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St Bernard Dog Breed Introduction
St. Bernard ( full name: Saint Bernard) is a large-sized working dog breed from Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland. It is a gentle giant that was bred by the hospice of the Great St. Bernard Pass for rescue work. The dog became famous through the tales of Alpine rescues. St. Bernards have two coat varieties, smooth and rough coat. Despite of the gentle temperament, this breed must be well socialized with other dogs and people in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible territoriality or aggression.
Due to their large size, it is significant that proper training and socialization begin while the St. Bernard is a pup, to evade the difficulties that normally accompany training large dogs. They are also good deterrents against possible intruders due to their size. However, they are devoid of natural protection instinct. A St. Bernard may also bark at strangers.
Saint Bernard History | Origin
St. Bernards were created by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass on the Italian-Swiss border for rescue work. St. Bernard Pass( a snowy pass within the Alps) had drifts as high as 400 feet at 8,000 feet above sea level which was treacherous for pilgrims journeying to Rome. A monk named Bernard of Menthon established a hospice that would help the pilgrims going to Rome in 1050. The hospice was later named after him. Over the centuries, the monks working in the hospice developed powerful working dogs that would able to rescue and locate luckless travelers buried by avalanches and drifts.
These dogs were credited for saving at least 2000 travelers, particularly, a St. Bernard dog named, Barry was reported to have saved somewhere between 40 to 100 lives. There is a monument erected in the Cimetière des Chiens in honor of Barry. The body of Barry has also been preserved in the Natural History Museum in Bern. The progenitors of St. Bernards look very different from the modern dogs of this breed because of crossbreeding. Between 1816 to 1818, there were severe winters that led to increased numbers of avalanches that claimed the lives of many dogs used for breeding while doing rescue work.
In an attempt to save the breed, the remaining St. Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands in the 1850s. The hybrid offspring lost much of their work as rescue dogs in the snowy climate because of the long fur that they inherited. The fur would freeze and weigh them down. Rescue dogs never received any special training from the monks. Instead, puppies would learn how to perform search and rescue operations from older dogs. During World War I, St. Bernard Dogs were used by the Red Cross to carry supplies to troops in the Italian mountains.
The troops were stationed in places that were inaccessible to horses and mules. Rescue dogs at St. Bernard Hospice were smaller in size than today’s St. Bernards. They were working dogs that were about the size of German Shepherds. However, the modern St. Bernard are larger in size since kennel clubs and dog shows emphasized appearance over the working ability of the dog. There is also a closed stud book that doesn’t allow breeders to correct such errors by breeding in working dogs of other dog breeds.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Lifespan
A St. Bernard has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years according to the breed clubs in the USA and UK. According to a Danish breed survey of 35 dogs conducted in 2003, St. Bernards have a median lifespan of 9.5 years. A UK breed survey of 53 dogs puts the median of a St. Bernard at 7 years. From the survey, one in five dogs lived to the age of 10 years with the longest-lived dog had a lifespan of 12.9 years.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Grooming
A St. Bernard may have a smooth, close, and flat coat or a rough, dense, and flat coat. Regardless, this dog requires the same grooming routine. Saint Bernards shed all-year round. Two or three brushings per week will suffice to remove dirt, distribute the oils present on the coat, and prevent mats or tangles. Use a bristle brush with a metal comb or slicker brush to remove the stubborn tangles. During the heavy shedding season in spring and fall, daily brushing is required.
A St. Bernard needs a bath every 6 to 8 weeks unless it rolls in something stinky. Before bathing your pet, brush the coat to remove dead hair, mats, and dirt. Mats or tangles tend to get messier and tighter when they get wet. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to clean the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the coat using lukewarm water to remove the residue of grooming products to prevent skin irritation. Wipe the face using canine wipes or a clean damp wash cloth instead of soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Remember to dry the coat using a towel. Use a slicker brush to groom the coat to ensure it has no mats. Trim the nails once every two weeks if the don’t worn out naturally. Overly grown nails are painful for your pet while running and walking. Use a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush to clean St. Bernards’s teeth twice a week if not daily. Regular brushing prevents plaque buildup, gum inflammation, and tooth loss.
