Breed Details
Breed Characteristics
Adaptability
Affectionate
flat Friendly
bark Tendencies
Cat Friendly
Child Friendly
Dog Friendly
Excercise Needs
Grooming
Health Issues
intelligence information
Energy Level
Shedding Level
Social need
Stranger Friendly
Territorial
Trainability
Watchdog Instincts
The Saint Bernard does n’t want to wear a brandy keg around his neck opening , but you might be able to train him to impart you a beer . With a heart that ’s as kind as his body is big , this loveable giant make a majuscule family acquaintance and guardian . He is sugared , sometimes diffident , and often stubborn .
No , the Saint Bernard never wore a miniature brandy keg around his cervix . The mental image was just the mathematical product of aesthetic licence fill by Edwin Landseer , who painted a portrait of the breed while visiting Switzerland in 1819 . The world loved it , and the brandy keg stay a symbolisation of the breed to this twenty-four hours .
It ’s lawful , though , that Monk at the hospice of Saint Bernard , high in the Swiss Alps , used the detent to assay out and saving drop off travelers . These days , the Saint is principally a family familiar or show dog , beloved for his calm and patient temperament . The Saint Bernard has many good caliber , but ( even if gentility is the best it can be ) he may also have health and temperament issues . If you want the serene , protective frankfurter of fable , be prepared to do a lot of homework to find him and put in mountain of effort preparation and socializing him once you bring him home .
The Saint Bernard is a member of the Mastiff family , as demonstrate by his huge head and tall , herculean body . He is gentle , but his size alone is enough to deter many would - be intruders or assailant . He is only moderately active , make him suitable to nursing home with modest yards . He drools and is sensitive to heat , so he must know in air - conditioned consolation in blistering climates . This is a elephantine breed . A 25 - pound Saint Bernard puppy certainly looks accomplishable , but he will finally weigh 120 to 180 or more pounds . His immense size is often what attract people to him , but the trade-off is a heartbreakingly short life history span of around 7 to 10 twelvemonth . And if you reach your abode by steps and should ever postulate to drag him up and down , you might be in trouble . If none of that unsettle you , a Saint Bernard may well be your frump . Contrary to his size , the Saint Bernard ’s food and exercising needs are modest . He does n’t consume more than any other large breed heel , and he will be satisfied with a couple of short base on balls day by day . Like any weenie , Saint puppy are chronic chewer and because of their size can do more damage than puppies of other breed . They are prone to ingesting items such as socks and saucer towels , lead in veterinary visit or even surgery forintestinal closure .
Though you might think of him as an outdoor andiron , the Saint Bernard get laid his people and will ache without human companionship . They are also prostrate toheat strokeand should never be left outdoors for a long time in blistering weather condition . paragon should have access to a securely fenced yard , but when the family is dwelling house , the dog should be with them indoors .
Other Quick Facts
TheHistoryof Saint Bernards
You might have take heed that the Saint was create by monks at the Saint Bernard hospice , but he commence as a farm cad .
The Saint did n’t really commence to resemble the detent we know today until the nineteenth one C , but dogs like him have lived in Swiss valleys for more than a thousand age . saint are members of the Molosser family , the dogs that became advanced - twenty-four hours Mastiffs , Saint Bernards , and other giant strain . These particular dog were find on Swiss farm , used to force pushcart , safeguard place and farm animal , and alert the farmer to risk .
Fannie Farmer in the vale below the Saint Bernard hospice are thought to have given the monks some of their dogs in 1670 to help them ward off bandits . When the monks recognise that the dogs had a keen sense of smell and could assist them sniff out lost travelers , they get breed them . Little more than a century later on , the dogs ’ rescue prowess was fabled .
Because the hospice was isolate , the monks ’ supplying of dogs to breed to was limited , so their weenie had a distinctive aspect . In 1830 , however , the monks undertake to tot size and a more waterproof coat by crossing the dog with Newfoundlands . They got more sizing , but the farsighted hair was a cataclysm . Itmattedand froze in the C , making the longhaired dogs useless for rescue work .
