Saint Bernard is a calm, non-aggressive and faithful four-legged companion, a nanny for children, a brave rescuer, and an actor beloved by many directors. In films, individuals of this breed are smart, insightful, and friendly. Knowledge of the peculiarities and nuances of upbringing, feeding and training will allow you to prolong the life of your pet and find a true friend.
It is especially important to know the nuances of a dog breed when purchasing puppies. It is from a small individual that you can raise the legendary “alpine rescuer”, instill in him love and vigilance.
Origin story
Early mentions of St. Bernards can be found in the writings of 11th-century Swiss monks. From them it is known that the name of the breed is translated as “Saint Bernard”. The four-legged friends served as rescuers at the monastery and helped search for missing people.
The ancestors of dogs, according to one legend, are the fighting Molossian Great Danes. From them they borrowed character traits - determination, courage, courage. Another legend says that these dogs descended from Tibetan mastiffs. However, one thing is constant in their origin: dogs have guard and search qualities and can be guide dogs.
The most famous representative of the breed is St. Bernard Barry; he has saved at least 40 people. Later, a Foundation was founded in his honor to support the preservation of the purity of the breed.
Saint Bernard - there is some holiness in his name
Serving people is the privilege of all domestic dogs. Saint Bernard proved himself especially worthy in this field. It all started in the 11th century. In the Alps, on the Mont-Jou mountain pass, the monk and former nobleman Bernard de Menton created a haven for travelers. In the 12th century, the shelter became a monastery. Monk Bernard was canonized, the monastery received the name Saint-Bernard.
Since the time of Alexander the Great, very large dogs have been kept in the Alps. Local residents have long paid attention to their ability to anticipate approaching avalanches and find people buried in snow. The dogs began to accompany monks and travelers going from Italy to Switzerland and back.
By the 17th century, dogs were actively used as rescue dogs. Directed selection work began to be carried out. The breed received the name Saint Bernard . In the 19th century, dogs were credited with numerous rescue feats.
The breed has gained popularity. Breeders began to care about the purity of the species. The dog's appearance is close to modern. The Swiss Stud Book SHSB was created in 1884. The first dogs recorded in the book were St. Bernards.
Description
The breed looks intimidating in appearance due to its large size, but by nature these dogs are sensitive and gentle. They are friendly to people and children and will never cause harm. They are tolerant of animals: cats, dogs, and other pets can easily live in the house with them.
The main characteristics of the breed are intelligence, intelligence, insight, and trainability. From a young age, dogs understand verbal commands and capture the mood of the trainer and owner.
An adult St. Bernard is calm and balanced, despite its menacing appearance. The second feature is often used for domestic needs.
Such a dog is a good watchman and can scare away thieves from the house. She is not characterized by aggressiveness, hostility, or bitterness.
The character of a St. Bernard depends on training and education. From childhood, he needs to instill good qualities, teach the rules of behavior - is it possible to sleep and live in the house, lie on the bed.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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The worst thing for a four-legged friend is loneliness. He needs communication with his owner, frequent walks, games, and activities. Without the constant presence of a person, the animal becomes sad, gets sick, and can inflict serious wounds on itself.
Difference between St. Bernard and Moscow Watchdog
These two breeds have a similar appearance, which will confuse the novice dog owner. They are distinguished by their different origins. Saint Bernard is a descendant of mastiffs who saved travelers lost in the snowy Alps. The Moscow Watchdog is the result of the work of the Soviet nursery "Red Star" to provide security, perform rescue operations and agricultural work. For this purpose, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, St. Bernards, and Russian Piebald Hounds were crossed.
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The second difference is external. The Moscow Watchdog is slightly smaller, with a less broad head.
The difference lies in the characters of the two breeds. Saint Bernard is kind, calm, non-aggressive. The characteristics of the Moscow watchdog depend on its pedigree. If the genes of the Caucasian Shepherd are most pronounced, then one can observe aggressiveness, cruelty, and less learning ability.
The character of a St. Bernard depends 80% on the owner: his upbringing, ability to train, personal qualities of a person (assertiveness, desire, intelligence).
