Bernese Mountain Dog vs Border Collie

Bernese Mountain Dogs have an affectionate temperament, making them great as a pet. Give your Berner lots of attention. This isn’t a dog who wants to be left alone in your yard outside. They might get bored and start barking at the birds to keep themselves entertained! Berners also love to explore, so take them with you on your adventures. And at the end of the day, they’ll love nothing more than to cuddle up with you, enjoying the quiet times as much as they enjoy playtime.

These dogs also are smart and eager to please. Bred to be working dogs, they thrive with structured games or sports. Although they’re not the high-energy type like a Border Collie or Jack Russell Terrier, they still need daily exercise to meet their energy level needs. They’ll love activities like carting, drafting, herding, agility sports or scent work.

Although the Bernese breed is a powerful, large dog, they’re also docile and sweet. They have a lot of patience and are known to be good with children. (As with any dog, children should be taught how to interact gently and respectfully with their furry friends.) Like many dogs, however, they might be cautious or shy around strangers or in new situations. That’s why it’s so important to socialize them as puppies. Because they’re big, they might forget their own strength, especially when they’re younger than 3 or 4 years old and feeling extra playful. So, it’s good to keep an eye on younger Berners when they’re with kids and babies or smaller pets like cats. But overall, they’re really quite calm and sweet-tempered.

Leaving a trail of toys in their wake and seeking constant companionship, Border Collies are known for their intelligence and unwavering loyalty to their humans. This working dog breed thrives on routines and purpose, finding joy in fulfilling tasks. However, without an assigned job, they may create their own unique tasks (think: hunting socks, digging holes, chewing furniture), which may not always align with household rules.

Originally bred for herding sheep, Border Collies take their role as herder-in-chief seriously, which is great if they’re out in a field with livestock but tricky to handle when their herding instincts kick in in a home with other animals. They appreciate order and may get overwhelmed in a chaotic household or a household where they can’t predict their next walk or play session.

But that doesn’t mean the Border Collie breed isn’t a great choice for a family pet. They are extremely affectionate and happy to be part of the pack; they just need guidance on their role. They see humans as equals and want you to tell them everything you’re doing and why. They’ll bring you toys, give kisses and cuddle. You’ll never feel alone with a Border Collie—they’ll follow you everywhere, even to the bathroom.

Despite their strong loyalty and affectionate nature, a Border Collie’s remarkable intelligence can manifest as an “I know best” attitude, and they may appoint themselves as Park Ranger at the dog park, regulating other dogs’ behavior whether it’s appreciated or not. For these reasons, you must train your Border Collie well when they’re a puppy so they learn to play nicely with others.