Saint Bernard

Saint bernard

Do you remember me from the Beethoven films of the '90s? St. Bernard dogs became real celebrities when these films were shown in cinemas around the world. But what do you really know about the breed?

We are companion dogs with love for all our family members, especially the children! We are very loyal and gentle in our behavior. These are important qualities since we are such big dogs.

We are patient and devoted to our children, we go to great lengths to protect them if danger threatens.

A St. Bernard dog is interested in making its owners happy. We are quite easy to train which is a great advantage due to our size.

By the way, we are hyper-social dogs. We prefer to join everything our owners do. It is not uncommon for us to act a little strange if we miss some of our family members. We can be stubborn, but with the right training, this trait will become less prominent.

Important with exercise and enough space

St. Bernards dogs have a medium need for activity. We do not require hours of walking every day, but exercise is still important because our bodies benefit from it. Remember that weigh between 80-100 kg, and these kilos are a great burden for the body, especially joints.

In order to reduce the risk of injuries/strain injuries, it is therefore important to stay active.

Due to our size, we should preferably stay in a spacious place, where we have room to move. We tend to overturn things around us if the space is too small. Take care of your mother-in-law's expensive vase when you take me on a visit to her apartment.

A St. Bernhard dog does not tolerate high temperatures too well. On the hottest days of summer, we should be kept calm and always have access to shade and fresh, cold water. Be aware of symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, and heavy breathing.

Rarely barks, but alerts you when needed

St. Bernard dogs can work well as guard dogs as we report when strangers approach. Besides this warning, we rarely bark without a good reason.

Relationship with other animals

There are great opportunities to make us get along with other animals. Especially if we are introduced to them from an early stage. The earlier we are introduced the easier it becomes to create a good relationship between us.

Do not forget that we are big dogs. Even though we are friendly by nature, we can accidentally hurt small dogs or cats. Fortunately, this rarely happens.

Available in two variants

St. Bernard dogs are available in two varieties: short-haired and long-haired.

The short-haired ones require little fur care, while the long-haired ones require weekly brushing.

Health

In general, we are healthy dogs. But like all breeds, some of us may be predisposed to certain diseases and disorders. This is something you should be aware of if you are considering purchasing a St. Bernard dog.

Problems that can occur include hip dysplasia (HD) and some types of eye disorders.

Make sure you find a breeder who emphasizes health over appearance when looking for a St. Bernard dog puppy.