Is the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund better for families with children?

Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Finnish Lapphund are considered good with children when properly socialised and supervised.

Which sheds more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund?

The Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund shed a similar amount (very high).

Which is easier to train, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund?

Both breeds have comparable trainability. Consistency and positive reinforcement work well for each.

Is Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund bigger?

Bernese Mountain Dog is the larger breed; Finnish Lapphund is smaller and more compact.

Which barks more, Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund?

Finnish Lapphund tends to be the more vocal of the two, so Bernese Mountain Dog is the quieter choice.

Which is better for apartment living, Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund?

For apartment or flat living, Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund are an even match — either can work well.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Finnish Lapphund: Which Is Quieter?

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Finnish Lapphund: full comparison

Trait	Bernese Mountain Dog	Finnish Lapphund
Size	Large	Medium
Energy level	Medium	Medium
Trainability	High	High
Friendliness	Very High	High
Good with children	Very High	Very High
Grooming needs	High	High
Shedding	Very High	Very High
Barking	Low	Medium
Protectiveness	Medium	Medium
Adaptability	Medium	High
Typical lifespan	8 years	13 years
Hypoallergenic	No	No

Key differences at a glance

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a larger dog than the Finnish Lapphund, which affects space, food and exercise needs.

Size and living space

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large dog that does best in a larger home with room to stretch out, ideally with access to a garden. By comparison, the Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog that is comfortable in most homes, though a bit of space and a garden are welcome. If space, transport or budget are tight, the smaller of the two is the more practical choice.

Exercise and energy needs

The Bernese Mountain Dog wants a decent walk or two each day and some playtime. The Finnish Lapphund wants a decent walk or two each day and some playtime. Their exercise needs are broadly the same, so this is unlikely to be a deciding factor.

Grooming and shedding

The Bernese Mountain Dog requires frequent brushing and regular professional trims and drops hair heavily in every season. The Finnish Lapphund requires frequent brushing and regular professional trims and drops hair heavily in every season. Grooming upkeep is similar for both.

Temperament, training and family life

The Bernese Mountain Dog is quick to learn and a pleasure to train, is generally quiet, barking only occasionally and is renowned for its patience and gentleness with children. The Finnish Lapphund is quick to learn and a pleasure to train, barks a moderate amount, usually with reason and is renowned for its patience and gentleness with children. On guarding instinct, Bernese Mountain Dog will alert you to visitors but is not an aggressive guardian, whereas Finnish Lapphund will alert you to visitors but is not an aggressive guardian.

Which is better for…

For apartment or flat living, Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund are an even match — either can work well.
For families with young children, Bernese Mountain Dog has the edge, being the more naturally child-friendly and sociable of the two.
For first-time dog owners, Finnish Lapphund has the edge, as it is easier to train and more forgiving of beginner mistakes.
For being left alone during the workday, Finnish Lapphund has the edge, coping better with independence and being quieter when unsupervised.
For allergy sufferers, Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund are an even match — either can work well.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Bernese Mountain Dog if you want a more outgoing, sociable dog, you prefer a quieter dog, or you want a bigger, more substantial dog.

Choose the Finnish Lapphund if you want a longer-lived breed, you want a more adaptable dog, or you want a smaller, more apartment-friendly dog.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund better for families with children?: Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Finnish Lapphund are considered good with children when properly socialised and supervised.
Which sheds more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund?: The Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund shed a similar amount (very high).
Which is easier to train, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Finnish Lapphund?: Both breeds have comparable trainability. Consistency and positive reinforcement work well for each.
Is Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund bigger?: Bernese Mountain Dog is the larger breed; Finnish Lapphund is smaller and more compact.
Which barks more, Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund?: Finnish Lapphund tends to be the more vocal of the two, so Bernese Mountain Dog is the quieter choice.
Which is better for apartment living, Bernese Mountain Dog or Finnish Lapphund?: For apartment or flat living, Bernese Mountain Dog and Finnish Lapphund are an even match — either can work well.

Bernese Mountain Dog vs Finnish Lapphund