On a weekly basis, wipe the ears using cotton balls soaked in an ear cleanser solution to remove debris or wax. While cleaning the ears, check out for odor, redness, and a dark discharge since they are signs of dog’s ear infection.
Saint Bernard Haircut
A St. Bernard doesn’t require a trim or shave on the body fur. This is because the coat acts an insulator against cold and warm weather. However, you may trim the hair in the rear end for sanitary purposes as well as fur between the pads on the feet for traction.
Saint Bernard Grooming Tools
To fully groom a Saint Bernard you will use the following grooming tools; a bristle brush and a slicker brush or metal comb, hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner, nail clippers, dog-formulated toothpaste, toothbrush, canine wipes or a clean damp washcloth, ear cleanser solution, cotton balls, and a dry towel.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Shedding
All-year round, St. Bernards shed at moderate levels. However, they experience heavy shedding during seasonal change once or twice a year in Spring and Fall.
St Bernard Coat | Hair
A St. Bernard has a smooth or rough coat variety. The smooth coat is short, close, and flat while the rough coat is dense, flat and more profuse around the legs and neck.
St Bernard Hypoallergenic
Saint Bernards are not hypoallergenic dogs. They shed all-year round spreading dander and hair around the house. Dog’s hair, saliva, urine, dander, and mucus has a protein allergen that triggers allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies. A St. Bernard also has a tendency to drool which spreads saliva on the surface.
Saint Bernard Training
A St. Bernard is a large-sized dog that should be socialized and enrolled for puppy classes in order to raise a well-mannered and well-adjusted pooch. Socialization training starts while the dog is with the breeder at the age of 3 weeks until the age of 16 weeks when the dog is with the owner. Most owners take their pups home from the age of 8 weeks. Therefore, resulting to the need of getting a pup from a responsible breeder who will prove that he or she has been socializing the dog.
To socialize a Saint Bernard, expose it to different people, animals, children, places, situations, smell, sights, surfaces, and sounds such as vacuum cleaners, baby crying sounds, washing machine, whistles, lawn mowers, and sirens. Enrolling a pup in puppy classes also ensures that the dog interacts with other animals in a controlled environment. It also empowers the pet parent to identify and correct bad habits such as growling when someone approaches the food bowl. To prevent fearfulness and aggression or territoriality, this breed must be socialized.
A rowdy Saint Bernard may present problems for even strong adults. Control needs, should therefore, be asserted when the puppy is young. Obedience training is a must do to assist a St. Bernard to learn not to knock into small children, jump on people, steal food on the table, or even develop a habit of taking advantage of their size.
Use positive reinforcement methods while training. Like other breeds, St. Bernard also thrive on positive reinforcement methods such as use of verbal praise, petting, playtime, treats, or toys. Reward the dog immediately it does a good behavior. This also goes to undesirable behavior. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as yelling, shoving, kicking, use of choke or prong collars and beating a pup. The training session span increases as the dog matures. A pup may be taught for a period of 5 to 10 minutes while an adult St. Bernard may be trained for a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
Teach basic command words like come, stay, heel, down, sit, leave it, etc, one at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Clicker training may be used as a form of reward when teaching command words. This reward incorporates a sound after the dog completes the given command. It is immediately followed with a treat. These are kind-hearted dogs that are eager to please. They generally start responding to commands as soon as they understand what is expected of them.
For effective housebreaking patience, consistency, and firmness are required. To fully house break a Saint Bernard, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is a necessity. A crate teaches a dog to be confident in staying alone for a while reducing the severity of separation anxiety. It also empowers pet parents to monitor their dogs for signs that they want to eliminate during potty training.
St Bernard Potty Training
Before bring a St. Bernard pup home from the age of 8 weeks, choose a designated place where the dog will be eliminating. The toilet area should be far from the patio deck or BBQ spot. The general rule of thumb when potty training is understanding that an 8-week-old puppy will hold for two hours while a 12-week-old pup holds for a period of 3 hours before eliminating. The bladder and bowel muscles strengthens as the puppy matures.
