St Bernards

Saint Bernards

We have owned Saint Bernards for over 20 years and in that time owned five. We've had a mixture of girls and boys. At one point we had three, they say saints are like chips you can't just stop at one!

Like with all dogs you really need to do your research, it's incredibly important to make sure that you buy from health tested parents, ie hip scored with good scores. It is a minefield out there with breeders and puppies especially since Covid with a lot of scammers/greeders, and I can imagine it can be really tough to work out the good breeders from the bad. I would say do your research, question everything, you have to interview a breeder just as much as they should be interviewing you. Pop along to a kennel club registered show, that way you can see how a Saint Bernard should look, move and behave and can make a note of breeders/owners, they'll usually be very happy to chat.

The breed can suffer with many health problems, hips, elbows, heart, bloat/gdv, epilepsy, eyes, bone cancer being some of them.

They can suffer with bloat/gdv (gastric dilation volvulus) which means, usually after eating their stomach expands, and can twist on its axis. This is an absolute emergency and you need to get to a vet NOW!

Symptoms can be seeing and feeling a distended hard abdomen, trying to vomit unsuccessfully or bringing up froth, pale gums and pacing around. If in doubt call and get to a vet. We have suffered this with two of ours, both made it through surgery and went onto live normal lives after.

Vets do not know what causes it, we are very careful of not giving water straight after eating, nor exercising 2hrs either side of mealtimes but it still happened to us. Some people swear by raised feeding but both of our dogs were fed on floor and the other raised so who knows. The only thing is to be fully aware of the signs to look out for and act accordingly, it can save your dogs life!

Temperament is an absolute must, they say they must have a benevolent expression (which means kind) but that also means in temperament, it is truly dangerous to have a breed of 70kg+ with a dodgy temperament.

As puppies they are just the most adorable, but they grow and boy do they grow fast! And go through food like nobody's business!

You must be very careful not to overexercise them as puppies, their joints are very soft and supple, and great harm can be caused by walking them too much at a young age, no stairs until 1y or jumping in and out of the car.. Avoid slippery floors too.

They must be trained and socialised well from the beginning, not to be allowed to run you ragged, but only with positive training methods. I have walked three of mine combined weigt of over 200kgs perfectly behaved, it is doable but then we've also had rare moments of a squirrel appearing and you're on the deck haha

We have found the boys to be not so great with recall, much prefering to inhale the world up their noses than listening to Mum or Dad, the girls are much better.

A major thing to mention is the hair and the drool, they moult a LOT (require a good brush once a week), the hairy sticky drool lands everywhere, even on the ceiling! There are big muddy pawprints all over the house etc, It is relentless and if you are house proud in anyway, they may not be the breed for you.

Sadly we have suffered with many health ailments, actually all of the ones listed above! We have always taken out lifetime pet insurance, and this is an absolute necessity. Please don't think of taking on a Saint Bernard without this in place unless you are a billionaire and have money to throw away!

Who would like to have to make a choice on your beloved pets treatment and ultimately life, based on whether you can afford it.

Carly who we currently have, is not cut from the same mould as the others, she sadly has some anxiety issues, mainly noise phobia based but is the most loving girl if a little exhuberant at times.

She adores everyone (people and dogs!), loves going to the beach, loves water, whether fresh or a dirty pond!!! She loves visiting cafes, and having the whipped cream and marshmallows off of a hot chocolate, mr whippy (shes not keen on doggy icecream ) or a biscoff Biscuit (she always has to have something ).

We like visiting the Donkey Sanctuary, beaches, woods, country fetes, companion dog shows, dog friendly shops and garden centres.

She does have a habit of when she is in zoomie mode of colliding with people as one of our ladies knows all too well on our giant group

Carlys favourite thing after a lovely day out with us is to snuggle between us on the sofa (the sofa is just big enough ), she does have a habit though of bouncing on you when you're least expecting it and end up getting a black eye or bruised nose from her magnificent right hook, she truly is skilled on her aim. I think she thinks she's way smaller than she actually is.

As a breed they are incredibly loving, cuddly, loyal, goofy, a real clown, ploddy but equally can be quite energetic. They just want to be with you, happy to do as little or as much exercise as long as you're with them, easygoing, quiet, affectionate I really could go on.

Sadly their lifespan is not brilliant, they say 8-10years. I think you are very lucky to get them past 8y

Out of the four dogs we've had, we lost them at 6,8 and two of them at 11+1/2 which were fantastic ages

Obviously due to their size, everything is increased, whether that is food, treats, flea, tick, worming, medication, medical procedures, grooming supplies, dog beds, crates, car, house, garden so be prepared for everything to be XXXL

But having said all of that and you are not put off, they are a fantastic breed, not for everyone but they will change your life for the better. They definitely are a way of life.

Here's some pics of our dogs past and present....

Vicki Baber and Carly her St Bernard

St Bernards from our Dog Friendly Dorset group