The Saint Bernard is
originally from Switzerland where it was a favorite
breed during the 17th century to the monks of
Hospice du Grand St. Bernard, thus the name.
Although it is uncertain, most experts believe this
breed came from Asiatic dogs, which were from the
Roman armies and descendents of the giant Mastiff.
Although the Saint Bernard was first used for
protection and as a watchdog, today they make
wonderful pets while also being used for rescue.
Used often for protection and patrolling the snowy
mountains in search of lost or stranded people, the
Saint Bernard breed continues to serve this purpose.
Even currently, this particular breed is great for
finding people buried in avalanches and due to the
thick coat, can handle cold weather without any
problem. Additionally, the Saint Bernard is an
excellent swimmer, capable of towing people and even
small boats back into shore.
Temperament
You will find the Saint Bernard to be extremely
strong and muscular, as well as intelligent. Bred as
a working dog, he is always eager to help around
with chores. For this reason, some countries use
this breed for pulling carts. Regardless of the
purpose, the Saint Bernard is extremely gentle and
dependable. If you want an excellent family pet or
companion dog, it is hard to beat the temperament of
the St. Bernard. Without doubt, this breed offers
one of the kindest, most gentle, and easiest going
personalities you will find, being a great choice
for people with children.
Size and Color
The size of the Saint Bernard varies between male
and female. Typically, the male dog will measure
between 28 and 30 inches at the withers while the
female is slightly shorter, between 26 and 28
inches. For weight, the male often reaches 150 to
180 pounds and the female is still quite large,
generally weighing from 120 to 140 pounds.
Remember, the coat is thick and available in two
varieties. First, is the original, short-hard
version of the breed, which has a smooth, dense, and
touch coat. The second variety is the longhaired
version, which has medium-length hair that can be
straight or somewhat wavy. For color, you usually
see white with red markings or red with white
markings. Either way, the dog should have white
markings on the feet, chest, head, neck, and the tip
of the tail.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
If you plan to purchase a Saint Bernard, be prepared
to spend good money on food. Although you can work
with this breed to eat similar to any large dog
breed, these dogs are massive in size and physical
so they have a fierce appetite. The key is to
provide quality food, which could be in the form of
commercial food or fresh food. In addition, you
might want to talk to your veterinarian about the
need for supplements, which might be needed.
Because of the massive coat, the Saint Bernard does
shed. Now, the good news is that shedding is done
twice a year, in the spring and then again, the
fall. However, unless shedding during these two
seasons, you will have little problem. Even so, you
want to brush your Saint Bernard daily.
For bathing, we recommend you use a grooming table
or bathe your Saint Bernard outdoors. The key is to
choose shampoo that will help whiten the coat.
Something such as Clairol Shimmer Lights, All
Systems whitening shampoo, Show Paste shampoo, and
Jardine’s Whitening shampoo are best. Just make sure
you rinse well and allow the dog to air dry, which
generally takes a while. In addition, this breed is
known to drool and often prefers living outside in
cooler climates.