For effective potty training, take a St. Bernard pup to the elimination spot immediately it wakes up, after meals and drinks, following naptime, after an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, every 2 to 3 hours, and before bedtime. After the age of 8 months the potty breaks may be after every 6 to 8 hours. Once you get to the designated elimination area, utter the command word ‘toilet’ or ‘potty’ to give your dog the cue to eliminate.
Avoid interchangeably using the two command words since it creates confusion. Remain in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the bladder and bowel muscles to relax for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back to the house only to return it to the toilet area after a period of 15 minutes. A crate is an indispensable tool when potty training. It allows the pet parents to monitor for signs that the dog wants to eliminate such as circling, sniffing, whining, squatting, and trying to lift a leg against the crate wall. By choice, pooches avoid soiling where they sleep.
Before a dog is fully housebroken, it is likely to experience accidents in the house. When this happens, avoid yelling or beating the dog since it will make it fearful increasing the chances of future accidents. Remember to clean the mess using an iodine solution or an enzymatic solution to remove the odor. Retained odor encourages more accidents once the dog sniffs. Before the age of 16 weeks, set an alarm to take a St. Bernard out to eliminate at least once a night.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Temperament | Traits
- Gentle.
- Patient.
- Calm.
- Sweet.
- Affectionate.
- Loyal.
- Friendly.
- Willing to please.
- Loving.
Saint Bernard Exercise
Although large in size, a St. Bernard only requires moderate exercise daily. Half hour play session and long walks should do. However, if the pet parents wants to go on a camping trip, hiking, or go backpacking, this breed will be happy to tag along. St. Bernards also enjoy pulling young children in a cart. Some also participate in drafting and carting competitions.
Saint Bernard Barking
A St. Bernard is not a vocal breed and may bark at strangers. Although, they are generally not instinctively protective. However, St. Bernards may bark due to separation anxiety, pain, or hungry.
Saint Bernard Growling
A dog growls as a form of communication. St. Bernards may growl while someone is approaching the food bowl and due to fear or pain.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Height
According to AKC, a female St. Bernard has a height of 26 to 28 inches ( approx. 66 to 71 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 28 to 30 inches ( approx. 71 to 76 cm).
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Weight
A Male St. Bernard has a weight of 140 to 180 pounds ( approx. 64 to 82 kg ) while its female counterpart has a weight of 120 to 140 pounds ( approx. 54 to 64 kg).
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Size
Saint Bernard are large-sized dogs described as gentle giants. However, Male St. Bernards are slightly bigger in size as compared to their female counterpart in terms of height and weight. A Male St. Bernard has a height of 28 to 30 inches ( approx. 71 to 76 cm) and a weight of 140 to 180 pounds ( approx. 64 to 82 kg ) while the female St. Bernard has a height of 26 to 28 inches ( approx. 66 to 71 cm ) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds ( approx. 54 to 64 kg).
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Aggressive
A St. Bernard is a non-aggressive dog that is gentle, loving, friendly, and affectionate. However, like any other giant dog, this breed must be socialized with other dogs and people to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Bite Force
The bite force PSI in dogs depends on the size of their skull, body, and the shape of the skull. A dog that has the largest head and subsequently a bigger jaw has the strongest bite force. A St. Bernard is a large sized dog with a large head and jaw. It is likely to have a bite force of 400 to 500 PSI.
St Bernard Biting
A St. Bernard pup may bite or nip while exploring its surroundings, playing, or when teething due to discomfort. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not for long after the dog matures and grows big in size. Pet parents should discourage puppies that are biting at their clothes, shoes, hands, or feet through redirection and bite inhibition training.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Eye Problems
A St. Bernard is predisposed to certain eye disorders as discussed below:
Entropion – This is an eye condition where the eyelid rolls inward causing the eyelashes to rub against the surface of eyeball. It causes pain and bacterial eye infection due to injury to the cornea.
Ectropion – This is an eye problem where the lower eyelid droops away from the eye and turns outwards.
Cataracts – This is an eye problem that results in cloudy and whitish eye lens and cause vision loss if left unattended.
