Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Beagle | Bernese Mountain Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $32,782 | $42,173 |
| First year | $5,095 | $7,935 |
| Monthly average | $219 | $348 |
| Puppy price | $800 to $2,000 | $1,800 to $4,000 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,321 | $3,661 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 16 | 12 |
| Median lifespan | 12.5 yrs | 10.1 yrs |
| Adult weight | 20 to 30 lb | 70 to 115 lb |
| Daily food | 1.8 cups | 4.9 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $180 | $540 |
| Risk profile | Low | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Lipoma | 7% | not priced |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 7% | $169–$455 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 5% | not priced |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 4% | not priced |
| Seizure/Fitting | 3% | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Steroid Responsive Meningitis/Arteritis | 2% | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Prolapsed third eyelid gland (Cherry eye) | 2% | $662–$1,782 |
| Skin cancer/tumour | 2% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Hip dysplasia | 2% | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Patellar luxation | 2% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 0% | $534–$1,438 |
| Ear disease | n/a | $100–$270 |
| Obesity | n/a | $168–$452 |
| Epilepsy | n/a | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 27% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Hip dysplasia | 16% | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 11% | not priced |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2% | $169–$455 |
| Patellar luxation | 0% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 0% | $534–$1,438 |
| Cancer | n/a | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Hip and elbow dysplasia | n/a | $2,291–$6,169 |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
Advertisement
Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $0 for the Beagle and $0 for the Bernese Mountain Dog. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Placement reserved — insurance-primary
Common questions
Is a Beagle or a Bernese Mountain Dog more expensive?
The Beagle is cheaper by about $9,391 over a lifetime. Beagle: $32,782. Bernese Mountain Dog: $42,173. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Beagle or a Bernese Mountain Dog?
The Beagle has the longer typical lifespan. Beagle: 12.5 years. Bernese Mountain Dog: 10.1 years.
Which is healthier, a Beagle or a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Beagle's biggest single risk is skin disease, seen in 36% of the breed. For the Bernese Mountain Dog it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.