Working group · Switzerland/Italy
Saint Bernard
Also called St. Bernard, Alpine Mastiff.
What makes them remarkable
Monks bred these dogs to find and rescue travellers lost in the Swiss Alps.
- Watchful
- Patient
- Charming
- Gentle
- Friendly
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 54 to 82 kg120 to 180 lb
- Lives
- 8 to 10 years
- Energy
- Low
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Saint Bernard
Working breeds. Calm structure beats force every time. These dogs shut down under pressure and thrive on predictability.
Train While Small
Start here
Will become very large very fast, start young.
Gentle hands
Gentle giants respond poorly to harsh corrections.
Drool
Keep towels handy. There is a lot of it.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Saint Bernard and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to guard, pull and rescue. Big, strong, and serious about their people and their patch.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-60 minutes daily. Moderate walks, avoid overexertion.
- Grooming
- Moderate to heavy. Regular brushing, clean facial wrinkles.
- Drool
- Very High
- Coat
- Short or Long, DenseRed & White, Brindle & White
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Bloat
Severe
Deep-chested breed risk
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Very common in giants
Heart Problems
Moderate
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Where they come from
History
Bred by monks at the Great St. Bernard Hospice for rescue work in the Swiss Alps.
- Beethoven · Family pet in comedy film series
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