Characteristics and standards
The dog of this breed is well built: the body is powerful and proportional, muscle mass and power are pronounced. Average life expectancy is up to 10 years. According to the international standard, she has a large head with drooping triangular-shaped ears, a straight back, and a long tail that does not have any creases.
The weight of an adult dog can reach from 80 to 100 kg. At the same time, the height at the withers for females is 65-80 cm, for males - 70-90 cm. The standard color is considered to be predominantly white with multi-colored markings. Sometimes there are St. Bernards with a small splash of black. But this is not a drawback or a reason for culling.
When breeding, special attention is paid to the character of the individual. A dog of this breed should be friendly, friendly and kind. At the slightest level of cowardice and aggression, individuals are not allowed to participate in exhibitions.
With regular exercise and training, St. Bernards are highly trainable. After completing the course, they make excellent watchdogs, four-legged friends devoted to their owner, ideal neighbors for people, children and other animals.
The size of the dog is impressive - comparable to a calf or pony. He needs good upbringing from a young age, proper care, a large living area, walks and proper arrangement.
Character and appearance
The character of the animal is good-natured, calm, balanced. It's not scary to leave him with small children, other pets, or people. If there is insufficient communication with the owner, the dog becomes depressed: it becomes sad, it hurts itself.
Saint Bernards are not characterized by aggressiveness or cruelty. They can even bark only in some cases, when their home is in danger and there are good reasons for this.
Dogs of this breed understand their owner instantly, predict his mood, and do not cause trouble. In all actions there is a desire to please, to receive praise and approval.
Externally, there are 2 types of individuals: short-haired St. Bernards and long-haired ones. They are harmoniously put together:
- big head;
- muscular strong body;
- majestic, even threatening appearance;
- large size and significant growth.
They have a short muzzle with a slightly upturned nose, triangular, slightly rounded drooping ears and expressive, kind eyes.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of the breed is its character: completely non-aggressive, hardy, patient. It has good watchdog potential, which allows it to be kept in the house for protection.
Individuals are unpretentious in care and nutrition. St. Bernard puppies and larger representatives are distinguished by above average intelligence and easy learning ability.
Basically, by nature, dogs are slow and phlegmatic. However, a completely different temperament may appear from upbringing and genes. The disadvantage of the breed is the need for a large space and mainly outdoor maintenance. The apartment is cramped for the dog.
Other disadvantages of St. Bernards:
- heavy shedding;
- constant drooling;
- food and maintenance require high expenses;
- the need for training, taking a socialization course and mastering the basic rules of behavior in public places;
- hereditary diseases.
Varieties and colors
An important aspect in describing a breed is variety. Long-haired individuals have a thick undercoat and straight, medium hair. Representatives of the breed have fluffy, slightly wavy pants on their hips. The tail is long, without bends.
The second variety of Saint Bernards is short-haired or smooth-haired. They have the same tail, double coat, and abundant undercoat. The coat is smooth, close-lying, not wavy.
The standard color of the breed is white with spots and inclusions of different sizes: yellow-brown, brown with a predominance of red, red. Sometimes black and white color is found.
Popular nicknames
The most famous nicknames for St. Bernard boys:
- Maximus;
- Titanium;
- Goliath;
- Brutus;
- Hercules;
- Bubba;
- Bruno;
- Leo;
- Charlie;
- Frankie;
- Odie;
- Cute;
- Rocko;
- Marley;
- Gizmo;
- Fin;
- Louis;
- Henry;
- Murphy;
- Fergus;
- Percy;
- Rudy;
- Captain;
- Duke;
- Colossus;
- Samson;
- Sergeant;
- Bucks;
- Strike.
Boy Louis:
Now – popular nicknames of representatives of the breed:
- Atilla;
- Indiana;
- Athena;
- Dakota;
- Harley;
- Aria;
- Diva;
- Roxy;
- Code;
- Zhizhi;
- Olive;
- Sally;
- Chloe;
- Maisie;
- Lily;
- Lola;
- Emma;
- Lucy;
- Hera;
- Mia;
- Josie;
- Izzy;
- Moon;
- Sophie;
- Amelia;
- Kona;
- Tiger;
- Maxi;
- Nixie;
- Olympia;
- Aurora.
