French Spaniel vs Saint Bernard: Which Suits Your Home?

At 120-180 lbs and 26-30 inches, the Saint Bernard is in a category of its own here -- a genuine giant breed, more than double the French Spaniel's 45-60 lbs and several inches taller than its 21-24. This is the kind of size difference that changes what furniture, doorways and car trunks need to accommodate, not just what leash you buy.

Despite the size, the Saint Bernard needs far less exercise than the Spaniel -- Low (2/5) against Very High (5/5), one of the widest exercise gaps in this database. Giant breeds often carry lower exercise needs than their size suggests, and that holds true here. If you want a big dog that's genuinely content with modest activity, the Saint Bernard fits that description; the Spaniel does not.

Grooming needs tie at Moderate (3/5) for both breeds, but shedding doesn't -- the Saint Bernard rates High (4/5) against the Spaniel's Moderate (3/5). A dog this size shedding at a high rate means noticeably more hair around the house, even with comparable grooming effort. Vacuuming becomes a more frequent chore than the grooming score alone would suggest, especially with a coat this dense covering that much surface area.

Neither dog suits an apartment, but the Saint Bernard rates worse -- Very Low (1/5) against the Spaniel's already-low 2/5. Barking ties at Low (2/5) for both, so noise isn't the obstacle here. Interestingly, the Saint Bernard tolerates being alone slightly better, Moderate (3/5) against the Spaniel's Low (2/5), even though its size makes small-space living the harder problem overall, not the temperament.

First-time owner suitability ties at Moderate (3/5) for both breeds, so neither is ruled out for a first dog on that measure alone -- though a 120-180 lb dog raises the stakes of that decision regardless of the number. Trainability favors the Spaniel, High (4/5) against the Saint Bernard's Moderate (3/5), which is worth noting given how much strength a Saint Bernard needs to learn to control.

The Saint Bernard actually edges out the Spaniel with kids -- Very High (5/5) against High (4/5) -- living up to its gentle-giant reputation. Good with other dogs and friendliness to strangers both tie at High (4/5). This is a breed whose size belies a genuinely easygoing temperament around people, at least according to these ratings.

Lifespan is the sharpest divide in this comparison: 8-10 years for the Saint Bernard against 10-12 for the French Spaniel, a typical cost of giant-breed size. The Saint Bernard's five known conditions -- hip and elbow dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, entropion and bloat -- reflect common giant-breed risks, particularly the heart and joint issues that come with carrying that much weight.

Cost level rates Very High (5/5) for the Saint Bernard against Moderate (3/5) for the Spaniel, and the dollar figures show why: $150-$310 monthly and $2,200-$4,200 in year one, against $100-$200 and $1,400-$2,900 for the Spaniel. Feeding a 150-plus lb dog alone accounts for a meaningful chunk of that gap, and larger dogs also mean larger doses of any medication their five known health conditions might require.