Living
Dachshund or Saint Bernard?
Choose based on space and budget first — the Saint Bernard needs a house with room, costs nearly double, and lives half as long, but scores far higher with kids and strangers.
Dachshund vs Saint Bernard: Which Suits Your Home?
Quick answer
Dachshund or Saint Bernard?
Choose based on space and budget first — the Saint Bernard needs a house with room, costs nearly double, and lives half as long, but scores far higher with kids and strangers.
Dachshund or Saint Bernard? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Saint Bernard is the heavier at 120–180 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Dachshund and Saint Bernard and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and shedding, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Dachshund rates 5/5 against 1/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Quick verdict
Between Dachshund and Saint Bernard, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Dachshund is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose dachshund if...
Choose Dachshund 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.
Choose saint bernard if...
Choose Saint Bernard if your walking routine is modest, the dog will be alone during the working day and there are young children at home.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | dachshund | saint bernard | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | giant | Equal |
| Weight | 11–32 lbs | 120–180 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 5–9 in | 26–30 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years | 8–10 years | dachshund |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | saint bernard |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | dachshund |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | dachshund |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | saint bernard |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | Very low (1/5) | dachshund |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Very low (1/5) | Moderate (3/5) | saint bernard |
| Trainability | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | saint bernard |
| Good with other dogs | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | saint bernard |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | saint bernard |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | dachshund |
| Coat | Short, wirehaired, or longhaired | Short or long double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Germany | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $150–$310 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,200–$2,500 | $2,200–$4,200 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The scale here is almost absurd: an 11-32 lb Dachshund against a 120-180 lb Saint Bernard, standing 26-30 inches at the shoulder versus the Dachshund's 5-9. A Saint Bernard can weigh six to sixteen times what a Dachshund does — one of the most extreme size gaps you'll find in a two-breed comparison.
Energy and exercise
Despite its size, the Saint Bernard rates a low 2/5 for exercise need against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5 — giant breeds are frequently lower-energy than people expect, built for calm strength rather than stamina. Energy level ties as moderate on paper, but a low-key giant breed still needs space to simply exist, even if it's not demanding long runs.
Grooming and shedding
The Saint Bernard rates moderate 3/5 for grooming against the Dachshund's low 2/5, and shedding tells a bigger story: high 4/5 for the Saint Bernard against the Dachshund's low 2/5. At this size, a high shedding rating means considerably more volume of fur to manage than the number alone suggests.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
This is the widest apartment-suitability gap in the comparison: the Dachshund rates a perfect 5/5, the Saint Bernard a very low 1/5. Barking favors the Dachshund's household peace less, though — it hits a high 4/5 against the Saint Bernard's low 2/5. A Saint Bernard needs space above all else; a Dachshund needs quiet neighbors.
Training and owner experience
Trainability ties at moderate 3/5 for both, as does first-time-owner suitability. That's a notable result given the size gap — a giant breed isn't automatically harder to train than a small stubborn one, though the physical stakes of an untrained 150 lb dog are obviously higher than an untrained 20 lb one.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Saint Bernard scores higher across every social metric: very high 5/5 with kids against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5, high 4/5 with other dogs against 3/5, and high 4/5 with strangers against the Dachshund's low 2/5. Its reputation as a gentle giant shows up directly in these numbers.
Health and lifespan
Lifespan is the starkest number in this whole comparison: 12-16 years for the Dachshund against just 8-10 for the Saint Bernard, a gap tied directly to its giant size. Its five listed conditions include dilated cardiomyopathy and bloat, both serious large-breed risks. The Dachshund's ten conditions are more numerous but concentrate on its spine alone.
Cost to keep
Keeping a Saint Bernard costs substantially more: very high 5/5 cost level against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5, $150-310 monthly against $80-150, and $2,200-4,200 in year one against $1,200-2,500 — nearly double across every figure. Food, vet visits sized for a giant breed, and space all add up.
Dachshund vs Saint Bernard at a glance
Dachshund weighs 11–32 lbs and lives 12–16 years; Saint Bernard weighs 120–180 lbs and lives 8–10 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, shedding and tolerates being alone and 4 other rated axes. They are level on good for first-time owners and trainability, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger is a Saint Bernard than a Dachshund?
Enormously bigger — 120-180 lbs against the Dachshund's 11-32 lbs. A Saint Bernard can outweigh a Dachshund by well over 100 lbs.
Does a Saint Bernard need a lot of exercise?
Less than you'd expect — a low 2/5 rating, even lower than the Dachshund's moderate 3/5. Giant breeds are often calmer than their size suggests.
Which fits an apartment better?
The Dachshund by far, rated 5/5 against the Saint Bernard's very low 1/5 — the widest apartment gap in this comparison.
Is a Saint Bernard good with kids?
Yes, rated very high 5/5 against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5 — its gentle-giant reputation holds up in the data.
How much more does a Saint Bernard cost?
Close to double — $150-310 a month against the Dachshund's $80-150, and $2,200-4,200 in year one against $1,200-2,500.
Do they share health risks?
Both lists include hip and elbow-adjacent joint issues. Otherwise the Saint Bernard's risks skew toward its giant size — bloat, heart disease — while the Dachshund's skew toward its long spine.
Which lives longer?
The Dachshund, and by a wide margin — 12-16 years against just 8-10 for the Saint Bernard.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the cost difference?
The Saint Bernard runs $150-310 monthly against the Dachshund's $80-150 — nearly double.
Training
Which needs more exercise?
The Dachshund, surprisingly — moderate (3/5) against the Saint Bernard's low (2/5).
Health
Which lives longer?
The Dachshund, 12-16 years against the Saint Bernard's 8-10 — one of the largest gaps in any comparison.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Dachshund breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Dachshund before deciding.
- Saint Bernard breed guide – The same for Saint Bernard, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Dachshund vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon is the closest breed to Dachshund on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Saint Bernard vs Newfoundland – Newfoundland sits closest to Saint Bernard, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What Dachshund costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Saint Bernard 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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