Should I get a Saint Bernard or a Newfoundland?

I have researched both breeds and have fallen in love with them But now I don't know which of the 2 to get? (Don't mind getting a cross breed of the 2)Please include personal experience with each breed good and bad.

Why ask us? We know absolutely nothing about your personal circumstances.At a very rough guess i would say that probably 99 out of 100 families circumstances are not suitable for owning one of these breeds.

Well I don't know about a Newfie's but I have a Saint and he is awesome.He's almost 2 years old and weighs around 150 pounds.We got him when he was 8 weeks old and he already weighed 20 pounds. He was a dream to crate train he never whined or barked or anything during the night. Id say he was pretty easily trained? In his puppy class there was about 7 puppies, he was in the higher percent of puppies learning the commands quickly. I also have a golden retriever and labrador and about 3/4 of an acre, and he adores them and running in the backyard. He is a lot lazier than the (already lazy) golden retriever and the hyperactive lab i.e when we throw the ball the lab and golden go crazy and chase it while the Saint trots a quarter of the way and just waits until the other two run back and then he attacks the golden. He loves loves LOVES people. Adults and children alike. I take him hiking at the local forest preserve and he gets just about everybody to stop and pet him. He does really like going into the river, so be forwarned if you got one and chose to take yours to the forest preserve be prepared for sopping muddy paws.A lot of breeders say that they breed "dry-mouth" Saint Bernards, this is false information as theres no such thing as a dry mouth Saint. Mine, thankfully, really doesn't drool though. The only time he really does is after he drinks a lot of water so obviously it drips, or if someone has a treat/bone/food item that they are basically waving in his face, which can you blame him?His tail can clear a table top, and sometimes he forgets how big he is.And of course expenses do add up. Between shots, neutering, and grooming it really adds up, but he's worth it.Overall though he is just a fantastic dog and I would highly recommend one!

Just a quick set of comparisons. Might help you, might not however, a little more insight never hurts :)For the sake of saving time typing I will refer to St Bernards as Saints and Newfoundlands as Newfs.Saints cost more to feed than Newfs as they require much more care and attention in their diet to promote correct growth when young.Saints don't tend to live as long as Newfs. Newfs can reach 15.Saints are bigger.Saints are typical the less healthy of the two, and are much more susceptible to Hip Displaysia and bone related issues due to their giant size.I found that both breeds are very intelligent however, I found that Saints little bit faster to grasp than Newfs.Both are brilliant family dogs and great with children.Both require daily brushing and grooming regimes that are much more than once a week. Both a relatively heavy shedders also.Have a little browse above to see which ticks the most boxes in regards to your lifestyle.However, believe you me, both of these breeds are a full time commitment. The grooming requirements alone are extensive simply down to how much fur there is to get through.Hope this helps.

