Mary Allen
When most people think of the Saint Bernard dog breed, they immediately think of Switzerland’s national dog with a barrel around its neck when it rescues avalanche victims in the high mountains. St. Bernards are of course still used as rescue dogs today. In the meantime, however, they have also found many enthusiastic fans among private dog owners. What is important when keeping this dog breed privately is explained in more detail below.
Saint Bernard belongs to FCI Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer – Swiss Mountain Dogs. The section is 2 – Molosser and there 2.2 type mountain dogs – without working test.
St. Bernard Dog Breed Information
Size: Males: 70-90 cm, females: 65-80 cm
Weight: 64-120kg
FCI Group: 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molosser – Swiss Mountain Dogs and other breeds
Section: 2.2 Molosser, mountain dog type
Country of origin: Switzerland
Colors: Red-brown brindle, brown-yellow, red-white
Life expectancy: 8-12 years
Suitable as: Companion, rescue, guard, farm, and family dog
Sports: drift ball, obedience
Temperament: Friendly, Lively, Calm, Alert, Gentle
Outlet needs: rather low
Drooling potential high
The thickness of hair is rather high
Maintenance effort: rather low
Coat structure: Either stick or long hair: dense, smooth, close-lying topcoat and plenty of undercoats
Child friendly: yes
Family dog: yes
Social: yes
Origin and Breed History
Bernhardshunde begins more than 200 years ago in a monk-run hospice in Switzerland, at the pass of the Great St. Bernhard in the Alps. There these intrepid dogs worked as rescue dogs for avalanche victims. Compared to today’s breed, they were quite small and weighed no more than 40 or 50 kg on average. The most famous St. Bernhardshund was Barry. He is said to have saved more than 40 people from snow deaths.
Prof. Dr. In his lecture on the occasion of a St. Bernard judges’ course, Albert Heim reported that the Romans brought dogs with them across the Alps to what is now Switzerland. He described the dogs, also called Molossers, as the ancestors of Saint Bernards. The original St. Bernard was a short-haired breed, also known as a stick-haired breed, and goes back to the Molossians. Today’s long-haired variant was created by crossing with Newfoundlands. At the end of the 19th century, Saint Bernard began to be bred purely, although by then it was no longer suitable as a working dog. St. Bernard grew bigger than its ancestors, and other dogs are now used as avalanche dogs. St. Bernard has been the Swiss national dog since 1884 and the Bern Natural History Museum has an exhibit of Barry, the most famous dog of the breed.
In 1887 the first St. Bernard was registered in the Swiss Dog Studbook as a St. Bernhardshund. His name was Leon. Because many representatives of this dog breed have meanwhile become too heavy and too big, the trend today is to breed these dogs lighter and smaller again because it is healthier for the dog breed.
Nature & Temperament of the St. Bernard
St. Bernards are reliable, even-tempered, self-confident, gentle, good-natured, and particularly fond of children, even with strangers. At the same time, these dogs are very sensitive and in their own way stubborn and stubborn. This should definitely be considered when raising them so that they can develop well from an early age. The dog has an intimate, loving relationship with its family and is very affectionate.
The dogs are very well suited as guard and protection dogs because their protective instinct is very pronounced. It should be noted that they need close contact with their people and are not suitable as kennel dogs. Contact with masters and mistresses is also particularly important in their upbringing and socialization. Despite their protective instincts, St. Bernards don’t tend to bark much. So they are not barkers.
Even if the dog breed often makes an almost sleepy impression, they are active dogs that do not need an enormous amount of sporting activity.
Due to their great nature, the gentle giants are also used as therapy dogs, for example in old people’s homes or kindergartens. The breed is also used in water rescue and they are good at mantrailing.
Is a St. Bernard a Family Dog?
With the right family, this question can definitely be answered with a yes. Of course, the family then has to fit the dog.
The Appearance of the St. Bernard
This breed of dog can get huge. The dogs weigh between 60 and 120 kg and large specimens can reach 90 cm. Males are usually slightly larger and heavier than females.
