Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and Saint Bernard and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and energy level, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Pomeranian rates 5/5 against 1/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Between Pomeranian and Saint Bernard, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Pomeranian is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Pomeranian if you are in a flat or a smaller home, a smaller dog suits your car, your home or your back and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
Choose Saint Bernard if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, your walking routine is modest and the dog will be alone during the working day.
| Feature | pomeranian | saint bernard | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | giant | Equal |
| Weight | 3–7 lbs | 120–180 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 8–11 in | 26–30 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years | 8–10 years | pomeranian |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | saint bernard |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | saint bernard |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | saint bernard |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | Very low (1/5) | pomeranian |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | 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) | pomeranian |
| Coat | Double coat, fluffy | Short or long double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Germany/Poland | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $150–$310 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,200–$2,200 | $2,200–$4,200 | Equal |
A Saint Bernard can weigh as much as 180 lbs and stand up to 30 inches at the shoulder — pick one up and it might outweigh you. The Pomeranian, at 3-7 lbs and 8-11 inches, could nap in one of the Saint Bernard's paw prints. Few comparisons on this site involve a bigger size gap.
Despite the bulk, the Saint Bernard's exercise need rates low (2/5), even lower than the Pomeranian's moderate (3/5), and its energy level is low (2/5) against the Pomeranian's high (4/5). This is a breed built for calm presence, not activity — the small dog in this pairing is the more energetic one.
Both breeds shed at a high (4/5) rate, so expect fur regardless of pick. Grooming effort is close too — high (4/5) for the Pomeranian's fluffy double coat against moderate (3/5) for the Saint Bernard's short-or-long double coat — though brushing a dog this size simply takes longer per session.
The scores couldn't be more different: the Pomeranian rates very high (5/5) for apartment living, the Saint Bernard rates very low (1/5) — a size issue more than a temperament one, since barking actually favors the Saint Bernard (low, 2/5, against the Pomeranian's high 4/5). The Saint Bernard also tolerates being alone better, moderate (3/5) versus the Pomeranian's low (2/5).
Trainability ties at moderate (3/5) for both, and good-for-first-time-owners ties too, both moderate (3/5) — an unusual overlap given how different these dogs are physically. A Saint Bernard's calm nature offsets its size for a new owner, but its sheer strength still means basic manners training isn't optional.
The Saint Bernard rates very high (5/5) with kids, high (4/5) with other dogs, and high (4/5) with strangers — well ahead of the Pomeranian's moderate (3/5), moderate (3/5), and low (2/5) on the same three measures. Its temperament tags — gentle, patient, friendly — line up with what the numbers show.
Lifespan is the Saint Bernard's weak point: 8-10 years against the Pomeranian's 12-16, a gap of up to eight years. Its health list — hip and elbow dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, entropion, bloat — reflects the joint and cardiac strain that comes with carrying that much mass.
Keeping a Saint Bernard costs noticeably more: $150-$310 a month against the Pomeranian's $80-$150, and $2,200-$4,200 in year one versus $1,200-$2,200. Cost level rates very high (5/5) for the Saint Bernard versus moderate (3/5) for the Pomeranian — budget accordingly for food volume alone.
Pomeranian weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–16 years; Saint Bernard weighs 120–180 lbs and lives 8–10 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, energy level and barking and 3 other rated axes. They are level on good for first-time owners, shedding and trainability, so those cannot decide it. 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.
By as much as 177 lbs at the extremes — 120-180 lbs versus 3-7 lbs. It's one of the largest weight gaps in any comparison on this site.
Less than you'd think — it rates low (2/5) for exercise need, actually lower than the Pomeranian's moderate (3/5). Size doesn't equal high energy here.
Very good, per the data — a very high (5/5) rating, ahead of the Pomeranian's moderate (3/5). Its gentle, patient temperament tags back that up, though its size still means supervising younger kids around it.
Not comfortably — it rates very low (1/5) for apartment suitability, against the Pomeranian's very high (5/5). This is purely a space issue; the Saint Bernard is actually the quieter barker of the two.
Considerably more — $150-$310 a month versus $80-$150 for the Pomeranian, and up to $2,000 more in the first year.
8-10 years, well short of the Pomeranian's 12-16. Giant breeds generally trade lifespan for size, and the numbers here follow that pattern closely.
Not directly — the Saint Bernard's list (hip and elbow dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, bloat, entropion) reflects large-breed joint and heart strain, while the Pomeranian's list centers on small-breed issues like tracheal collapse and hypoglycemia.
Space and budget decide this one more than temperament — the Saint Bernard is the gentler, more kid-friendly dog by the numbers, but it needs a house, not an apartment, and a bigger monthly budget.
Roughly $70-$160 more per month for the Saint Bernard — $150-$310 versus the Pomeranian's $80-$150.
Surprisingly little for the Saint Bernard — low (2/5), actually below the Pomeranian's moderate (3/5) exercise need.
The Pomeranian averages 12-16 years; the Saint Bernard averages just 8-10 — giant-breed biology cuts its lifespan roughly in half.
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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