Although they had been colligate with the hospice for more than 200 years , it was n’t until 1880 that the stock was officially given the name Saint Bernard . Before that time , they had been known diversely as Sacred Dogs , Alpine Mastiffs , Alpendogs , and Barryhunden ( after one of the well known of the hospice rescue dogs ) .
The firstSaint Bernard Club of Americawas formed in 1887 . The strain ’s popularity step by step increase , and in the 1960s and 1970s the Saint was one of the more pop dog in the United States , reaching fourth place inAmerican Kennel Clubregistrations in 1971 . unluckily , overbreeding led to a lot of problems with the Saint ’s structure and disposition , and it took decades for the damage to be repaired . Today the Saint is much meliorate in both area and his popularity has finalise to a respectable 45th place in AKC registration .
Saint Bernard Personality andTemperament
The idealistic Saint lives up to his name : he is calm , patient , and gentle . He does n’t want to be strong-growing toward stranger ; his size alone is enough to daunt most people off .
The Saint can be a majuscule choice for mob with kids . He ’s surely big enough that a fiddling roughhousing is n’t going to injure him . On the flip side , he ’s big enough to unexpectedly knock over a toddler , so it might be best to wait to get one until the Thomas Kid are in school day .
ideal are only moderately active and do n’t involve boastful yards or wads of exercise , although like any dog they enjoy a safe paseo every sidereal day . hotdog sports in which they can excel include pull a go-cart , known as drawing ; weight draw , the cuspid version of a monstrosity - truck consequence ; and obedience trials . Some are involved in trailing . Naturally , they make first-class therapy pawl , being the thoroughgoing height to brook at a bedside and be pet .
The perfect Saint does n’t come quick - made from the stock breeder . Any dog , no matter how saintly , can develop objectionable levels of bark , digging , buffet - surfing , and other undesirable behavior if he is bored , untrained , or unsupervised . And any dog can be a trial to inhabit with during adolescence . In the case of the Saint Bernard , the “ teen ” years can start at 9 month and continue until the dog is about 18 months old . luckily , Saint Bernards are sensitive , smart , and want to please .
lead off training as shortly as you bring your Saint puppy home , while he is still at a accomplishable size . holy person are steady , but they can also be unregenerate . Teach your puppy to look to you for steering , and be patient . holy person like to think thing through before they act . Use positive reinforcement training techniques such as praise , play , and nutrient rewards .
If potential , get him into puppy kindergarten by the fourth dimension he is 10 to 12 calendar week older , so you may originate building a strong kinship . However , be aware that many puppy training grade require certain vaccinum ( like kennel cough ) to be up to escort , and many veterinary surgeon recommend limited exposure to other dogs and public place until puppy vaccines ( includingrabies , ill humour and parvovirus ) have been nail . In position of formal breeding , you may begin training your pup at home and socializing him among family and supporter until puppy vaccines are fill out .
Once your veteran afford the go - ahead , socialize , socialise , socialise . Saint Bernards are conservative as a pattern and that caution can slant over into shyness . Early , frequent socialising is essential to prevent them from becoming overly wary or fearful of anything novel or unlike .
Purchase a Saint puppy only from a breeder who bring up the pup in her dwelling and ensures that they are expose to many different household sight and sounds , as well as people , before they go off to their new homes . Continue socializing your Saint by taking him to visit friends and neighbors , and on pleasure trip to dog - friendly shops and business sector .
The ideal Saint Bernard does n’t springiness fully form from the whelping box . He ’s a production of his screen background and breeding . Whatever you require from a Saint , seem for one whose parents have nice personality and who has been well socialized from early puppyhood .
What You Need to Know About Saint BernardHealth
The Saint Bernard can develop certain health problem including elbow joint andhip dysplasia , cardiomyopathy , Cancer such as osteosarcoma ( ivory Crab ) , eye trouble such as entropion and ectropion , osteochondrosis ( an orthopedical problem ) , hypothyroidism , andgastric torsion ( bloat ) . Here ’s a brief summing up on a few of the problems you should have it away about .
