Australian Shepherd vs Saint Bernard: Which Suits Your Home?

The Saint Bernard is in a different class entirely — 120-180 lbs and 26-30 inches, a genuine giant breed, against the Aussie's mid-size 40-65 lbs and 18-23 inches. A Saint Bernard can outweigh an Aussie by well over 100 lbs. Everything from doorway clearance to the size of the food bowl scales up accordingly with this breed. If you've never lived with a giant breed before, the sheer physical presence takes some adjustment beyond what the numbers alone convey.

This is close to the widest exercise gap on the site: very high (5/5) for the Aussie against low (2/5) for the Saint Bernard. Giant breeds like this one are built for calm strength rather than endurance, and their joints do better with moderate activity than with the sustained running an Aussie craves. If your ideal dog is a jogging partner, the Saint Bernard isn't it.

This category ties completely: moderate (3/5) grooming and high (4/5) shedding for both breeds. The Saint Bernard's coat, whether the short or long variety, sheds as much as the Aussie's double coat does. Don't let the giant frame fool you into expecting a bigger grooming commitment here — it's the same routine, just on a much larger dog. The main practical difference is the sheer volume of hair a Saint Bernard sheds in a single brushing session.

Both breeds tie at very low (1/5) for apartment suitability — neither belongs in a small unit, giant breed or not. The Saint Bernard does bark less, low (2/5) against the Aussie's moderate (3/5), and tolerates being alone somewhat better, moderate (3/5) versus low (2/5). Space is the binding constraint for either dog here, not temperament. A house with a real yard serves either breed far better than a walk-up apartment ever could.

The Aussie rates very high (5/5) for trainability, the Saint Bernard moderate (3/5) — a gentler, more food-motivated learner rather than a sharp, quick study. Despite that gap, the Saint Bernard actually rates better for first-time owners, moderate (3/5) against the Aussie's low (2/5); its easygoing temperament forgives training mistakes more readily than the Aussie's working drive does. Its sheer size still means early leash and manners training matter more than they might with a smaller breed.

The Saint Bernard rates ahead with kids, very high (5/5) against the Aussie's high (4/5), and well ahead with strangers, high (4/5) versus low (2/5) — this is a breed built for warmth toward people generally. Other dogs tie at high (4/5) for both. If a friendly, social dog around a full house of guests matters to you, the Saint Bernard is the stronger pick here.

The Aussie's lifespan advantage is significant: 12-15 years against just 8-10 for the Saint Bernard, a gap typical of giant breeds. Both share hip and elbow dysplasia as joint concerns, but the Saint Bernard's list also includes dilated cardiomyopathy and bloat (GDV), both serious conditions more common in large, deep-chested dogs — worth discussing with a vet before committing to this breed.

This is the widest cost gap in the batch: very high (5/5) overall for the Saint Bernard against moderate (3/5) for the Aussie. The dollar figures confirm it — $150-310 monthly versus $100-200, and $2,200-4,200 in year one against $1,500-2,800. A giant breed simply eats, medicates and often insures at a higher rate than a mid-size dog does. Factor that gap into your budget for the full 8-to-10-year lifespan, not just the puppy year.