Saint Bernard

Description: The St. Bernard is powerful, strong, muscular with a some what sad looking expression. They are a faithful, gentle, kindly breed who love children. It requires no training for their work since generations of service seemed to have stamped the rescuing instinct upon their character. Because of their size it does not make a breed for an apartment dweller as they need plenty of space and large food rations. A well-trained Saint Bernard is a mellow, affectionate, lazy dog who will protect your home. Until the bones are fully formed in puppies of Saint Bernards it is best to keep their activity to a minimum.

Other Names: St. Bernhardshund, Alpine Mastiff

Type: Guardian Dog

Height: 24 – 28 inches Weight: 110- 200 lbs.

Colors: Orange, mahogany-brindle, red-brindle or white with patches on the body in any of these smooth colors. Coat: Dense, short, smooth and lying close to body.

Temperament: Saint Bernards are tranquil, benevolent. With Children: Yes, they get along well with children. With Pets: Yes, especially if raised with them. Special Skills: Search and rescue dog and family pet

Watch-dog: Very High Guard-dog: Very Low

Care and Exercise: Comb or brush the Saint Bernardfrequently, bathe only when necessary with a mild soap. Considerable shedding twice a year. Pay special attention to keeping the eyes clean. Remember the Saint Bernard drool excessively.Daily short, regular walks are better than long sessions. Training: Saint Bernards must receive obedience training as a puppy because of their tremendous size as an adult. They must be train to not pull on a leash when young. Learning Rate: High, Obedience – Medium, Problem Solving – High

Activity: Indoors – Low, Outdoors – Medium Living Environment: Apartments should not be considered. A house with a large backyard is preferred. Saint Bernards need people in their life. An owner should also be a patient, confident leader who prefers a lazy, friendly, slow-thinking pet.

Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, bone problems, heart defects, short life span.

Life Span: 8 years Litter Size: 6 – 8

Country of Origin: Switzerland History: Developed in the High Swiss Alps by the monks who lived there the Saint Bernard was used to helped locate lost travelers. Various theories have been presented to the origin of the breed but most say they are a descendant of the large Mastiff-type dogs that were brought to the area by the Romans. The most famous Saint Bernard was a dog called Berry who in the early 1800’s rescued a small boy and carried him to safety. This Saint Bernard then went on to rescue more than forty people. Berry’s body is now preserved in the Natural History Museum in Berne. In 1830 the short-coated Saint Bernards were crossed with the Newfoundland resulted in the long-haired Saint Bernards.

First Registered by the AKC: 1885 AKC Group: Working Group Class: Working Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 2), KC (GB), UKC