Some Questions You May Have About the Saint Bernard

   (from the Saint Bernard Club of America, used with permission)
   
   1. How much do they eat?
   
     A Saint Bernard will not "eat you out of house and home." The fact
     is, a Saint Bernard can be raised and maintained on no more food
     than required for other large breeds. Since Saints are basically
     placid dogs, they generally require less food per pound of body
     weight than most smaller, more active breeds.
     
   2. How much do they weigh?
   
     Saint puppies weigh about one and one-half pounds at birth and grow
     rapidly during the first year, although it may take as long as
     three years before they reach full maturity. Adult males may reach
     a height of 28-30 inches at the shoulder and will normally weigh
     between 140 and 180 pounds. Female are somewhat smaller at about
     26-28 inches at the shoulder and typically range from 120-140
     pounds.
     
   3. Are they good with children?
   
     Definitely. They have an understanding of a child's way and are
     amazingly careful not to injure a child. They are excellent
     babysitters and companions. Naturally, a child must never be
     allowed to torment any dog, regardless of breed.
     
   4. Are they easy to train?
   
     Because of the size of the animal, Saint Bernards MUST be trained
     and this must be done early in their lives. Fortunately, Saints are
     eager to please and will begin responding to commands as soon as
     they understand what you want of them.
     
   5. Do they shed?
   
     Yes: twice a year, usually in Spring and Fall, they lose much of
     their coats to help them adjust to the changing seasons. For the
     remainder of the year, there is seldom any annoyance from shedding.
     
   6. Do they drool?
   
     Yes. Depending on the weather, the level of excitement, and the
     shape of the dog's jowls, most Saints will drool on occasion.
     Technically, there is no such thing as a "dry mouthed Saint", but
     most Saints do not drool to a offensive degree.
     
   7. Are they good watch dogs?
   
     The Saint's size and bark will discourage most intruders, yet they
     will learn to recognize your friends and receive them cordially. If
     an intruder gets by the size and barks, your Saint may decide to
     lead the intruder straight to the family silver since they would
     much prefer to be friends to all. The one exception to this is when
     a member of the family is being threatened. The Saint's instinct to
     protect those they love becomes apparent at this time.
     
  8. Why do some Saint Bernards have short hair?
   
     The original Saint Bernards were all short-haired dogs. Over 150
     years ago, the Monks in Switzerland found it necessary to bring
     some new blood into their breeding and interbred the long coated
     Newfoundland with the Saints. Today, the influence of that breeding
     is still with us and we have both long and short-haired Saint
     Bernards.
     
  9. How much exercise do they need? Can one be kept in an apartment?
   
     Saint Bernards don't need as much exercise as many other breeds,
     but a fenced yard should be provided so they can get whatever
     amount they require. The apartment dweller must be walked
     frequently to make up for the exercise they would otherwise take at
     their leisure. It is not a good practice to keep a Saint Bernard
     tied up.
     
   10. How much care do they need?
   
     Clean fresh water (especially in Summer), a well balanced diet and
     thorough brushing weekly, the necessary immunity shots and lots of
     common sense is all that is necessary.
     
   11. Should I get a male or female?
   
     This is strictly a matter of personal preference. Both are equal in
     pet qualities. The male, being larger, is more impressive when
     first viewed. The female however must be considered his equal in
     all other respects. Once you have made the decision male or female
     your choice will be the right one: you will have a loving pet and a
     most rewarding experience.
     
   12. How do they thrive in the hot weather?
   
     The dogs will do well as long as they have a cool dry place to nap
     and plenty of fresh cool water. They will cut down both their food
     intake and amount of activity. It must be remembered that going
     from an air conditioned place into the boiling heat can be
     disastrous. The abrupt change in temperature will be extremely hard
     on a Saint.
     
   13. Where do I buy a Saint Bernard?
   
     There are breeders in most areas who are sincerely interested in
     supplying you with a Saint you will be proud to own. To these
     breeders, a dog is infinitely more that just a commodity to be sold
     for profit. Their interest is in the animal and matching them to
     the right home. They are anxious to assist you with care, feeding
     and answering your questions.
    
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Health Issues

   Saint Bernards, as many other breeds, can have particular problems
   which reputable breeders try to breed out. A reputable and
   knowledgeable breeder will be glad to discuss these and other health
   concerns with a puppy buyer.

  Hip Dysplasia
 
   Because of their large size, Saint Bernards are particularly prone to
   Hip Dysplasia, a joint disease that can eventually cripple dogs,
   depending on its severity. Data from the Orthopedic Foundation for
   Animals shows a rate of approximately 49% of xrays sent to them for
   diagnosis being evaluated as dysplastic. As many xrays are never sent
   in to OFA when something is obviously wrong, the actual rate may be
   much higher.
       
  Feeding
 
   As with any large or giant breed, care must be taken not to over feed
   or oversupplement young puppies. Too-rapid growth or excess weight can
   put undue stress on young still-growing joints and cause or exacerbate
   problems in the elbows or hips. Consult with the breeder of your dog
   as to when it is appropriate to switch to an adult formula and monitor
   your growing Saint's weight level closely. Saints continue to grow and
   mature for at least the first three years, there is no rush to get to
   full size!
  
  Lifespan
 
   As with most giant breeds, Saint Bernards commonly have short lives
   from 7-11 years. A few individuals may live longer, but shorter lives
   are the rule and not the exception.
  
  Other conditions
 
   You should check about other conditions that Saints can get, such as
   entropion (a condition of the eyelid) and epilepsy. Again, a reputable
   breeder will talk freely and candidly about these problems.
  
   In addition, as with other breeds of similar size and type, the Saint
   Bernard may be subsceptible to problems such as heat stroke and bloat.
   You should discuss these conditions with your vet so that you
   understand what the warning signs are and seek immediate veterinary
   care should they occur. With such a large breed, you must plan in
   advance what you will do should your dog collapse (for whatever
   reason) as they are too large to carry.