English Mastiff vs Saint Bernard

Side-by-side comparison of two popular breeds — temperament, exercise, grooming, lifespan and common health issues. Use it to decide which breed fits your home.

	🐶 English Mastiff	🐶 Saint Bernard
Group	Working	Working
Origin	England	Switzerland
Weight	54–104 kg	64–82 kg
Height	70–84 cm	66–76 cm
Lifespan	6–10 years	8–10 years
Energy level
Trainability
Grooming needs
Good with kids
Good with other pets
Hypoallergenic
Watchdog instinct
Novice-owner OK

🐶 English Mastiff

Temperament

Calm, affectionate, dignified, protective. Mastiffs are famously good with children of their own family. Wary of strangers but rarely aggressive — they tend to body-block rather than attack.

Exercise

30–45 minutes a day of moderate walking. Heavy-bodied breeds shouldn't jog or run on hard surfaces. Puppies must avoid impact until 18 months+.

Grooming

Short coat, weekly brush. Drool prevention bibs help.

Health

Bloat / GDV. Hip / elbow dysplasia. Cardiomyopathy. Cancers (lymphoma, osteosarcoma). Eye conditions. Lifespan 6–10 years.

Full English Mastiff profile →

🐶 Saint Bernard

Temperament

Gentle, patient, friendly, quiet. Saints are renowned for their tolerance with children and other animals. They're slow to mature mentally — expect puppy behaviour for years.

Exercise

45–60 minutes of moderate daily exercise in cool weather. Heat-sensitive — limit summer exercise.

Grooming

Long-haired and short-haired varieties. Long: brush 3× weekly. Short: weekly brush. Drool requires bibs.

Health

Hip and elbow dysplasia. Bloat / GDV. Cardiomyopathy. Cancers. Wobbler syndrome. Heat stroke.

Full Saint Bernard profile →

Which is right for you?

Pick the English Mastiff if

Calm households with space, owners who can budget for giant-breed care.

Pick the Saint Bernard if

Families with children, large homes, cool climates.

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English Mastiff vs Saint Bernard

🐶 English Mastiff

Temperament

Exercise

Grooming

Health

🐶 Saint Bernard

Temperament

Exercise

Grooming

Health

Which is right for you?

Pick the English Mastiff if

Pick the Saint Bernard if

Products both breeds would love

Perfect Cat & Dog Macroneedle Comb

Male Dog Restraint Courtesy Belt Pet Supplie Washable Sanitary Diapers

Kennel Four Seasons Universal Pet Bed Mat Supplies

Dog Safety Pants | Soft Pure Cotton Physiological Dog Diaper