Pet Chloe:
Girl Sophie:
Maintenance and care
A prerequisite for the breed is the presence of a large, free territory, mainly in its home. The apartment for such a dog is cramped and uncomfortable.
The best option is to organize an enclosure and equip the booth well. The pet needs safety: to do this, you need to remove objects from the access area that can hurt or chew, and cover the slippery floor. It is not necessary to maintain a certain temperature regime for the St. Bernard, since this breed of dog is northern and is not afraid of frost and snow. In the summer, they need to be protected - overheating and heat stroke are possible.
There is no need for special walking for dogs kept in the house. The St. Bernard needs fresh air, limited exercise, and regular socialization. After walks, it is advisable to inspect the paw pads, if there are wounds, treat them, and remove stuck foreign objects.
Grooming your dog should include weekly cleaning of the ears with cotton balls. The vulnerable spot is the eyes, which are prone to inflammation. It is important to wipe them with a clean gauze cloth after each walk and remove mucous secretions.
The disadvantage of the breed is heavy shedding and a large amount of wool. To soften it, it is recommended to use special combs and brushes for combing every day, to prevent the appearance of “tangles”. A healthy four-legged pet should not have an unpleasant, foul smell coming from its fur. If it appears, it is necessary to check its health status, analyze its nutrition, and examine its skin and coat for signs of illness.
Vaccination of the breed is important: the first vaccination is given at 2 months. Then again every quarter, six months and year. If you have illnesses or feel unwell, the veterinarian makes a medical referral. Before vaccination, treatment against worms is required 2 weeks before vaccination. For each representative of the breed, it is better to draw up a schedule with a specialist.
Education and training
Saint Bernards are smart, quick-witted, and amenable to training. It is important to choose the right methods for this, taking into account the characteristics of the breed, their slowness, and the desire to please the owner.
At home, when training a St. Bernard, it is important to build a respectful, trusting relationship with the dog, to exclude violence and cruelty for disobedience. The puppy must be accustomed to the toilet and its name from the first days of its arrival in the house.
The Saint Bernard is a friendly, slightly touchy, depressed breed. This dog should not be kept on a chain, left alone for a long time, or violence should be used against it. Such measures will cause her apathy and disappointment in the owner.
You need to walk your dog for 2-4 hours, depending on age, during the daytime and in the evening, with the exception of summer with sultry heat. She not only needs to breathe air, but also actively play, run, walk, and follow commands.
When buying a puppy, it is important from the very first day to accustom him to a place to sleep, eat, and basic commands. If the dog has done everything correctly, reward him with treats and affection. When training experience is not enough, it is advisable to undergo training from a professional dog handler.
Beautiful nicknames
Options for euphonious nicknames for boys:
- Magnus;
- Teach;
- Shah;
- Monty;
- Toby;
- Green;
- Dante;
- Pele;
- Neville;
- Luke;
- Haido;
- Spikes;
- Bond;
- Angel;
- Frol;
- Tim;
- Volt;
- Zach;
- Chester;
- Simon;
- Lari;
- King;
- Fred;
- Marty;
- Duncan;
- Murphy;
- Wilson;
- Guido;
- North;
- Oliver;
- Vegas;
- Arnie;
- Stif;
- Onyx;
- Woody;
- Bruce;
- Pluto;
- Chuck;
- Claude;
- Derry;
- Mars;
- Justin;
- Zeus;
- Sparky;
- Henry.
Woody Puppy:
The following selection is beautiful names for St. Bernard girls:
- Solo;
- Veta;
- Emmy;
- Amantha;
- Hana;
- Becky;
- Alta;
- Sheldy;
- Brita;
- Zoe;
- Pixie;
- Goldie;
- Germa;
- Glad;
- Assol;
- Daphne;
- Kenty;
- Molly;
- Thea;
- Elbe;
- Casey;
- Vicki;
- Sanda;
- Roselle;
- Alba;
- Martha;
- Daisy;
- Gloria;
- Zara;
- Chloe;
- Reni;
- Havana;
- Tory;
- Kylie;
- Unica;
- Gina;
- Rhonda;
- Gabi;
- Yusta;
- Adele;
- Gretta;
- Lei.
