Mary Allen
Good-Natured & Reliable Companion – St. Bernard
These rescue dogs from Switzerland are known all over the world for their heroic achievements. However, they were always kept as guard dogs, farm dogs, or companion dogs.
This dog breed is actually called St.Bernhardshund, but meanwhile, it is also officially called St. Bernard. Dogs of this breed are of good size with large heads.
How Big & How Heavy Will It Be?
The male should not be less than 70 cm tall.
An adult dog of this breed can easily weigh up to 90 kg.
Fur & Color
It is a longhaired breed. Coat colors are red, mahogany, and orange with white.
The coat of the long-haired St. Bernard is medium-long and slightly wavy. Regular grooming is necessary and eyes and ears must also be cleaned again and again.
The hair of the stock-haired variant is short, coarse, and close-lying.
Nature, Temperament
By nature, Saint Bernard is friendly and calm, easygoing and good-natured, while also being intelligent, very reliable, and particularly affectionate towards its people.
As a puppy and young dog, this breed is very lively and active. As an adult, the dog occasionally likes to be left alone and is sometimes lazy, but still needs a lot of exercises.
Sometimes you get to feel his protective instinct.
Upbringing
St. Bernard likes to be submissive and is therefore easy to train. Sometimes, however, he also shows his stubbornness and must therefore be lovingly but firmly put in his place.
Because of its size and weight alone, a dog of this breed must be particularly obedient. This breed is not usually prone to aggressive behavior, but when he sees his family in danger his protective instincts can come out. You should therefore pay attention to the behavior of the puppy.
Posture & Outlet
Due to its size, this breed is not suitable as an apartment dog. A dog of this size needs a lot of space. A house with a garden is best suited for keeping it.
He needs a lot of exercises to stay in shape, even if he doesn’t feel like it sometimes.
Life Expectancy
On average, St. Bernards reach an age of 8 to 10 years.
Typical Diseases
Skin diseases, eye problems, and hip dysplasia (HD) are typical of the breed. Bone cancer is uncommon.