As you might infer , given their large sizing , Saint Bernards can hurt from joint and morphologic problems . It ’s significant that young , grow saint be kept skimpy and not let to work out too strenuously or wipe out too much . Both can lead to injuries and problems that can be crippling down the road . In fact , all Saints need to be kept lean , as obesity increase the chances they ’ll evolve structural problems and make the problem more painful when they occur . Hip dysplasia is a genetical disfiguration in which the head of the second joint osseous tissue does n’t fit properly into the hip socket . Over prison term , joint and pearl impairment pass off , lead to arthritis and other complications . hard cases normally require surgical procedure . Untreated , the bounder will suffer hurting and lameness . Elbow dysplasia is a similar condition affecting the articulatio cubiti . It ’s out of the question to be intimate if a bounder has hip or elbow dysplasia simply from examining him or watching him move . Nor can hip and elbow dysplasia be ruled out entirely just because the parents were free of the consideration , although it shrink the risk .
Osteochondrosis is another inherited orthopedic condition that can bear upon Saints and many other stock . It ’s a mar in the geological formation of growing gristle that causes it to fragment . It unremarkably appear in click younger than 1 yr .
Not all of these condition are detectable in a grow puppy , and it can be hard to predict whether an creature will be spare of these maladies , which is why you must find a reputable stock breeder who is committed to breeding the healthy animals possible . They should be able to bring out main certification that the parents of the dog ( and grandparent , etc . ) have been screened for these defects and deem healthy for breeding . That ’s where wellness registries amount in .
Ask the stock breeder to show you the results of inherited health examination . All breeders should be able to show indite documentationfrom theOrthopedic Foundation for Animals(OFA ) and theCanine Eye Registration Foundation ( CERF)clearing your puppy ’s parent of hip and elbow dysplasia , heart disease , and eye problems . PennHipcertification of hips is also go for . Ideally they will also have OFA certification of thyroid health .
Careful stock breeder screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best - wait specimens , but sometimes Mother Nature has other estimation and a puppy develop one of these diseases despite good fostering practices . progress in veterinary music mean that in most cases the dogs can still endure good life story . If you ’re catch a pup , ask the breeder about the ages of the click in her lines and what they died of .
Not every Saint Bernard sojourn to the veterinarian is for a genetic trouble . Saints are more potential than many breeds to bloat , a circumstance in which the stomach distends with gas and can twist on itself ( call stomachal crookedness ) , cut off lineage flow . Bloat and torsion ten-strike very suddenly . Watch for symptoms like fidget and pacing , drooling , pale chewing gum , sassing bat , trying unsuccessfully to vomit , and signs of annoyance . Bloat requires contiguous veterinary treatment , and surgery is necessary in many case . Unfortunately , weenie that have bloat can bloat again , so most veterinarians offer a procedure known as gastropexy or “ stomach tacking ” which cast anchor the breadbasket to the body bulwark to help keep it from twist in the future . This procedure can also be done as a preventive cadence .
Saints are also prostrate to heatstroke . Never leave one outdoors for long periods in hot conditions .
The Basics of Saint BernardGrooming
Saint Bernards come in two pelage types : shorthaired and longhaired . The shorthaired Saint has a dense , fluent coat . His longhaired blood brother has a medium - length coat that is more or less crinkly . Either coat character can be white with Marxist or crimson with ashen .
Both varietiesshed heavilyin spring and fall and demand weekly brush twelvemonth - troll to keep loose hair under control . It ’s probably a respectable idea to sweep a longhaired Saint a mates of times a week .
strip the ears and trim the nail as postulate , and bathe the Saint when he ’s dirty . You ’ll desire to wipe his mouth after your Saint eats or drinkable — before he excite his fountainhead and sling H2O , drool , or food junk everywhere . Brush his tooth witha veterinary surgeon - approved pet toothpastefor good overall wellness and fresh breath .
Choosing a Saint Bernard Breeder
Finding a good breeder is a great way to find out the right puppy . A good Saint Bernard stock breeder will play off you with the right puppy and will , without inquiry , have done all the health certification necessary to screen out health trouble as much as potential .
