← Back to miniature schnauzer|Back to saint bernard →

Miniature Schnauzer vs Saint Bernard: Which Suits Your Home?

Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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: Miniature Schnauzer rates 5/5 against 1/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.

Quick verdict

Between Miniature Schnauzer and Saint Bernard, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Miniature Schnauzer is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose miniature schnauzer if...

Choose Miniature Schnauzer if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and shedding is a problem in your house.

Choose saint bernard if...

Choose Saint Bernard if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, your walking routine is modest and there are young children at home.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	miniature schnauzer	saint bernard	Winner
Size class	small	giant	Equal
Weight	11–20 lbs	120–180 lbs	Equal
Height	11–14 in	26–30 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–14 years	8–10 years	miniature schnauzer
Exercise need	Moderate (3/5)	Low (2/5)	saint bernard
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	saint bernard
Shedding	Very low (1/5)	High (4/5)	miniature schnauzer
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)	miniature schnauzer
Good for first-time owners	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	miniature schnauzer
Tolerates being alone	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Trainability	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	miniature schnauzer
Good with kids	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	saint bernard
Good with other dogs	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	saint bernard
Friendly to strangers	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	saint bernard
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	Very high (5/5)	miniature schnauzer
Coat	Wiry double coat	Short or long double coat	Equal
Origin	Germany	Various	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$90–$180	$150–$310	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,300–$2,500	$2,200–$4,200	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

If the Rottweiler comparison felt like a size mismatch, this one is more extreme still: an 11-to-20 lb Schnauzer against a Saint Bernard running 120 to 180 lbs, more than the weight of most adult humans. Height climbs from 11 to 14 inches to 26 to 30. Whatever else you weigh in this decision, start by picturing a dog that can outweigh you.

Energy and exercise

Despite the size gap, the Saint Bernard actually needs less exercise, rated low at 2/5 against the Schnauzer's moderate 3/5. Giant breeds like this one tend to be calmer than their size suggests, think slow walks and a lot of lounging, not a dog that needs to run.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming effort is close, 4/5 for the Schnauzer against 3/5 for the Saint Bernard, but shedding is not: the Saint Bernard sheds heavily at 4/5 against the Schnauzer's very low 1/5. A dog this size shedding at a high rate means noticeably more hair by volume than the number alone suggests.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

The apartment-suitability gap here is about as wide as this data set gets, 5/5 for the Schnauzer against a very low 1/5 for the Saint Bernard. That's not really about noise, the Saint Bernard actually barks less, 2/5 against the Schnauzer's 4/5, it's about a giant dog simply needing more square footage than a small apartment offers.

Training and owner experience

The Schnauzer edges the Saint Bernard on both training measures, 4/5 to 3/5 for trainability and the same margin for first-time-owner suitability. The Saint Bernard's scores aren't bad, but handling a 150-lb dog through basic obedience takes more physical management than doing the same with a 15-lb one, regardless of how willing the dog is.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

The Saint Bernard actually outscores the Schnauzer here: 5/5 with kids against 4/5, 4/5 with other dogs against moderate 3/5, and 4/5 with strangers against 3/5. The gentle-giant reputation shows up in the numbers, not just the marketing.

Health and lifespan

Giant-breed aging catches up fast: the Saint Bernard's 8 to 10 year lifespan is several years shorter than the Schnauzer's 12 to 14. Its health list includes dilated cardiomyopathy and bloat (GDV), both serious large-breed risks, on top of the joint issues you'd expect from that much frame. The Schnauzer's list is different in kind, not necessarily lighter, pancreatitis, diabetes, and several eye conditions round it out.

Cost to keep

Cost level jumps to very high, 5/5, for the Saint Bernard against the Schnauzer's moderate 3/5, and the ranges show why: $150 to $310 a month and $2,200 to $4,200 in year one, versus $90 to $180 and $1,300 to $2,500. Feeding, medicating, and treating a 150-lb dog costs proportionally more at every stage.

Miniature Schnauzer vs Saint Bernard at a glance

Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11–20 lbs and lives 12–14 years; Saint Bernard weighs 120–180 lbs and lives 8–10 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, shedding and barking and 1 other rated axes. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.

Frequently asked questions

How much bigger is the Saint Bernard?

Enormously bigger, 120 to 180 lbs against the Schnauzer's 11 to 20 lbs, with height nearly triple, 26 to 30 inches against 11 to 14.

Does the Saint Bernard need a lot of exercise?

Surprisingly, no, it's rated low at 2/5, actually less than the Schnauzer's moderate 3/5. Giant breeds tend to be calmer movers than their size implies.

Is the Saint Bernard okay in an apartment?

Not really, it rates very low, 1/5, against the Schnauzer's 5/5. Space, not energy or noise, is the limiting factor.

Which is better with kids?

The Saint Bernard, rated very high at 5/5 against the Schnauzer's still-strong 4/5, matching its gentle-giant reputation.

What's the cost difference?

Significant, the Saint Bernard runs $150 to $310 a month and up to $4,200 in year one, against the Schnauzer's $90 to $180 and $2,500.

Which lives longer?

The Schnauzer, by several years, 12 to 14 against the Saint Bernard's 8 to 10, typical for a giant breed.

What health issues should I expect?

The Saint Bernard's list includes dilated cardiomyopathy and bloat, both serious large-breed conditions; the Schnauzer's leans metabolic and eye-related instead.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which one should I pick overall?

Space decides this one. A 1/5 apartment score for the Saint Bernard against the Schnauzer's 5/5 rules it out for most small homes.

Costs

What will it cost me monthly?

$90 to $180 for the Schnauzer, $150 to $310 for the Saint Bernard, the widest cost gap in this batch of comparisons.

Training

How much exercise does the Saint Bernard need?

Less than you'd expect, low at 2/5, against the Schnauzer's moderate 3/5.

Health

Which one lives longer?

The Schnauzer, clearly, 12 to 14 years against the Saint Bernard's 8 to 10.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Miniature Schnauzer breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Miniature Schnauzer before deciding.
Saint Bernard breed guide – The same for Saint Bernard, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Miniature Schnauzer vs Bichon Frise – Bichon Frise is the closest breed to Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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.

Related guides

List

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.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.

Find Your Perfect Breed

Match your lifestyle to the right dog.

Take quiz

Find your match

Not sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.

Take the quiz