Meet The St. Bernard

February 23, 2019

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Photo credit: Bigstock

St. Bernard is an extremely friendly and fluffy giant-dog breed that will also make an excellent watchdog if you need one.

Origin

The earliest written records of the breed are from monks at the hospice at the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1707, while the paintings and the drawings of the St. Bernard are dating even earlier.

The ancestors of the St. Bernard are Sennenhunds, also called Swiss Mountain Dogs.

These pooches were large farm dogs used as the livestock guardians, herding dogs, hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs, and watchdogs.

The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in 1884 in Basel, and the breed standard was finally approved in 1888. Since then, the breed has been well-known as a Swiss national dog.

Description

The St. Bernard is classified as a giant dog. The average weight varies between 140 and 264 lb (64–120 kg), while the approximate height at the withers goes from 27.5 inches to 35.5 inches (70 to 90 cm).

The coat can be either smooth or rough, and is typically red-mahogany in color with white markings. Black shading is common on the face and ears.

As for their temperament, being also known as a Gentle Giant, the Saint Bernard is calm, patient and sweet with both adults and children. However, due to their size, they must be well socialized with people and other dogs in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression or territoriality.

Pros

  • extremely friendly
  • adaptable
  • intelligent
  • great watchdog
  • cat friendly

Cons

  • prone to bone deterioration if not provided with proper food and exercise
  • hip or elbow dysplasia

Should I adopt/buy a St. Bernard?

If you are looking for a large watchdog that will also be great with kids, this Gentle Giant will definitely be the right breed for you.

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Semper Fido
Semper Fido
9 years ago

St. Bernards are by and far the most loving and loyal dogs I’ve ever come across. They make great pillows as well. They are very intelligent. One of mine figured out how to unlock and open the laundry room door, where we kept her at night. I got a big surprise at 2am one morning, when she was licking my face, so she slept with me after that. Cons: As a giant breed, they don’t live as long as we’d like. 8 to 11 years is about the max. They SLOBBER! Always keep a rag handy for when they shake… Read more »

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