Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard takes its name from the Great St Bernard Hospice high in the Swiss Alps, where monks of the Augustine order kept large, sturdy dogs from at least the seventeenth century to guide travellers through treacherous mountain passes. Descended from Alpine mastiff type dogs brought north by Roman armies, the breed developed its famous reputation for mountain rescue over generations, with dogs such as Barry credited with saving dozens of stranded travellers in snow. Early Saint Bernards were rough coated working dogs rather than the heavier show type familiar today, and crossbreeding in the nineteenth century, partly to rebuild numbers after harsh winters, introduced both the smooth coated variety and some of the bulk seen in modern lines. The breed arrived in Britain and America in the Victorian era and quickly became a favourite for its gentle nature as much as its history, though the popular image created by films such as Beethoven has done the breed few favours, since it glosses over the genuine commitment a giant dog demands.

At home, the Saint Bernard is a famously gentle, affectionate and patient dog that tends to form close bonds with its family and is generally tolerant with children, making it a popular choice for households that can accommodate its size. It is not a particularly vocal breed and is usually calm indoors once past puppyhood, though its sheer bulk means it can knock over small children or furniture without any aggressive intent at all. Training should start early and continue consistently, since a fully grown Saint Bernard that pulls on the lead or refuses to move is extremely difficult to manage physically, and while the breed is generally willing to please, its moderate trainability score reflects a streak of independence and a slower, more deliberate response to commands than some working breeds show. Drooling is a defining feature of the breed, particularly after drinking or eating, and anyone considering one should accept that cleaning slobber from walls, furniture and clothing becomes a routine part of daily life.

Exercise needs are moderate rather than high, and this matters enormously for a giant breed still growing: puppies should have strictly limited, gentle exercise to protect developing joints, and even adult dogs do better with a couple of controlled walks a day rather than high impact activity or long runs, particularly in warm weather. The Saint Bernard's dense double coat and large body mass make it notably poor at coping with heat, so exercise should be timed for cooler parts of the day in summer, with constant access to shade and water. Grooming is a regular but not excessive commitment, with brushing two or three times a week needed to manage the shedding coat, rising to daily during seasonal coat blows, alongside routine attention to the folds around the face and eyes where moisture and debris can collect.

Health is a central consideration for anyone thinking about this breed, and prospective owners should go in with open eyes. Hip and elbow dysplasia are very likely given the breed's size and rapid early growth, making joint screening of breeding stock essential, while gastric dilatation-volvulus, a sudden and life threatening twisting of the stomach, is a notable risk in deep chested giant breeds and owners should know the warning signs and discuss preventative gastropexy with their vet. Entropion and ectropion, where the eyelids roll inward or outward, are common and can cause ongoing irritation, dilated cardiomyopathy is a notable risk affecting heart function, and osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, occurs more often in giant breeds than smaller ones. The Saint Bernard's lifespan of around 7 to 10 years is shorter than many smaller dogs achieve, a hard truth that comes with choosing a giant breed, and insurance, food and veterinary costs all scale accordingly, often surprising first time giant breed owners.

This is a breed that suits people with the space, strength and patience to manage a dog that may eventually weigh as much as an adult person, and who are realistic about a shorter lifespan, significant drooling, heat sensitivity and genuine veterinary costs across its life. It works well for families with room for a calm, affectionate giant and for owners prepared to begin serious training and socialisation from puppyhood, since by adulthood physical management options narrow considerably. It is a poor choice for anyone in a flat or small home without a garden, for owners seeking a low cost or low maintenance dog, or for those drawn only by a cute image of a slobbery giant without having thought through the practical realities of feeding, housing, insuring and eventually saying goodbye to a dog whose life is, through no fault of its own, relatively brief.