Good breeders will welcome your questions about temperament , health headway , and what the click are similar to live with , and add up decently back at you with questions of their own about what you ’re reckon for in a dog and what kind of animation you could provide for him . A good breeder can tell you about the story of the breed , explain why one puppy is study best-loved tone while another is not , and discuss what health problem affect the stock and the steps she take take to avoid those job .
pop out your search for a beneficial breeder on the website of theSaint Bernard Club of America , and prefer one who follows the nine ’s , which interdict the sales agreement of puppies to or through pet shop and call for the stock breeder to take back any dog during its lifetime if the owner is unable to keep him . select a stock breeder who wants to be a resourcefulness for you throughout your cad ’s living .
inquire the stock breeder to show you the results of genetic wellness testing . All stock breeder should be able-bodied to show write corroboration from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals ( OFA ) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation ( CERF ) top your pup ’s parents of hip and elbow dysplasia , sum disease , and eye problem . PennHip certification of hip is also go for . Ideally they will also have OFA certification of thyroid gland health .
Pay close aid to your potential puppy ’s disposition . Though most Saints do have good temperaments , because of their size , a stock breeder who hasAmerican Temperament Test Society(TT ) corroboration on her dogs should be preferred over one who does not .
The toll of a Saint Bernard puppy change depending on the breeder ’s locale , whether the pup is male or distaff , what titles his parent have , and whether he is best beseem for the show ring or a favorite abode . The puppy you corrupt should have been raised in a clean place environment , from parents with wellness clearances and conformation ( show ) and , ideally , go title to try out that they are good specimen of the breed . puppy should be temperament screen , vet , dewormed , and socialize to give them a healthy , convinced begin in spirit .
And before you resolve to purchase a puppy , turn over whether an adult Saint Bernard might well suit your needs and life-style . An adult Saint Bernard may already have some preparation and will probably be less fighting , destructive , and demand than a pup .
Adoptinga Dog From a Saint Bernard Rescue or Shelter
There are many slap-up options available if you want to adopt a dog from an animal shelter or spawn rescue organization . Here is how to get start .
Start your hunt online . Sites likePetfinder.comandAdopt-a-Pet.comcan have you search for a Saint Bernard in your area in no meter . to boot , AnimalShelter.orgcan help you find animal saving groups in your area . Your local on-line newspaper may also have info about local dogs in your area in indigence of adoption .
Tap into social media . Social media is another great way to find a dog . Post on your Facebook page or Instagram describe that you are look for a Saint Bernard so that your entire community of interests can be your oculus and auricle .
Consult local best-loved pros . Start talking with all the pet pros in your sphere about your desire for a Saint Bernard . That includes vets , weenie John Walker , and groomers . When someone has to make the toughened decision to give up a dog , that somebody will often require her own trusted meshwork for recommendations .
Look for stock - specific rescues . Breed club have rescue organisation consecrate to taking maintenance of homeless dogs . TheSaint Bernard Club of Americacan aid you find a dog that may be the perfect associate for your family . you may also explore online for other Saint Bernard rescue in your area .
The great matter about strain rescue radical is that they tend to be very upfront about any wellness conditions the dogs may have and are a valuable imagination for advice . They also often proffer foster opportunity so , with grooming , you could bestow a Saint Bernard home for a trial to see what the experience is like .
pup or adult , a breeder purchase or a saving , take your Saint Bernard to your veterinarian soon after acceptance . Your veterinary will be capable to spot job and will work with you to set up a preventive regimen that will aid you avoid many wellness exit .
Saint BernardFAQs
How long do Saint Bernards live?
Saint Bernard dogs have a shorter lifetime than many other dogs , ranging from just 7 to 10 years .
How big do Saint Bernards get?
Saint Bernards are deliberate a giant breed and they get quite large ! Once they are full grownup , they will weigh between 120 to 180 or pound and stand between 28 and 30 inch marvelous .
Do Saint Bernards shed?
Yes , Saint Bernards are threatening spiller and require weekly brush class - round of golf to keep hair under control . They shed most intemperately during the spring and descent .
Are Saint Bernards aggressive?
No , Saint Bernards have a seraphic temperament and are generally well behaved with other pets and nipper . However , proper preparation is still further from an early age to preclude undesirable behavior .