Little Molly:
Dear Unika:
Nutrition
Proper feeding is the key to your pet’s health. Overeating and hunger are not allowed. In the first case, the load on the skeleton and joints increases, excess weight is gained, and the functioning of many body systems in the dog worsens. If she is malnourished, she will not receive the necessary elements, which will lead to weakened immunity and more shedding of fur.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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The diet of an adult St. Bernard or puppy should include meat, offal, cereals, vegetables, seafood, and dairy products.
Table of main nutrition components:
It is very important to get clean water into your body. Sweets are not allowed. During the period of active growth, calcium should prevail in the diet in large dosages (cottage cheese, kefir, dairy products).
The frequency of St. Bernard's feeding depends on its mobility, age, and time of year. Puppies are fed 5-6 times a day for up to six months, then until 9 months the number of meals is reduced to 3. Then the adult schedule is followed - twice a day, in the summer - only in the evening.
The quality of nutrition affects the life expectancy, appearance of the dog, its integument, teeth, and organs. A healthy, shiny coat is an indicator of health and proper nutrition.
Feeding
St. Bernards are quite picky when it comes to food; they happily absorb everything that their owner gives them. When keeping these pets in private homes, you can find them devouring strawberries straight from the owner's garden bed or picking ripe raspberries from the branches in the garden. They will not refuse sweet cherries if they can get them from the tree.
You can feed the animal with dry food or natural products.
A dog's health directly depends on proper and balanced nutrition!
If the owner chooses dry food, he should give preference to food of at least premium class. Natural feeding necessarily presupposes the presence of meat and offal in the pet’s diet. You need to diversify your diet with cereals, fermented milk products and eggs. In the summer, you need to add his favorite fruits and vegetables to your pet’s menu.
Include fish in your animal's diet! It can be alternated with meat, arranging meat and fish days.
It is necessary to exclude baked goods, sweets, smoked and fried foods from your pet’s menu.
St. Bernard, like other dog breeds, loves to chew on bones. This is his favorite treat. You need to give your pet the bones of young animals or simply add bone meal to their food.
Representatives of the breed are prone to obesity, so a single serving should correspond to the weight of the pet.
Diseases and life expectancy
On average, dogs of this breed live 8-9 years. To improve its quality, it is necessary to follow the vaccination schedule, regularly administer anti-worm medications, and treat in a timely manner.
Saint Bernards are prone to the following diseases:
- joint injuries, knee dislocation, dysplasia;
- epilepsy;
- lymphosarcoma;
- bloating;
- pathological conditions of the organs of vision (entropion or inversion of the eyelid, cataract).
The breed is also prone to obesity and excess weight. They lead to laziness and create additional stress on the digestive organs, heart, blood vessels, and joints. Prevention requires proper nutrition, a healthy diet, and moderate regular physical activity.
Dog health
If you adopt a puppy from a kennel and its parents are in good health, your baby is also unlikely to be sick.
But due to their breed characteristics, St. Bernards still have a predisposition to a number of diseases. The most common diseases they have are: joint dysplasia, entropion of the eyelids, epilepsy, congenital deafness, volvulus and dilatation of the stomach.
Perhaps your pet will be healthy throughout its life, you just need to be careful and, in especially suspicious cases, visit the veterinarian on the safe side.
The life expectancy of a St. Bernard is only 8-10 years, which cannot but cause regret.
Choosing a puppy
When buying a puppy, you need to study the offers, visit well-known nurseries with a good reputation, and take the help of an experienced expert.
When choosing a dog, it is advisable to determine the purpose for which the animal is purchased - participation in competitions, exhibitions, home security, nanny for children. The cost depends on this.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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It is recommended to look at the puppy’s parents – their achievements, health status, external data, size. What the mother and father of the family look like is what the puppy will be like at an older age. It is also advisable to take a closer look at the character of the future pet, its physical health, evenness of limbs, cleanliness of skin and coat.
