Saint Bernard. Breed Information.

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Today I will talk about Saint Bernard and some characteristics of this amazing breed!

Patient and caring Saint Bernards aren’t just known for their massive size—they have huge hearts, too,
full of devotion for their human companions.

Intelligent, mellow, and playful,
learn how they can serve and adore a family like yours.

When you think about a Saint Bernard,
it's easy to envision a fun day playing in the snow, followed by a cozy night curled up together by the fire,
you with a good book and hot cocoa, her with a crunchy bone.

A Saint's sweet, loving, and calm disposition coupled with her gigantic size makes you feel safe,
and that's exactly what these former search-and-rescue animals want you to be.

Alert but gentle with children, Saint Bernards are delightful family companions,
eager to participate in whatever is going on at home—some even pout a bit if they feel left out!

While Saints do thrive in cold weather, there's no need to live in their native Swiss Alps to enjoy them.

Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, is the author of Real Food for Healthy Pets and co-founder of Dr. Becker's Bites.

She believes it's essential for animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to maximize the health of their animals.

She says "both short-haired and long-haired Saint Bernards adapt well to most environments because of their flexible, easy-going personalities as long as they always have a cool place to rest."

Appearance.

Saint Bernard is one of the world's largest dogs,
not only because of height—about 30 inches or higher at the shoulder—but also because of their weight.

Male dogs easily range from 140–180 pounds, while female pups are approximately 120–140 pounds.

Maybe they leave one paw off the scale.

The proud bearing of a Saint starts with her large round head lifting from a deep chest,
and a massive square muzzle is slightly raised to sniff the air.

Her sense of smell is excellent.

Jowls hang loose and so do her ears, short and floppy framing her face—also referred to as a mask.

Her eyes are deep-set and soft brown.

Some Saints appear to have actual masks, as their eyes and cheeks may be black, brown, or red.

The white on the tip of their tails and along their bellies, forepaws, and chest extends to their muzzles,
and it often continues in a long line between the eyes to the cap.

Coat colors are either red and white or white and brindle.

Few things demonstrate power like a Saint Bernard's body, a block of solid muscle from her cap to her fluffed tail.

Her back and legs are equally proportioned.

All Saints have double coats to protect them from the elements, but some are short-haired and others are long-haired.

Temperament.

Wherever you are, that's exactly where a Saint wants to be.

She's a devoted family dog who's too proud to cling, and too well-mannered to bark a lot.

A Saint is simply happiest when surrounded by all her humans, especially children.

She has infinite patience for kids who treat her kindly.

A Saint Bernard is so mellow and loving, it's easy to overlook how just her size might be a concern.

Like many large dogs, Saints have extended adolescence—usually until age 2, according to the Saint Bernard Club of America (SBCA).

So a 100-pound pup with endless slobbery kisses to share and unlimited cheerful energy can be a bit much for some people, especially younger children.

It's a good idea to enroll Saint Bernard puppies in kindergarten once all their vaccinations are complete.

Brainy and eager to please, Saints do well during training.
Classes often last a year or longer, so during this time, positive home reinforcement includes a lot of socialization and routine.

This way, they get to know all family members and their friends well, and they make the connection to the important but simple cues they learn in no-fear obedience training, such as come, sit, stay, and no.

Most Saints aren't overly destructive if left alone, especially if they receive proper training,
but they don't like being left behind or outdoors for long periods of time.

This is when they'll show a little willful cheek, barking more often, chewing on things, and doing other things you don't want, the SBCA says.

Crate training helps for when you'll be gone for a couple of hours.

A Saint might take refuge under the dining table or behind a chair if she feels overwhelmed, but a den to call her own is a better solution.

A veterinarian can consult with you about sizes, comfort, and training.