The coat color of these dogs is basically red and white. They are always checked. Most St. Bernards has a medium-length coat. In rare cases, however, the fur can also look different. Some of these dogs also belong to the shorthair or longhair variety. The original St. Bernhardshunde all belonged to the Kurzhaar variety. In addition, the animals have white markings, including on the chest and paws with a white, symmetrical blaze.
The physique of the dogs is harmonious and they have an imposing head with a wide snout and slight wrinkles between the eyebrows. The neck is strong and the back of St. Bernard is broad and solid. The limbs are evenly strong and he is always well muscled. St. Bernard is bred as both a short-haired and a long-haired variety. Both have a dense, smooth coat with a lot of undercoats. The topcoat of the long-haired dog is slightly wavy and of medium length.
Training and Husbandry of St. Bernard – This is Important to Note
When owning and training this breed of dog, it is important to keep in mind the size and strength of these animals, as well as their need for space and exercise. Even if such a dog has a very calm temperament by nature, it still has more strength than a well-trained man in an emergency. St. Bernards are not dangerous because of their good nature, but it’s no fun if they haven’t been brought up consistently from an early age and use their enormous strength when going for a walk. Consistency and clear rules right from the start are the basis of education for puppies.
When keeping it, it should be noted that such a large dog is not suitable for a flat. He needs enough space and exercise. Climbing stairs too often is also not good for him. Anyone who can offer the dog a garden should bear in mind that such a large animal can very easily rummage through a well-kept flower bed. It is, therefore, best to keep them with plenty of space in the country. It should also be noted that the car must be big enough for transport and the floor in the house should not be too smooth. He needs a retreat and if he lives in the house, in summer, he needs a cool place to sleep.
When it comes to exercise, it’s important to know that St. Bernards prefer leisurely but long walks. This is also important for your health. Daily and long walks are therefore important, even if there is a garden for the dog at home. It is important that the young St. Bernard is not overstrained – he should grow slowly and not romp too much. Otherwise unstable joints and tendons can be put under too much strain. In the best case, owners can build and strengthen muscles by walking on a leash. Today’s St. Bernards, which are heavier built than their ancestors, are well trained for larger tours.
How Much Does a St. Bernard Cost?
The price for a healthy St. Bernard puppy from the breeder is between $1,500 and $2,000. Such a dog can of course be bought cheaper in an animal shelter, through an animal rescue organization, or by a private person.
Diet of the St. Bernard
There are a few important things to consider when feeding a St. Bernard because they are one of the larger dog breeds. It starts with feeding the puppies. Since these young dogs grow particularly quickly, you should get expert guidance for this age, for example, ask the breeder or your veterinarian. In general, this breed of dog needs a lot of good food. If done correctly, BARF is also possible.
A special feature of St. Bernard is its tendency to twist the stomach. That can be very dangerous. Large dogs are generally more prone to gastric torsion than small dogs, and this breed of dog grows to be particularly large. Prevention is the best way to prevent this from happening. It is better to feed such dogs not just once a day, but several times a day with smaller portions. Three meals a day are best, but at least two. When feeding with dry food, it is particularly important to offer small meals and these more often, as this food swells in the stomach. It is also advisable to give the dog rest after feeding. Two hours for digestion are appropriate here. If your dog tends to swallow, it is particularly at risk for torsion in the stomach. For such cases, there are special anti-sling bowls on the market. Otherwise, it can’t hurt to ask your veterinarian about the symptoms of a torsion so that you can act immediately in an emergency and take the dog to the vet to be on the safe side.
Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases
The extreme breeding of particularly large St. Bernards in the past has led to various possible diseases. These include epilepsy, droopy eyes or droopy eyelids, hip dysplasia, and other diseases of the skeleton and also various types of cancer such as osteosarcoma.
Unfortunately, the extreme breeding of St. Bernards has meant that many of these dogs are no older than six to eight years today. An age of ten years is already a rarity. It can therefore do no harm to make sure that the breeder buys a puppy that will probably later weigh less than 70 kg. The chance that this dog will live a little longer is then greater.
