St. Bernard vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison

St. Bernard vs Miniature Poodle - Breed ComparisonSt. Bernard is originated from Switzerland but Miniature Poodle is originated from Germany. St. Bernard may grow 33 cm / 13 inches higher than Miniature Poodle. St. Bernard may weigh 82 kg / 181 pounds more than Miniature Poodle. St. Bernard may live 6 years less than Miniature Poodle. St. Bernard may have more litter size than Miniature Poodle. St. Bernard requires High maintenance. But Miniature Poodle requires Moderate maintenance

History

st bernard - historyThe St Bernard breed was once called the Alpine Cattle Dogs or the Alpine Mountain Dogs. They have always been farm dogs and mountain dogs in the French and Swiss Alps. They come from the border land of Switzerland and France. They were herding dogs, hunting, search and rescue, watchdogs and draft dogs.

Their ancestors are considered to include the Sennenhunds and molosser breeds that came to the Alps with the ancient Romans. There are four Sennenhund breeds that are believed to have contributed to the original St. Bernard. These included the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund), the Appenzeller (Appenzeller Sennenhund), the Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennenhund) and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Entlebucher Sennenhund) Today the St. Bernard is considered a Molossoid breed.

The first we know of the St. Bernard in any written records was in 1707 at the Great St. Bernard Pass and Great St. Bernard Hospice run by monks. There were found paintings of the dogs dating back into the late 1600’s. It is told that Barry saved upward of 100 people in the St. Bernard pass, and it is from these stories that the dogs gained their snow rescue reputation.

The St. Bernard of that time did not look like the St. Bernard does today as there was much crossbreeding. Many dogs dies during rescues in the avalanches of the mid 1800’s and so they Saint was crossed with the Newfoundland to preserve the breed. You can today see the resemblance in the build and looks of the two breeds. This cross brought about the long haired St. Bernard whose fur was too heavy for rescues.

The St. Bernards of mountain rescue fame were only about the size of a German Shepherd dog and were short haired. After crossing with the Newfoundland and moving into clubs and dogs shows, they have been bred to be much larger. Before the stud book was closed, it is thought that many larger breeds such as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the English Mastiff, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Rottweiler, the Great Pyrenees, the English Bulldog, the Great Dane, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Boxer and the Caucasian Oycharka all contributed to today’s St. Bernard.

In 1884 The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded and the breed entered the Swiss Stud book as its first entry in 1884. It was 1888 when the standard was approved and the breed became the national dog of Switzerland. Before the name St. Bernard came to be common, these dogs might be called, Barry Dogs, Alepnmastiff, Noble Steeds or Saint Dogs.

The dogs came to England in the early 1800s and to the United States soon after. They were recognized by the European kennel clubs first and by the early 1900’s they were the most popular breed in the AKC.

miniature poodle - historyThe Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Non sporting dog
Origin:
Switzerland
Germany
Height Male:
63 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
60 - 69 cm
23 - 28 inches
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
52 - 85 kg
114 - 188 pounds
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 9
2 - 6
Size:
Giant dog
Small dog
Other Names:
St. Bernhardshund Bernhardiner Alpine Mastiff (archaic)
Mini Poo, Barbone, Caniche
Colors Available:
redish- Brown and white with a black mask to blond and white with black mask
Cream, black, silver, beige, brown or apricot
Coat:
rough or smooth
Curly, springy and dense
Shedding:
Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

st bernard puppy - descriptionToday’s St. Bernard is not a large dog, he is a giant dog. Weighing in at 140-200 pounds and standing 28 to 35 inches tall, he is a lot of dog. Bred with mastiffs and large mountain dogs, they have proportional and powerful build. They are strong, sturdy and well muscled. They have either a smooth or rough (short or long) coat. Their eyes are brown or occasionally blue. They have tight lids, and square heads and muzzles.

There are two coat types called smooth and rough, or short and long. The smooth shorter coat is tough, flat and close against the body and the long, rough coat is dense, wavy and heavy around the legs, neck and ruff. Both types have long tails that hang low and are heavy. Saints are known to slobber, drool and snore.

miniature poodle puppy - descriptionWith good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

Characteristics

1Children friendliness excellent

2.Special talents tracking

st bernard dog - characteristics3.Adaptability no - these are giant dogs that need a lot of room. A large fenced yard or farm is best. They won’t do well in an apartment. They need exercise every day and loping around a yard is very good for them. They love to play in the snow, carry a backpack or pull a cart. They love to have a “job”

4.Learning ability – They are smart and highly trainable if motivated. They may appear lazy but they are just laid back and need a motivation.

miniature poodle dog - characteristicsWhen you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

Health Problems

st bernard puppies - health problemsThe first problem this breed faces is how fast they grow and gain weight. This can lead to serious health issues if not controlled. Their bones can be damaged by this excessively fast rate of growth. Other issues facing the breed include:

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause arthritis and lameness.
  • Bloat – can be fatal if not treated immediately.
  • Bone Cancer or Osteosarcoma – tends to be fatal.
  • Entropion and Ectropion – eyelids turn in or out and can be corrected.
  • Epilepsy – controlled by medication
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy – can be fatal.
  • Eczema – skin disease can be treated.
  • Be careful of extreme heat.

miniature poodle puppies - health problemsDog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

Caring The Pet

st bernard dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy – You want to control their growth. Do not overfeed, and make sure they exercise but not too much. Feed a high quality large breed puppy food 3-4 X a day in small amounts.

2.Feeding the adult – The problem you face with he adult St. Bernard is the potential for Bloat. Don’t over feed. Don’t feed before or after strenuous exercise. Feed 2-3 X a day in smaller amounts to prevent Bloat. Feed a high quality breed specific food if possible or an extra large breed formula.

3.Points for Good Health stamina and strength in cooler weather.

4. Games and Exercises They need exercise but not as much as you might think. The St. Bernard is a laid back lumbering character so don’t over exercise her. They enjoy weight and cart pulling but they are not athletes who enjoy frisbee or agility. Search and rescue trials and tracking trials are perfect athletic endeavors for them.

Grooming:

miniature poodle dogs - caringIf you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Miniature Poodle vs Lhasa Apso - Breed Comparison
  2. Tibetan Spaniel vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  3. Pomeranian vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  4. Pug vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  5. Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  6. Papillon vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature Poodle vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  8. Miniature Poodle vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Miniature Poodle vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  10. Miniature Poodle vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Miniature Poodle vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  12. Miniature Poodle vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  13. Miniature Poodle vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  14. Miniature Poodle vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Miniature Poodle vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  16. Miniature Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Miniature Poodle vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  18. Miniature Poodle vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  19. Miniature Poodle vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  20. Miniature Poodle vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  21. Miniature Poodle vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Miniature Poodle vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  25. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  26. St. Bernard vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. St. Bernard vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. St. Bernard vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. St. Bernard vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  30. St. Bernard vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  31. St. Bernard vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  32. St. Bernard vs Pyrenean Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  33. St. Bernard vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  34. St. Bernard vs Moscow Watchdog - Breed Comparison
  35. St. Bernard vs Spanish Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  36. St. Bernard vs Kars Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. St. Bernard vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. St. Bernard vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  39. St. Bernard vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  40. St. Bernard vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  41. St. Bernard vs Neapolitan Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  42. St. Bernard vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  43. St. Bernard vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  44. St. Bernard vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds