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Saint Bernard

Price range

$1500.00 - $2000.00

Common names

St. Bernhardog Bernhardinner Alpine Mastiff

Size

Extra large

Dog group

Working Group

Coat length

Short

Energy

Medium

Kid friendly

Medium

Life expectancy

8 to 10 years

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As Seen in

What does an Saint Bernard look like?

General Appearance of the Saint Bernard

Powerful, proportionately tall figure, strong and muscular in every part, with powerful head and a most intelligent expression.

In dogs with a dark mask the expression appears more stern, but never ill-natured.

Saint Bernards are various shades of red with white or white with red. The red comes in various shades, from brindle patches with white markings to brownish-yellow. The white occurs on the chest, around the neck (known as the collar), around the nose (the noseband), and on the feet and tip of the tail.

Available in these colours

What colours do Saint Bernard come in?

Saint Bernard come in a variety of colours, including Brown Mantle, Dark Brown Mantle, Red and White, Brown Splash, Reddish Brown, Red and White.

All about the
Saint Bernard.

Saint Bernards are a dog breed that were initially used to patrol the grounds of the Hospice Saint Bernard in Switzerland and assist in the recovery of missing and wounded travellers.

They're powerful, giant-sized, good-natured dogs with a kind and gentle soul. They are good with families, eager to please and quick to protect family members who they believe are in danger. Known to be exceptionally understanding and patient, Saints are careful and gentle around well-behaved children.

Females are smaller and more delicately built than males, standing at a minimum of 69-85cm at the shoulder. The height and weight of a male Saint Bernard can vary between 71.12and 76.2cm; He can weigh anywhere from 63 to 81 kilograms. A female's height and weight range from 66.04 to 71.12cm and 54 to 63 kilograms. Saints' massive head has a wrinkled brow, a short muzzle, and dark eyes, all of which combine to give him the intelligent, friendly expression that stranded Alpine travellers appreciated.

They're affectionate with almost everyone they encounter, and those who don't mind a little drool will find them to be wonderful companions. They're also very adaptable, doing well in both the show ring and obedience trials (For example, weight lifting contests and pulling a cart or wagon.) Because of their size, your Saint takes longer to mature than many other breeds. They usually don't hit maximum size until they're two to three years old.

All about the Saint Bernard adult stats

Weight

Low 54.00 KG

High 64.00 KG

Height

Low 65.00 cm

High 80.00 cm

Weight

Low 64.00 KG

High 82.00 KG

Height

Low 70.00 cm

High 90.00 cm

Saint Bernard.

Characteristics & Tendencies:

TENDENCY TO DIG
Snoring
Drooling
Exercise needs
Grooming needs
Barking

Care and Maintenance

Feeding

How much do
Saint Bernard eat?
5.00 to 6.00 cups of food a day

Exercise

How much
exercise do they need?
30 to 60 Mins

Temperament

Are they kid friendly? They are not recommended for homes with young children

Living

Do they need a lot of space? You might expect a giant mountaineering dog to need a lot of space

Frequently asked questions about the Saint Bernard.

In the spring and autumn, the adult Saint Bernard sheds. Like the Newfoundland and Bernese Mountain Dogs, they are a fast shedding breed that sheds a comparable amount of fur. They may not, though, regularly shed as much over the year. Brushing your Saint on a regular basis will help to minimize excess fur around the house.

With Saint Bernards, you have a lot of hair to work with but despite the sheer volume of coat to sift through, grooming is't a huge challenge. To extract loose hairs, St Bernards should be washed and combed regularly.

Bathing should occur at least once a month and left no longer than 8 weeks. Recommended brushing is at least 3 times a week. Use a pin or rubber brush for your Saint Bernard to help remove excess hair.

Cleaning and regular examination of the ears and eyes is recommended, particularly in dogs with drooping eyelids. While St Bernards are clean animals, they do tend to drool.

Saint Bernards do not need much exercise. They are not suitable for jogging and would wilt in hot weather. They are often prone to heat exhaustion and need shade and plenty of fresh, cold water in hot weather.

Exercising Saint Bernard puppies should be performed steadily to prevent undue pressure on their developing bones and soft tissues. Adult Saint Bernards should exercise gradually. They don't need a lot of exercise despite their size. As puppies, extra care must be taken if they're going up and down stairs.

Saints must be supervised if they are given free reign running off the leash to ensure that they do not damage their limbs. Roadwork is ideal for keeping them controlled and muscled up. It is not recommended to give them exercise right after feeding.

It is advised that you visit your veterinarian at least once a year for a wellness checkup. Adequate nutritious food and exercise is required for your Saint's bones to stay healthy.

The Saint Bernard breed, which has an estimated lifetime of 8 to 10 years, is prone to Hip Dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, osteosarcoma, distichiasis, entropion, and ectropion. Coronary cancer, cardiomyopathy, Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), hypertension, epilepsy, and cervical vertebral instability (CVI) are also possible health risks.

A veterinarian can examine the dog's hips, elbows, and eyes to detect any of these problems early on for successful treatment.

Saint Bernards are gentle dogs who want to be with people. A stranger's initial apprehension of approaching such a big dog is likely to be mitigated by their natural friendliness.

On the other hand, Saint Bernards are almost as likely to protect family members in danger. Saints are particularly ideal for families with well-behaved children because they are so friendly, gentle, and accommodating.

Saints are known for their patience and understanding, and they are vigilant not to harm children. They are upbeat, dependable. St. Bernard is the breed that thrives in the presence of children and loves spending time with their family. They are loyal pets who bark infrequently but will defend you and your possessions if necessary.

The Saint Bernard is a textbook example of a benevolent giant, is quiet, patient, and sweet with adults and children alike.

St. Bernards, like all big dogs, must be properly socialized with people and other dogs to avoid intimidation and hostility. The greatest danger this breed poses to young children is being knocked over by its greater height.

Overall, they are a sweet, obedient, and affectionate breed that can be very polite if adequately socialized. The easygoing Saint is gentle and patient, if not always playful. He's fun to cuddle with while reading or watching TV, but he may be a little too much for younger kids, flipping them over with a swipe of his tail.

Since these dogs are eager to please, they might be easier to train than other breeds. Because of its adult massive size, it is essential to begin training as young as possible. St Bernards need a lot of patience from their owners during training because they are slow thinkers.

Young dogs must be trained not to tug on their leads at an early age, as this is a challenging practice to overcome as they get older. A powerful adult can have difficulty dealing with an unruly St. Bernard, but discipline must be asserted at the start of the dog's training.

A St. Bernard can bark at outsiders, despite not being naturally defensive, and their size makes them effective deterrents against potential intruders. Train your Saint Bernard cheerfully and calmly. Set ground rules and be strict in asking him to abide by them. Treats are also recommended to help them stay motivated.

Saints generally get along well with other pets. The breed is not the most outgoing, but it is a sluggish, reflective thinker. Saint Bernards are naturally gregarious.

It is important to remember that an unstrained Saint have difficulty understanding how hard they are playing and be less conscious of their surroundings. St. Bernards are friendly with all of their family members, including cats and dogs.

Like all dogs, Saint Bernards should be closely supervised around animals they don't know, especially around much smaller animals.

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Specified Conditions includes:

  • Cruciate ligament damage
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cherry eye
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion,
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (‘OCD’)
  • Lumps

Lumps means the protuberance or localised area of swelling or unusual growth that can occur anywhere on or in the body including tumours, warts, cysts, growths, mucoceles, haematomas and abscesses.

You can apply to reduce the 6-month exclusion period for Specified Conditions by using our request for Waiver Form. Simply take this form to your next vet visit and submit the completed form back to [email protected] within 14 days of the visit.

Optional Extra Benefits

During the application process You will be provided with the option to include Optional Extra Benefits that cover certain conditions and Treatments which are not otherwise covered under the Policy.

The Optional Extra Benefits are:

Alternative Therapies, Behavioural Problems, and Dental Illness.

Examples of Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy.

Examples of Behavioural Problems: Excessive licking, fur pulling, pacing and destructive chewing.

Examples of Dental Illnesses: Dental diseases, gingivitis, periodontal disease.