Living
Which is the better overall choice?
For most households with kids or other pets, the Bernese's much higher sociability scores make it the safer pick; the Chihuahua suits a quieter, adult-only household on a tighter budget.
Bernese Mountain Dog vs Chihuahua: Which Suits Your Home?
Bernese Mountain Dog or Chihuahua? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Bernese Mountain Dog is the heavier at 70–115 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Bernese Mountain Dog and Chihuahua and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and barking, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Chihuahua rates 5/5 against 2/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.
Quick verdict
Between Bernese Mountain Dog and Chihuahua, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Chihuahua is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose bernese mountain dog if...
Choose Bernese Mountain Dog if this is your first dog, the dog will be alone during the working day and there are young children at home.
Choose chihuahua if...
Choose Chihuahua if you are in a flat or a smaller home, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and shedding is a problem in your house.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | bernese mountain dog | chihuahua | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | large | small | Equal |
| Weight | 70–115 lbs | 2–6 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 23–27 in | 6–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 7–10 years | 12–20 years | chihuahua |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | chihuahua |
| Grooming need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | chihuahua |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | chihuahua |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Apartment suitability | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | chihuahua |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | bernese mountain dog |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | chihuahua |
| Coat | Double coat, medium-length | Short or long | Equal |
| Origin | Switzerland | Mexico | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $50–$100 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,800–$3,200 | $800–$1,500 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
This might be the most extreme size mismatch on the site -- the Bernese at 70-115 lbs and 23-27 inches against the Chihuahua's 2-6 lbs and 6-9 inches. A Bernese can outweigh a Chihuahua by a factor of nearly 40 at the extremes.
Energy and exercise
Both breeds are moderate on energy (3/5 tie), but the Bernese needs more exercise (3/5) than the Chihuahua (2/5). Don't mistake the Chihuahua's low exercise score for low personality, though -- it's a famously assertive small dog, not a passive one.
Grooming and shedding
The Chihuahua needs less grooming (2/5 versus the Bernese's 3/5) and sheds less (2/5 versus 4/5). A short or long coat on a dog this small simply produces far less material to manage than a large double coat.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Chihuahua is rated for apartment living at 5/5 against the Bernese's 2/5, but it comes with a trade-off: a 5/5 barking score, the maximum on the scale, versus the Bernese's quiet 2/5. In a building with close neighbors, that's a real trade, not a footnote.
Training and owner experience
The Bernese wins clearly here -- 4/5 trainability against the Chihuahua's 2/5, and 4/5 for first-time owners against just 2/5. Chihuahuas have a reputation for being harder to train consistently, which the data backs up directly.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The gap widens further with kids, other dogs, and strangers -- the Bernese scores 5/5, 5/5, and 4/5, while the Chihuahua scores 2/5 across all three. The Chihuahua's temperament list includes bold and feisty, and its health list even flags aggression tendencies as a known trait -- worth taking seriously in a home with small kids or other pets.
Health and lifespan
The lifespan gap is dramatic: the Chihuahua's 12-20 years against the Bernese's 7-10, meaning a Chihuahua could outlive a Bernese by a decade or more. Its health list is also longer and more varied, ten conditions including collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, and hydrocephalus, though most are manageable with attentive care rather than life-threatening on their own.
Cost to keep
Despite the size gap, the cost difference is real but not as extreme as you'd expect -- the Bernese at 4/5 versus the Chihuahua's 3/5 on the cost scale. Monthly costs run $120-250 for the Bernese against just $50-100 for the Chihuahua, and first-year costs of $1,800-3,200 versus $800-1,500 -- the Chihuahua is by far the cheaper dog to keep.
Bernese Mountain Dog vs Chihuahua at a glance
Bernese Mountain Dog weighs 70–115 lbs and lives 7–10 years; Chihuahua weighs 2–6 lbs and lives 12–20 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, barking and good with kids and 5 other rated axes. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is the Chihuahua?
Enormously smaller -- 2-6 lbs versus the Bernese's 70-115 lbs, one of the largest size gaps you'll find in a breed comparison.
Which is cheaper to own?
The Chihuahua, clearly -- $50-100 a month versus the Bernese's $120-250, and less than half the first-year cost.
Is either a good first dog?
The Bernese, by a wide margin -- 4/5 for first-time owners against the Chihuahua's 2/5. Chihuahuas can be harder to train and more reactive than their size suggests.
Which fits an apartment better?
The Chihuahua, at 5/5 apartment suitability, but expect more barking too -- it also scores 5/5 there, the maximum on the scale.
How do they compare around kids?
Not close -- the Bernese scores 5/5 with kids, the Chihuahua just 2/5, and the Chihuahua's health data even lists aggression tendencies as a known trait.
Which lives longer?
The Chihuahua, often by a decade or more -- 12-20 years against the Bernese's 7-10.
Do their health risks overlap at all?
Barely. The Chihuahua's list centers on small-dog issues like hypoglycemia and collapsing trachea; the Bernese's centers on joint disease, bloat, and cancer. Different dogs, different risks.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost gap?
Large -- $120-250 for the Bernese versus just $50-100 for the Chihuahua.
Training
How much exercise does each need?
Both are moderate, but the Bernese needs slightly more structured exercise (3/5 versus the Chihuahua's 2/5).
Health
Which lives longer?
The Chihuahua by far -- up to 20 years, compared to the Bernese's typical 7-10.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Bernese Mountain Dog breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Bernese Mountain Dog before deciding.
- Chihuahua breed guide – The same for Chihuahua, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Bernese Mountain Dog vs Collie (Rough Collie) – Collie (Rough Collie) is the closest breed to Bernese Mountain Dog on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Chihuahua vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon sits closest to Chihuahua, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- Bernese Mountain Dog vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon is the other breed Chihuahua is most often weighed against.
- Chihuahua health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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