St. Bernard
Puppy
Fully Grown
The St. Bernard is a giant breed that is gentle and well-natured. They are famous for their use in search and rescue operations around the world. These dogs are confident and reliable and are faithful to their owners.
St. Bernards speak with their body, which tends to wiggle entirely when they are happy. Their body mass is quite imposing, but their overall calmness and friendly smiling face makes them very approachable dogs.
St. Bernards are devoted to their families and seek affection and attention from them. When you are resting on the couch, they will try to squeeze their large frame in between you and your partner just to get close to both of you. And then you will find a huge paw on you begging for extra cuddles!
They make good guard dogs, and as they have been bred as watchdogs but also for search and rescue missions, they will be quick to take action if they feel their family is in danger. As young dogs they are full of beans and like to jump around and rumble. In middle age they get more lazy and moving seems more like hard work. Older St. Bernards prefer lazing around and enjoy extra cuddles rather than too much action.
St. Bernards make a great family dog, but due to their large size they are not recommended for families with small children. They are also not recommended for hot countries or regions because of their very thick coat.
| Weight: | 64-120 kg |
| Health risk: | Very high |
| Life expectancy: | 8-10 years |
| Coat: | Long |
| Grooming intensity: | Low |
| Monthly cost (food): | very high |
| Trainability: | Medium |
| Activity level: | Medium |
There are many sources to get your St. Bernard from. Considering the number of homeless dogs without a future, we strongly encourage you to consider rescuing a dog. Your local shelter or rescue organisation can be a helpful place to start, or try contacting your local or national breed club or a reputable breeder and asking if they have pets available for rehoming. Many rescue organisations have active Facebook pages, which can also be a good place to enquire.
Here are some links that could be useful for finding a St. Bernard to adopt:
To help your rescued St. Bernard to settle into your home, our Rescue Dog Guide gives you tips and advice on bringing your rescue dog home.
If you decide you’d prefer to get your St. Bernard from a breeder, the following guides will help you to find a responsible breeder:
The following organisations will be able to help you find breeders in your state in Australia. They will also be able to connect you with your local breed clubs, which are always a great source of information in regards to finding good breeders and rescue organisations.
