St Bernard
Description
This very ancient breed was believed to be founded in AD 980 by Saint
Bernard de Menthon and is a descendant of the Tibetan Mastiff. It was
used as a rescue dog in the snowy passes by the monks at the Hospice of
St Bernard, saving people lost in the St Gothard Pass. These dogs would
search out and find the lost or injured traveler, and then lie next to
them to give them warmth. With its excellent sense of smell this dog can
find a person even under many feet of snow.
Temperament
The very loyal St Bernard is extremely gentle and friendly, tolerant
of children and basically just wants to please. Patient, obedient and
slow moving this dog is such a giant it will be very important to socialise it from a very young age while it is still a manageable size
with other people. Luckily it is quite intelligent and easy to train and
it should be remembered that an unruly dog of this size will present a
problem for even a strong adult if it is to be exercised in public areas
on the leash, so ensure to take control from the onset. Just the sheer
size of the St Bernard is enough of a deterrent to make it a great
watchdog. Beware they do tend to drool after they drink or eat.
Appearance
Height: 61-70cm
(25-27in)
Weight: 50-91kg (110-200lb)
Group: Working Dog
This very big, strong, muscular dog has a very powerful head and a
highly developed sense of smell together with a sixth sense about
impending danger from storms and avalanches. There are two types of
coat: rough and smooth and both are very dense. With colourings of
white with markings in tan, red, mahogany, brindle, and black, in
various combinations. Their expression is of intelligence and gentleness
and the face and ears are usually shaded with black. With the
rough-coated dogs, the hair is slightly longer and there is feathering
on the thighs and legs. The feet are large with strong well-arched toes,
making the St Bernard's sure-footed in the snow and ice.
Grooming
The St Bernard sheds twice a year but their coats are easy to groom
using a comb and a brush with firm bristles. They need to be bathed
only when necessary as the shampoo can strip the coat of its oily,
water-resistant properties, so the use of a mild soap instead is
recommended. As their eyes may be inclined to water, special attention
is needed to keep them clean and free of irritants.
If you don't have the
time to bath or groom your dog, your local dog grooming
parlour provides these services.
Life Expectancy
8-10 Years
Health Concerns
The St Bernard enjoys quite good health, however some are prone to "wobbler"
syndrome, heart problems, skin problems, hip dysplasia, and extropion -
folding outward of the eyelid rim, usually on the lower lid. As these
dogs are prone to bloat, twisted stomachs should be watched for, so it
would be advisable to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of
one large meal.
Always try to feed
quality dog food to ensure a healthy happy dog.
Suitability
If sufficiently exercised the St Bernard will do okay with a small
yard. Even though they do have a low tolerance for hot weather, warm
rooms and cars, they would much rather be with their family rather than
live outdoors. Puppies should not have too much exercise at one time
until their bones are well formed and strong until they are about two
years old and then a long walk each day would be required to keep this
dog in good mental and physical condition.
St Bernard -
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