Comparison with shorthairs
Let's start with the fact that shorthairs appeared earlier. The longhair appeared only in the nineteenth century as a result of a series of experiments in crossing with other species. Of course, the long-haired variety is very beautiful, but it requires constant care to maintain the coat in an attractive condition. Especially a lot of fur has to be combed out during shedding.
It is often impossible to bathe it, since the undercoat itself is waterproof, which means it secretes special fats.
The need to comb the hair daily is determined not only by the beauty of your pet, but also by the condition of its skin. So the longhaired one wins in external comparison , but immediately loses in terms of difficulty of care.
Short-haired specimens tolerate heat and cold better. Rescuers with long hair do not participate in operations in the north, as their fur becomes covered with icicles, becomes heavy and only interferes with search operations. In addition, they cannot withstand temperatures that are too low.
When choosing a St. Bernard as a pet, immediately decide what type of coat you like best and how often you will find time to comb it. More often, breeders prefer long-haired dogs for exhibition purposes, but if we are talking about a country house, then short-haired ones are better. In any case, the choice is yours.
Reviews
Julia: “Saint Bernard has been living with us for 4 years. This is the most devoted, great friend. He understands everything perfectly, rarely barks and does not bother his neighbors. The only negative is drool and fur. If you comb it regularly, and during the shedding period 2-3 times a day, then the problem is not so much of a concern.”
Ivan: “I love dogs of this breed. The first lived for 8 years, the second is now 10, the third is still a puppy. Their virtues captivated me: they love children, they are loyal, balanced, they do not spoil furniture.”
Oleg: “Our friend St. Bernard looks like a cute, shaggy monster. He is intimidating with just his appearance, protects the house, and does not cause inconvenience with constant barking, like the dogs around the neighborhood. The only negative is the drool that flies onto the floor, sofa, carpet.”
Price
Saint Bernards are considered a rare breed. It's not easy to maintain them. Therefore, the price for purebred puppies is high. But even offspring from titled producers may have some defects.
If the existing defect does not interfere with life, but is a serious deviation from the breed standard (for example, an incorrect bite), then the price of a St. Bernard can range from $100 to $500. This is the so-called Pet class.
Many puppies do not deviate from the breed standard. But the experienced eye of an expert sees some imperfections. Such a puppy can cost $500-$1000. This is Breed class. Perfect puppies from all points of view, future champions and future parents of champions are valued at an amount exceeding $1000. This is Show class.
Photo and video review
You can estimate how much an adult weighs, what it looks like, and how it differs from other dogs in photos and videos.
This is the kindest breed, loving its owner and finding a common language with small children. A Saint Bernard with a person is an excellent connection, where respect and mutual understanding reign. Aggressiveness and manifestations of bitterness are unusual for him.
Knowing all the characteristics of a dog, following the basics of education, training, and care will allow you to find a faithful, four-legged friend and prolong the life of your pet. The usual duration is 8-9 years.
Breed traits
Breed traits (on a 5-point scale)
| Saint Bernard | |||
| Activity | in the house | 1.9 | |
| on the street | 3.1 | ||
| Obedience | training | 3.9 | |
| strangers | 4.2 | ||
| Domination | in family | 1.6 | |
| over dogs | 2.1 | ||
| Defending your territory | from people | 2.5 | |
| from dogs | 2.9 | ||
| Sociability | in family | 4.8 | |
| with strangers | 4.1 | ||
| with dogs | 3.3 | ||
| Concentration | in family | 1 | |
| in front of strangers | 1.5 | ||
| with dogs | 2.3 | ||
| Aggressiveness | in family | 1 | |
| to strangers | 1.4 | ||
| to the dogs | 1.7 | ||
| to cats | 1.5 | ||
| Family behavior | calmness | 4.1 | |
| demand for affection | 4.4 | ||
| excitability | 3 | ||
| playfulness | 3.5 | ||
| excessive barking | 1.7 | ||
| behavioral breakdowns | 1.9 | ||
| Tolerance for children | up to 4 years | 4.3 | |
| over 4 years old | 4.4 | ||
| Institutional use | watchman | 3.4 | |
| bodyguard | 1.7 | ||
This breed is often compared to the following dog breeds: Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger.
The photo shows what St. Bernards look like:
