain Dog while 10 tests are recommended for the Mudi.

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

    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.

    Mudi Health Problems

    Mudis are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Mudi 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 Mudi puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Mudi 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 Mudis for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
  • WSU VCPL

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Mudis here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Mudis do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Mudis?

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

    Mudis shed moderately.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Mudis do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Mudis are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Mudis 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 Mudis?

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

    Mudis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Mudis can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Mudi

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

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

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

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

    Mudis 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 Mudi?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Mudis do not get along well with other dogs.

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

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Mudis?

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

    Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Mudis are very easy to train.

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Mudis do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

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

    Mudis are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Mudi. 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 Mudi better suits you and your family.