It very, very, rare that a Newfoundland lives to be 15, on average, expect your Newfie to live around 10 years. Saints do NOT cost more to feed than Newfoundlands - the same care and high quality food should go into feeding *ANY giant breed dog*. They require slow growth - as too much weight will tax their joints and you could end up with orthopedic issues down the road. You will need to do research if you want to get a giant breed dog. Researching responsible hobby breeders that tests their breeding stock for genetic disease and posts the results to an open database like OFA, a breeder that shows their dogs in conformation to ensure that the breed you choose actually *looks* like the breed you choose. Even better, in addition to conformation, a breeder that works their dogs - for Newfs, that would be water rescue, draft work, obedience events. After all, Newfoundlands excel in water rescue. If you get a smooth coated Saint as opposed to a rough coated Saint, they wont require anywhere near the amount of grooming as a Newfoundland. Expect to pay $2000 for a Newfoundland puppy from a responsible hobby breeder. http://www.ncanewfs.org/breeders/breederlistmap.html#.UWdtFD6JdfQ The good and bad about owning a Newfoundland:Newfies can be messy. While they have a couple of big sheds a year, they do shed all year round, so a great vacuum cleaner is a must. You WILL be cleaning walls and cabinets because of the hair and slobber stuck to them, slobber on your clothes & furniture, too. You will have to invest in some grooming tools to keep the shedding to a minimum. You cannot be a house proud individual and own a Newfie, unless you LOVE to clean in your spare time, because that is what you will be doing. Be prepared to put your Newf pup through ongoing obedience classes - it is very necessary in order to have one of those laid-back, obedient adult Newfs. Socialize your pup with adults, children (especially) and other dogs and don't ever stop socializing as they go through fear periods. Expensive - yes, they can be expensive. Newfoundlands do not eat a lot of food as adults, they eat about the same amount of kibble as an adult Lab, some Newfies eat less than an adult Lab. You must invest in a quality food for the life of your dog. My Newfies also take human supplements. Meds can be more expensive or they can be cheaper. Reputable Newfie breeders want you to be able to purchase health insurance for your Newf or have a savings account for emergencies. Some breeders require it. What to look for in a breeder: A responsible Newf breeder will be with you for the life of your dog, they are there to answer any questions you have and they are there to take the dog back if you aren't able to keep it (in fact, it's in their contracts). They will have done all of the health testing on their breeding stock, they know the health of the dogs in their pedigrees, they breed Newfs that *look* like a Newf should, and health and temperament are of the utmost importance to them. They show their dogs in conformation and may participate in performance sports, too. I prefer those breeders that post their health checks in an open database like OFA. If they CHIC their dogs - even better! A Newf puppy does not go home from the breeder until they are 10 weeks old. They have to have their hearts checked by a Vet cardiologist, and that can't happen until they are at least 9 weeks of age. They encourage and some insist that you visit their kennels. They can tell you what they hoped to gain by pairing up the two Newfs in any breeding. The upside and the good: Newfies are about the sweetest dogs on the planet. They are easy to train, and they love to work - so give them jobs to do. They love to be with their people, in fact there are three of them laying at my feet right now. Most love to swim and will retrieve in water for hours if you let them. I have to call it quits when I see they are getting tired, but they will just keep on going if you let them! They are very playful dogs, and get along well with other breeds as long as they are well socialized as pups. They LOVE people and they LOVE attention. Very good with children, very good. Contrary to popular belief, they are not lazy. They are content to lay around as adults if you let them - until you engage them with activities. They need and enjoy about a 45 minute walk or exercise daily. They are not in your face, energetic dogs (think Border Collies, lol). Wherever you go with your Newf, people will stop you. They want to pet your dog, take pictures of your dog, comment on your dog, ask questions about your dog and they want to tell you stories about Newfs they know. Don't ever take your Newf with you if you are in a hurry, lol. They literally stop traffic. There are rescues available from the National Club, too. http://www.ncarescue.org/

I have owned the Newfoundland breed for almost 20years , and currently have 5 Newfies - they are an absolute pleasure to work with. Never have I stumbled across an aggressive Newfie. Thebreed, in general, are amazing with children - however, this doesn't necessarily imply to all dogs of the breed. They drool. comstantly, so best to keep a drool rag on hand. Their coat needs to be maintained daily and they require 45min-1hour exercise per day. They have a lifespan of around 8-10years and the breed i prone to bloat &hip dysplasia. These are water rescue dogs, so they absolutely love the water and will try and rescue anything that either fell, or jumped in. If you can make a visit to the beach at least once a week, that would be perfect. My female newf, 'Belle', weighs 125pounds, my male newf, 'Bear', weighs 180pounds - so, if you choose the newf, it's best to get a pup so you can start training at an early age - an out of control 180pound newf is a recipe for disaster. they have a really thick coat - so if you live in a warm climate, then the Newfie is not for you.You didn't include that much information - making it impossible for us to tell which breed is right for you. Remember - just bevause you like the breed, doesn't mean that it will suit your lifestyle.