Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard is a giant breed that originated in the western Alps, in the border country between Switzerland and northern Italy. Adults stand 26 to 30 inches at the shoulder, and males often weigh between 140 and 180 pounds. The breed is calm, friendly, and patient, with a long history of work at the hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass.

Most Saint Bernards are even-tempered around the house and move at a slow, deliberate pace. They bond closely with their household and are usually tolerant of children. Given the dog's size, early training and steady handling matter from the first weeks at home.

This breed suits owners with room to spare, time on hand, and a fair tolerance for drool and heavy seasonal shedding. A Saint Bernard does not need much vigorous exercise, but it does need space to move about, plus a household ready for the cost of feeding and caring for a giant dog.

Who it suits

The Saint Bernard fits a settled home with enough room, indoors and out, for a very large dog. It works well for families with children who can supervise interactions, given the dog's weight. Prospective owners should budget for a fairly short lifespan, regular grooming, and the higher food and vet bills that come with a giant breed.

The breed takes its name from the hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass, a high crossing in the western Alps between Switzerland and Italy. Founded in the 11th century as a refuge for travellers, the hospice kept dogs as working animals from early on. Written and pictorial records of large hospice dogs date back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The monks put the dogs to several uses: guarding the buildings, pulling carts, turning the kitchen spit, and providing warmth on cold nights. Over time the dogs also began locating travellers lost in deep snow along the pass. Working in groups, they could find people buried after a storm, and handlers would then dig the travellers out and guide them to shelter.

The hospice line suffered heavy losses to harsh winters and disease in the early 19th century. To rebuild numbers, the monks crossed hospice dogs with other large breeds, including longhaired types. The longer coat held ice and snow, so the shorthaired dogs stayed the preferred workers on the pass while the longhaired ones were sent down to the valleys.

The breed took the name Saint Bernard in the mid 19th century, and a Swiss breed club was formed in 1884. Barry, the celebrated rescue dog who worked at the hospice in the early 1800s, remains the best known individual of the line and is often cited in accounts of the breed's rescue history. In New Zealand, the breed is recorded through Dogs New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Kennel Club), the country's national registry.

The Saint Bernard is tall and heavily built, with a broad, deep chest and solid bone. The head is large and wide, with a short muzzle, a well-defined stop, and loose flews that give the breed its tendency to drool. The eyes are dark and set fairly deep, with a soft expression, and the ears are medium sized and hang close to the head.

Coat and colours

Both coat types carry the same colour pattern: a white base combined with red or brown, and many dogs wear a dark mask over the eyes and ears. The shorthaired coat lies flat and is dense to the touch, while the longhaired coat grows longer over the body, legs, and tail without curling. Both varieties shed heavily, with a marked coat blow during the change of seasons in spring and autumn.

The Saint Bernard has a steady, easygoing nature. Around the house it is usually quiet and content to settle near its family, and it forms strong attachments to the people it lives with, often trailing them from room to room.

Most Saint Bernards are patient and gentle with children, though the dog's sheer size means young children should always be supervised around it. Toward strangers the breed tends to be calm and accepting rather than wary, and it is not a natural guard dog. Raised alongside other dogs and cats, a Saint Bernard generally settles in with them without any bother.

The breed is not highly active or excitable, and it can take its time to mature, sometimes keeping puppyish habits well past its first birthday. Early, consistent socialisation helps a giant dog grow into a manageable adult.

Grooming

• Brush the coat several times a week, and daily during the spring and autumn coat blow.
• Wipe the flews and facial folds regularly to keep drool and mess under control.
• Check and clean the ears weekly, since hanging ears trap moisture.
• Trim the nails every few weeks and brush the teeth several times a week.
• Bathe as needed, usually every one to two months depending on how active the dog is.

Exercise

• Give moderate daily exercise, such as two walks of 20 to 30 minutes.
• Avoid hard running, jumping, and stairs while a puppy is still growing, to protect developing joints.
• Keep activity light in warm weather, since the breed overheats easily.
• Let the dog move at its own pace rather than pushing high-intensity sessions.

Living environment

The Saint Bernard suits a home with room indoors and access to a secure section outdoors. The breed copes well with cold but struggles in the heat, so a cool, shaded, and well-ventilated spot matters over summer. New Zealand's temperate climate suits an Alpine breed like this reasonably well, though owners in warmer regions should still watch for signs of overheating. Despite its size, this is an indoor companion and should not be left outside alone for long stretches.

A Saint Bernard needs a complete and balanced diet formulated for large or giant breeds. During growth, a large-breed puppy formula with controlled calcium and energy supports a slower, steadier growth rate, which protects the joints. Adult portions depend on weight, age, and activity level, so amounts should be adjusted to keep the dog at a healthy body condition. Two meals a day rather than one large meal is common practice for the breed.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to a small share of the daily calorie count, since extra weight adds strain to a giant dog's joints. Fresh water should be available at all times. Check with a vet before adding any joint or other supplement, as a balanced complete food usually covers a healthy dog's needs.

The Saint Bernard has an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years, typical for a giant breed. Most health concerns relate to size and rapid growth, including joint disorders and the risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus, commonly known as bloat. Responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for hip, elbow, heart, and eye conditions.

Preventive care

• Keep the dog at a lean, healthy weight to ease strain on the joints and heart.
• Feed measured meals and avoid strenuous exercise straight after eating to lower the risk of bloat.
• Keep up with routine vaccinations and parasite prevention.
• Book regular vet checkups, with closer monitoring once the dog reaches its senior years.
• Ask the breeder for the parents' health screening results.

The Saint Bernard is generally cooperative and responds well to calm, consistent handling. It can take longer to mature than many breeds, so patience is needed through the first year or two. Because an adult dog is very large and strong, basic manners such as walking on a loose lead and not jumping up should be taught while the dog is still young and easy to manage. Reward-based methods work best, as the breed does not respond well to harsh handling.

The basics

1. Start socialisation early, introducing the puppy to people, places, and other animals.
2. Teach name recognition and a reliable recall.
3. Train loose-lead walking before the dog reaches full weight.
4. Practise sit, down, and stay in short, regular sessions.
5. Discourage jumping up and mouthing from the outset.
6. Build calm behaviour around doors, food, and visitors.

Saint Bernards reach physical maturity later than smaller breeds, and responsible breeders wait until a dog is fully grown and health tested before breeding from it. Gestation in dogs runs about 63 days. The breed tends toward large litters, and whelping in giant breeds can carry higher risk, so having veterinary support on hand around the birth is a sensible precaution.

Newborn puppies grow fast and pack on weight quickly, which makes early nutrition and a clean, warm whelping area important. Breeding dogs should be screened for hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and eye conditions, and breeders should be upfront about the parents' results. Given the breed's size and comparatively short lifespan, careful selection for health and temperament counts for a great deal.

Anyone breeding Saint Bernards in New Zealand should also factor in the country's strict biosecurity and import quarantine rules, which apply to bringing in dogs or breeding stock from overseas.

Saint Bernard registration and microchip registration in New Zealand

Adding your Saint Bernard to the registry is a ten-minute job at most: name, date of birth, photo, contact details, save. The profile is free for life and works whether the chip is already in or booked for the next vet visit. Dog registration is the place to start.

A scanned chip is only ever as useful as its record. Pop your Saint Bernard's fifteen digit number into a free United Pet Club account and the record does the rest: free updates after every move, every brand accepted, searchable day and night. Microchip registration first, account alongside.