How Big is the St. Bernard?
St. Bernard is one of the particularly large dog breeds. Males are 70 to 90 centimeters and females are 65 to 80 centimeters tall.
Care of the St. Bernard
When it comes to grooming, St. Bernard is a fairly uncomplicated dog. If he is brushed regularly, that is completely sufficient and is not unusually time-consuming. Grooming can take a little longer twice a year during the change of coat because the loose coat then has to be brushed out thoroughly.
St. Bernard – Activities and Training
If you buy a St. Bernard, you should be aware that this dog needs a lot of exercise in its own way. He is not a dog that likes to run, retrieve things or play. But he likes to go for leisurely walks. There should therefore always be someone who has the time for these long walks with the dog – every day. This also applies if there is a garden. It is best not just to go for a long walk a day, but several times.
It is also important to know that St. Bernard does not tolerate heat well and then better needs its rest. This is also important when walking the dog.
How Much Exercise Does a St. Bernard Need?
Even though St. Bernards are very calm and easy-going animals, they need a lot of exercises. Just a garden is not enough, but it should already exist. In addition, this dog breed needs long walks every day, preferably more than one walk.
Good to Know: Peculiarities of the St. Bernard
It is better to choose a smaller specimen from the St. Bernards available today. This is important in relation to his health. These dogs need enough space and also time.
There aren’t many dog breeds that are as friendly, fond of children, and peaceful as St. Bernards. Although St. Bernards are so calm, they still need plenty of exercises, albeit in their typically leisurely form.
Cons of the Saint Bernard
Disadvantages of this dog breed are the often very low life expectancy and the susceptibility to various diseases typical of the breed. This breed is also not suitable for keeping in a flat in the city, but at least belongs in a house with a garden or, even better, in the country. In addition, St. Bernards are extremely strong and are therefore neither beginners’ dogs nor ones for people who are not very consistent. If you don’t like to move a lot yourself, you are wrong with such an animal, despite the coziness of these dogs.
Is the Saint Bernard Right for Me?
Whether a St. Bernard suits you or you too depends on many different factors. That’s why you should think carefully before buying whether you can offer him everything he needs to be happy and healthy.
Due to its size alone, this dog is definitely not a lap dog and is therefore not suitable for a small apartment or an apartment location in the middle of a big city. This big animal also needs enough space. Lots of stairs are not good for this dog because he does not tolerate climbing stairs well. Even the car should be big enough.
As mentioned in the preamble, this breed of dog needs a lot of exercises, despite being easy-going. You or someone in the family should therefore have enough time every day for long walks with the dog. A garden should definitely still be available.
St. Bernard is very people-oriented. He would be very unhappy if he often had to be alone for hours. He is therefore definitely not a kennel dog and also not one that can be left alone at home for a very long time without anyone having the time to look after him.
Whether a St. Bernard is well suited to seniors is not easy to answer. These animals have a lot of power. In fact, not even a very healthy young man would be able to really hold a St. Bernard. A good basic education from puppyhood onwards with a lot of consistency is, therefore, more important than strength, so that the animal does not later jump, pull and pull on the leash. Seniors would benefit most from this breed of dog within a whole family, for example, to be there for the dog during the day when the long walks that these dogs also need can later be taken over by a younger family member.
St. Bernard can be ideal as a family dog. Of course, this also depends on the family and their living conditions. Especially a somewhat larger family could offer such a dog ideal living conditions. There are hardly any more good-natured and calmer dogs than St. Bernards. They don’t tend to attack other dogs or react unkindly to people. This also applies to total strangers. Families with several small children, in particular, can benefit from the friendly nature and calm temperament of these dogs, which are also extremely tolerant of children. Especially in larger families, it is often the case that there is a house and garden and usually someone is at home. There will almost always be someone among them who likes to take long walks with the dog. Therefore, under these conditions, this dog breed can be a very well-suited family dog.
Therefore, let all these aspects go through your head before you decide on this breed and look for the right breeder.