Mastiffs and St. Bernards are incredibly similar! They’re both giant breeds with big hearts. Their protective instincts, affectionate natures, and gentleness with children make them the ideal family pet—at least for those who can handle their massive size!
It’s no wonder these breeds are so popular.
Differences between these breeds include size, lifespan, appearance, grooming needs, and drooling level.
Mastiffs are the larger of the two and tend to live shorter lives, and St. Bernards are fluffier but need less grooming due to having fewer skin folds. Both dogs drool heavily, but St. Bernards drool the most.
Keep reading to learn more about these gentle giants and which might be best for you!
Comparing Mastiff vs St Bernard
| Mastiff | St Bernard | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 27.5+ inches, 120-230 pounds | 26-30 inches, 120-180 pounds |
| Appearance | Short double coat in the colors apricot, brindle, or fawn | Short or long double coat that is always bi-color with white |
| Lifespan | 6-10 years | 8-10 years |
| Grooming | Brush fur and clean wrinkles once every few days | Brush fur once weekly |
| Drooling Level | High | Very high |
Key Differences Between Mastiff and St Bernard
The key difference between a Mastiff and a St. Bernard is size; Mastiffs can weigh up to 50 pounds more than St. Bernards.
Other differences include appearance, lifespan, grooming needs, and drooling level.
Let’s take a further look into these giant breeds below!
Mastiff vs St Bernard: Size
Mastiffs are taller and weigh more than St. Bernards.
©Waldemar Dabrowski/Shutterstock.com
Mastiffs can weigh up to fifty pounds more than a St. Bernard!
Male Mastiffs weigh 160-230 pounds, while females weigh 120-170 pounds. While there is no maximum height according to American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard, males stand more than 30 inches while females are 27.5+ inches tall.
St. Bernard males stand 28-30 inches in height and weigh 140-180 pounds. Females are 26-28 inches tall and weigh between 120-140 pounds.
When it comes to giant breeds, a few things to consider before adoption are impacted by size. These include:
- Expenses
- Lifespan
- Handleability
Firstly, giant breeds are the most expensive dogs! They need more food, higher doses of medications, and larger, sturdier items.
Giant breeds also, sadly, have short lifespans. We’ll dive into this more below—but it can definitely be a deal breaker for some people.
Lastly, giant breeds are the hardest dogs to handle because they weigh the most. These dogs are muscular and heavy, so they’ll be difficult to hold on a leash. If they have a medical crisis or lose mobility as they age, lifting them on your own might be impossible.
Of course, giant breeds also come with benefits. These dogs tend to be gentle giants, at least toward family.
They make excellent guard dogs, and even if they didn’t—who wants to take their chances breaking into a home with a dog that weighs upwards of 120 pounds?
Mastiffs and St. Bernards are also, in my opinion, absolutely beautiful dogs!
Mastiff vs St Bernard: Appearance
Mastiffs are always short-haired with double coats. They’re large and muscular, with folds in the skin around their face.
They’re also, unfortunately, brachycephalic—meaning they’re poorly bred to have short snouts. This impacts their breathing ability and causes health problems, including an increased risk of heat stroke.
St. Bernards are also brachycephalic. Like Mastiffs, they’re very sturdy-looking dogs with a lot of muscle. They can be either short or long-haired.
Mastiff breed standard accepts the following coat colors:
- Apricot
- Brindle
- Fawn
St. Bernard breed standard accepts many more coat colors, all of which are bi-colored:
- Brindle and white
- Brown and white
- Mahogany and white
- Orange and white
- Red and white
- Rust and white
- White and brown
- White and orange
- White and red
Both breeds may have a black mask marking.
Mastiff vs St Bernard: Lifespan
St. Bernards live longer lifespans, slightly with an average of 8-10 years, compared to the Mastiff average of 6-10 years.
©Rita_Kochmarjova/Shutterstock.com
Unfortunately, larger dogs tend to live shorter lifespans than smaller breeds, meaning that giant breeds have the shortest lifespans of them all.
Mastiffs live an average of 6-10 years, while St. Bernards live slightly longer with an average lifespan of 8-10 years.
Of course, averages are never a guarantee. Some dogs pass away at a younger age than this, while others will go on to live for years longer.
The best thing you can do is provide excellent care for your pup while they’re here. Daily exercise, a high-quality diet, and routine veterinary care help keep dogs as healthy as possible and can lengthen their lifespan!
Mastiff vs St Bernard: Grooming
Mastiffs have short fur, so you might think their grooming routine is nothing compared to a long-haired St. Bernard!
However, it’s actually Mastiffs who are higher-maintenance in the grooming department. They should be brushed once every few days, though it shouldn’t take long! It’s also important to use this time to tend to the skin folds on their face.
These folds can hold dirt and debris and even become infected. It’s important to inspect them regularly and clean them as necessary.
During shedding season, Mastiffs will need to be brushed daily.
St. Bernards should be groomed once a week regardless of their fur type. It will take longer to brush short and long hairs than a Mastiff, but long-haired St. Bernards will take the longest to comb through.
It’s important to be thorough when grooming a long-haired St. Bernard, so they don’t develop painful mats in their fur.
During shedding season, St. Bernards should also be groomed every day.
Mastiff vs St Bernard: Drooling
While both dogs drool massively, Saint Bernards drool the most.
©iStock.com/slowmotiongli
Another aspect of cleaning up for these dogs is their drool. Mastiff and St. Bernard owners will eventually find themselves constantly wiping their dog’s face and cleaning dog slobber around the house. Let’s not even talk about the chew toys or the floor around the water dish!
Although both dogs drool much more than average, St. Bernards win first place for the dog with the most drool!