Distichiasis – This is growth of the extra hairs inside the eyelid that rub against the cornea. It causes chronic eye pain and corneal ulcers.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Health Issues
A Saint Bernard is a deep-chested breed that is susceptible to Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat). A pooch has bloat if it feeds one large meal a day, drinks large amounts of water after eating, eating rapidly, and exercising vigorously one hour before and after meals. Other health issues that a St. Bernard suffers from include Osteosarcoma, hip and elbow dysplasia, eczema, epilepsy and seizures, allergies, dilated cardiomyopathy, and eye disorders like entropion.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Names
After getting a St. Bernard puppy from a responsible breeder, the next best thing is finding a name for it. The name of a St. Bernard may be inspired by its coat color, nature, historical figures, celebrity Saint Bernards, food, movies, songs, books, and the origin of the dog.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure that the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue without making you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public malls and parks. St. Bernards and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Names that rhyme with the command words will be confusing for your dog.
If a pet parent settles with a long name for the dog, it is recommended to find a cute nickname for the pet. If a St. Bernard shares a name with family members or people who frequent your home, it will create confusion for the dog.
Female St Bernard | Saint Bernard Names
- Elsa.
- Dakota.
- Sally.
- Casey.
- Tess.
- Maisie.
- Izzy.
- Lily.
- Sadie.
- Olive, etc.
Saint Bernard Seizures
A St. Bernard is susceptible to seizures and epilepsy. The former, also referred to as fits or convulsions refers to the disruption of the normal functioning of the brain that is normally accompanied with uncontrollable muscle activity. According to the causes, seizures are categorized into three; primary, secondary, and reactive seizures.
Primary seizures are hereditary although the cause is unknown. Therefore, they are also referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. Secondary seizures are caused by trauma to the brain due to injury, brain tumor, or stroke. Reactive seizures occur after the brain detects a problem with metabolism due to toxins, organ failure, or low blood sugar.
The intensity of seizures is categorized into focal and grand mal seizures. The former only affects one part of the brain and the dog is conscious although disorientated. Whereas, grand mal seizures affects both sides of the brain resulting to loss of consciousness, foaming mouth, stiffening muscles, and urination or defecation. When a St. Bernard is experiencing seizure, put nothing in its mouth since it pose as a risk to the owner and the pet.
Male Saint Bernard Names
- Rogue.
- Caesar.
- Thor.
- Antony.
- Leo.
- Barry.
- Hank.
- Brody.
- Gizmo.
- Chewie.
- Alfie, etc.
Saint Bernard Mating | Heat Cycle | Mating Age
A female St. Bernard experiences a heat cycle for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. The heat cycle recurs once a year every 8 to 10 months. A potential St. Bernard dam will experience the first heat cycle at the age of 10 to 18 months. Pet parents are urged to spay their dogs if they have no intention of breeding her. Dogs don’t experience menopause and it is possible for a St. Bernard dam to get pregnant at the age of 8 years.
Some of the signs that a St. Bernard exhibits while on a heat cycle include mood swings, nesting behavior, licking of the genital area, increased urination, tail flagging, a swollen vulva, bloody discharge, and changes in eating behavior.
Before breeding a potential dam and sire, St. Bernard dogs should be screened for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Osteosarcoma, epilepsy, and eye disorders like ectropion. Breed a dam after the age of 2 years. This will allow the dog to physically and emotionally mature to look after a litter. A dam that is breed before the age of 2 years may reject the puppies. Avoid breeding an aggressive dam since the puppies will be aggressive or fearful.
St Bernard | Saint Bernard Litter Size
After conception, a St. Bernard dam has a gestation period of 63 days before whelping an average litter size of 10 puppies. Although, some may have a litter size of 2 to 12 puppies.
Saint Bernard Harness | Collar
Although a St. Bernard is a gentle giant, it is likely to pull when on leash due to tons of outdoor food, dogs that are off-leash, and snow that begs to be played on. A pooch may walk on leash using a collar or harness depending on its leash manners. If a dog pulls on walks while on a collar, exerts pressure on the throat, larynx, thyroid gland, and neck. A harness evenly distributes pressure on the shoulders and the back. It also gives the pet parent better control over the dog.
Saint Bernard | St Bernard Muzzle
Although, St. Bernards are gentle giants, they may also be muzzled in certain situations. For instance, when it is in pain since it is likely to bite or nip. Pet parents may also use a muzzle in a situation where they are not sure of how the dog will react to a new stimulus.
AKC encourages pet parents to create positive associations with the muzzle through the use of treats and verbal praise. This will reduce the chances of the dog reacting hostile when it needs to be muzzled. However, this accessory is not used to correct bad habits such as excessive barking, biting, and destructive chewing.
Saint Bernard Feeding Chart
The amount of food that a St. Bernard feed on depends on their age, activity level, metabolism, size, and build. Puppies have a high metabolism rate and will feed at least three times a day. At. Bernard pup has a high growth rate and the weight of this breed may lead to serious deterioration of the bones if the dog doesn’t get proper food.
One of the common problems that giant breed parents make is overfeeding the dog to support their growth. However, overfeeding does not convert excess calories into fats. Instead, the puppies grow faster than their skeleton can handle due to calcium and protein imbalance. Therefore, St. Bernard parents are urged to work along with the vet to feed their pets the desired and correct amount of food.
This is also a large-chested dog that is at a risk of suffering from bloat. Therefore, St. Bernard adult dogs should feed twice a day as opposed to feeding one large meal a day. This breed should also not take large amounts of water after meals to avoid this life threatening condition. To avoid bloat, a St. Bernard should not exercise vigorously one hour before and after meals.
Saint Bernard | St Bernard Food
A Saint Bernard may feed on dry food, semi-moist food, canned, homemade, and raw diet depending on the available time for preparation and budget of the owner. Regardless of the food that the owner chooses, he or she should ensure that all the nutritional requirements are met.
The best way to know whether you are overfeeding or underfeeding your St. Bernard is to take it to the vet to be informed about its weight and health. However, you can also tell by checking the physique of your pet. If you can see your St. Bernard’s ribs, chances are they are being underfed. If the owner cannot feel the ribs of the dog under the coat, then chances are that it is being overfeed.
When you get a St. Bernard from a responsible breeder, chances are that you will want to switch to another quality of food than the one it was previous feeding on. Gradually do this by mixing small portions of new food about 1/4 with 3/4 old food for the first week. During the second week, feed your dog with the same amount of the new food and old food. On the third week feed your pet with 1/4 of old food and 3/4 of the new food.
During the fourth week, totally switch to new food. For pet owners who want to feed commercial dry or wet food, they should purchase food that are specifically designed for large-sized dogs formulated for puppies, adults, or senior dog depending on the age bracket of the pet. As rule of thumb, dog commercial food or any other food should not contain fillers, preservatives, chemicals, or additives. The pooch food should also have protein listed as the first ingredient. This also applies to the snacks.
St Bernard Colors | Saint Bernard Colors
A Saint Bernard dog may have a coat color of a red shade with white or a mahogany brindle with white. A Black mask is usually found on the face and ears. Therefore, a St. Bernard may have any of the following colors, mahogany and white, rust and white, brindle and white, brown and white, white and orange, and white and red.
St Bernard Types Dogs
There is only one type of St. Bernard dog that may either have a smooth coat or a rough coat.
St Bernard Allergies
A St. Bernard is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food allergies – Even though true food allergies are rare, they may also affect a St. Bernard. A legit food allergy causes an immune response that causes a wide range of symptoms from skin issues symptoms to gastrointestinal stress.
Contact allergies – This inflammation occurs once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Saint Bernards include lawn chemicals, plastics, bed linens, grooming products like shampoos, carpet cleaning detergents, latex, medication, and some fabrics. Commonly affected body parts include paws, feet, and around the muzzle.
Skin allergies – This allergy is caused by food, contact, and environmental allergies as well as genetic factors. Symptoms of skin allergies in Saint Bernards include dry flaky skin, hair loss, excessive scratching, biting, and licking, hot spots, redness, and crusting lesions.
Environmental allergies – These are the allergens present in our surrounding that affect dogs. Some of the allergens that affect St. Bernards include house molds, dust and dust molds, ragweed, pollen, grass, trees, fleas, and mites. Flea’s saliva cause flea allergy dermatitis that affect underneath the tail and back legs. It causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Signs of environmental allergies include nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including ears, paws, feet, muzzle, groin, underarms, tail, belly sides, around the eyes, and between the toes. Wipe the coat of a Saint Bernard with a damp washcloth following an outdoor activity to remove the possible allergens present on the coat.
Apart from Saint Bernard, other breeds of dogs include:
Pug.
St Bernard Skin Allergies
A St. Bernard is predisposed to skin allergies due to food allergies, contact, as well as environmental allergies. A true food allergy cause an immune response that is accompanied with skin condition symptoms such as hot spots, crusting lesions, facial swelling, hives, pruritus, and dermatitis.
Environmental allergens such as flea cause flea allergy dermatitis that results to excessive scratching, biting, and licking of the skin around the bite area until it raw. Commonly affected body parts include back legs and underneath the tail. If left unattended, the raw skin may cause bacteria and yeast infections.
A St. Bernard may also suffer from eczema( atopic dermatitis) which makes it susceptible to skin allergies. Eczema is the inflammation of the skin that causes rash, itchiness, lesions, redness, and swelling. Common affected body parts by skin allergies include paws, feet, eyes, muzzle, belly sides, and ears.
St Bernard Food Allergies
A Saint Bernard may rarely suffer from food allergies as compared to food sensitivity or intolerance. A true food allergy will cause an immune response that is accompanied by gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting and/or diarrhea and weight loss as well as skin issues such as hives, hot spots, lesions, etc.
Food intolerance in Saint Bernards doesn’t cause an immune response. It occurs as a response to a gradual offending ingredient in the diet and food of a Saint Bernard. Some of the ingredients that cause sensitivity include fillers, preservatives, chemicals, flavors, lamb, beef, chicken, eggs, milk, turkey, pork, fish, etc.
Signs of food sensitivity include vomiting, diarrhea, foot infections, ear infections, and poor skin & coat. Saint Bernard Parents are urged to work closely with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the pooch.
Saint Bernard Eyes
This breed has medium-sized eyes that are dark brown in color with a friendly and intelligent expression. The eyes of a St. Bernard have naturally tight lids with haws that are slightly visible.
Saint Bernard Ears
St. Bernards have long floppy ears that lie flat against the head and resemble rounded triangles that are slightly elongated at the tip.
Saint Bernard Tail
A St. Bernard has a long and heavy tail that is hanging high.
Saint Bernard Drooling
A St. Bernard has a tendency to drool frequently. This is because the breed has large jowls where saliva pools before spilling over when the dog is excited, anticipating food, or when trying to cool down due to hot weather.
Saint Bernard Teeth
A Saint Bernard pup is whelped with no teeth. At the age of 2 to 3 weeks, the deciduous teeth start growing in until the age of 6 to 8 weeks when the dog will have a total of 28 milk teeth. From the age of 12 weeks, a pup start loosing the deciduous teeth which are replaced by 42 permanent teeth. At the age of 6 months, a St. Bernard pup should have all permanent teeth. Brush the teeth at least twice a week if not daily to prevent tartar buildup, gum inflammation, and tooth loss. Use a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush.
Are St Bernards Protective
No. A St. Bernard is devoid of protection instinct. However, it may bark at strangers. The body size of a St. Bernard is also a good deterrent against possible intruders.
Are St Bernards Aggressive
No. St Bernards are friendly, gentle, affectionate, and loving dogs. However, socialization training is key to prevent any possible aggression.
Do St Bernards Shed
Yes. A St Bernard sheds all-year round at moderate levels at heavily during seasonal change in Spring and Fall.
Saint Bernard Quick Facts
- Despite their imposing body size, Saint Bernard are gentle, calm loving, affectionate, and friendly dogs.
- Saint Bernard is a Swiss National Dog since 1988. It was the first breed to be registered with the Swiss Stud Book.
- Contrary to the popular belief, Saint Bernards didn’t carry brandy casks around their necks.
