Breed Comparison: Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Saint Bernard

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Saint Bernard: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Overview

A very important difference between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Saint Bernard is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Flat-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.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever Saint Bernard
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 2 feet, 2 inches to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the s
Life Span 10 to 12 years 8 to 10 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 120 to 180 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 9.0 years
Average Price $1350 $1320
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $875 – $1525
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 84.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation – Min Age 24 Months
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Eye Examination – Min Age 22 Months
  • Hip Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 49
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers do not have the tendency to drool. However, Saint Bernards have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather. However, Saint Bernards cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Saint Bernards are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Saint Bernards have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Saint Bernard

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Saint Bernard.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 53 Saint Bernards.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Saint Bernard

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Saint Bernard puppy is $1320. The price of the Saint Bernard typically ranges from $875 – $1525. However, the price of a Saint Bernard can be as low as $200 and as high as $3550. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 163 Saint Bernard puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more expensive than the Saint Bernard.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Saint Bernard
    Average Price $1350 $1320
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $875 to $1525

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Saint Bernard. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Saint Bernard puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Saint Bernards

    A breakdown of the prices of Saint Bernards

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Saint Bernard 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Saint Bernard

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Saint Bernards 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 Flat-Coated Retriever named Clarence that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Clarence on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Saint Bernards are also available for adoption. For example, Geralt is a Male Saint Bernard that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Saint Bernards like Geralt that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Kaluha is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Tuukka, an adorable Male Saint Bernard on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Saint Bernard

    Flat-Coated Retriever Saint Bernard
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 65 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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:

  • 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Saint Bernard

    Popularity of Saint Bernard

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Saint Bernard Popularity Rank
    2013 94 47
    2014 92 51
    2015 86 50
    2016 89 49
    2017 96 48
    2018 91 48
    2019 104 48
    2020 102 52

    Health Problems of Flat-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 Flat-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 Saint Bernard is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Saint Bernard than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Saint Bernard.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Saint Bernards.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-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:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation – Min Age 24 Months
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Eye Examination – Min Age 22 Months
  • Hip Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Saint Bernards here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

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

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 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 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:

  • Hips problems: Rank 7 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 23 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 33 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 45 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 99 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Saint Bernard and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank Saint Bernard Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds 99 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 33 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 23 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 out of 198 dog breeds 7 out of 198 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 45 out of 70 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Saint Bernards adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Saint Bernards do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Saint Bernards are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Saint Bernards have a very high tendency to drool.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Saint Bernards?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Saint Bernards shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Saint Bernards Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Saint Bernards can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Saint Bernards Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Saint Bernards cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Saint Bernards require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Saint Bernards are not easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Saint Bernards?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Saint Bernards are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Saint Bernard

    Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Saint Bernards?

    Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and Saint Bernards?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Saint Bernards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Saint Bernard?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Saint Bernards get along very well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Saint Bernard vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • 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:

  • Newfoundland (68 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland.
  • King Shepherd (71 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs King Shepherd.
  • Spinone Italiano (68 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Spinone Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Saint Bernard compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Saint Bernard to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Eskimo Dog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Norfolk Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Boston Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Keeshond     Flat-Coated Retriever versus King Shepherd     Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Foxhound     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Irish Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Redbone Coonhound     

    Saint Bernard Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saint Bernard versus Cavapoo     Saint Bernard versus Pointer     Saint Bernard versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Saint Bernard versus Coton de Tulear     Saint Bernard versus Bull Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Cairn Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Bull Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Saint Bernard versus Miniature Poodle     Saint Bernard versus West Highland White Terrier     

    Conclusion: Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Saint Bernard better suits you and your family.