Saint Bernard

Overview

The Saint Bernard is a massive, gentle, snow-coloured giant developed in the Swiss Alps as a working rescue and draft dog by Augustinian monks of the Great Saint Bernard Hospice. The breed is genuinely a "gentle giant" - affectionate, patient with children, and famous for its history of rescuing travellers stranded in Alpine snowdrifts. Modern Saint Bernards no longer perform rescue work but remain wonderful, slobbery, slow-moving family companions with predictably short lifespans.

History & Origins

The Augustinian monks at the Great Saint Bernard Hospice (a refuge in the high Alps along a key trade route through Switzerland) began keeping large dogs around 1660 as watchdogs and companions. By 1700 the dogs were assisting monks in finding and rescuing travellers caught in avalanches and snowstorms - a job they performed for nearly two centuries.

The most famous rescue dog was Barry, who served at the hospice from 1800 to 1812 and is credited with saving 40+ lives. His preserved body is displayed at the Natural History Museum in Bern.

A series of harsh winters in the 1810s killed many hospice dogs, and Saint Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands to rebuild the breed. The longer-coated variety dates from this cross. The breed was officially named after the hospice in 1880. The AKC recognised the Saint Bernard in 1885.

The famous "barrel around the neck" with brandy for stranded travellers was a Victorian artistic invention - the monks never actually used such barrels. The image stuck regardless.

Appearance

Enormous, muscular, dignified. Males stand at least 70 cm (27½ in) and typically 75-90 cm; weight 65-90+ kg (140-200+ lb). Females are smaller but still massive.

Key features:

• Coat: two varieties - short (smooth) and long (rough). Both are double-coated.
• Colour: white with red, mahogany, or brindle markings. A dark facial mask is typical.
• Head: massive, broad, with a moderately short muzzle (not flat), pronounced stop, and gentle expression.
• Ears: medium-sized, set high, lying close.
• Eyes: medium, dark, with soft expression. Some dogs have visible "haw" (third eyelid).
• Tail: long, broad, carried low.

Temperament & Character

Calm, affectionate, and patient. Saint Bernards are among the most gentle giant breeds - typically wonderful with children, friendly with strangers, and tolerant of other animals. The breed is not a guardian by drive; size alone deters intruders.

Adult Saint Bernards sleep most of the day. They are playful in short bursts and dignified the rest of the time. The breed bonds intensely with family and dislikes being left alone.

Many Saint Bernards retain a working drive to "rescue" - they may pull children out of pools, herd family members toward home, and become anxious when family is separated.

Care

Coat & Grooming

Both coats are work. Brush 2-3 times weekly with a slicker and undercoat rake. Daily during the twice-yearly heavy shed. Long-coated Saint Bernards need extra attention to feathering.

Bathe every 6-8 weeks. Never shave the double coat. Wipe facial wrinkles and the heavy lower lips 2-3 times weekly.

Drooling is heavy - much heavier than most large breeds. Keep towels in every room. Strings of drool flying when the dog shakes its head are a fact of life.

Clean ears weekly. Trim nails every 3 weeks (heavy nails). Brush teeth several times weekly.

Exercise & Activity Needs

Modest. Adults need 30-45 minutes of daily exercise - calm walks, gentle play. The breed enjoys drafting, carting, and short hikes in cool weather.

Puppies require strictly controlled exercise. No forced running, no jumping, no stairs until 18 months. Joint disease is easy to trigger in fast-growing giant breeds.

Heat tolerance is very limited. Air conditioning is essential in warm climates. Never leave a Saint Bernard in a parked car.

Health & Lifespan

Average lifespan is 8-10 years.

Common concerns:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia - common.
• Bloat (GDV) - very high risk.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy.
• Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) - elevated rates.
• Eyelid problems (entropion, ectropion, cherry eye).
• Wobbler syndrome.
• Eosinophilic panosteitis - growing pains in puppies.
• Heat intolerance.
• Epilepsy.

Feeding & Nutrition

Adults typically eat 5-8 cups of quality large-breed food per day in two or three meals. Puppies must be on a large-breed puppy formula to control growth rate.

Bloat prevention: multiple smaller meals, no vigorous exercise within an hour of meals, slow-feeder bowls. Many owners pursue prophylactic gastropexy at spay/neuter.

Keep the dog lean. Visible waist and easily felt ribs. Overweight Saint Bernards develop joint disease early.

Training & Socialisation

Intelligent and biddable but slow-moving and sometimes stubborn. Reward-based methods work; harsh handling shuts the breed down.

Priorities: polite greeting (a Saint puppy quickly outweighs visitors), leash manners (an 80 kg dog pulling is unstoppable), recall, and "place"/"settle." Socialise widely from 8 to 16 weeks; the breed leans friendly but every adult Saint Bernard must be reliably calm with strangers.

This is not a beginner's dog - not because the temperament is difficult but because the size mistakes are unforgivable. Train with a professional from puppyhood.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Calm, gentle, family-devoted companion.
• Excellent with children.
• Naturally watchful without aggression.
• Striking, beloved appearance.
• Drafting and carting capable.

Cons

• Short lifespan.
• Heavy drooling.
• Heavy shedding.
• Significant inherited health issues.
• Heat-intolerant.
• Very expensive - food, vet, beds, transport all scale.

Best Suited For

• Families with children of any age.
• Cold or mild climates.
• Owners with secure outdoor space and tall doorways.
• Households emotionally and financially prepared for short, expensive ownership.
• Drafting and carting enthusiasts.

Not suited for hot climates, apartment dwellers, owners on tight budgets, or anyone with low tolerance for drool, hair, and slobber on walls.