St. Bernard Information & Dog Breed Facts

If you choose to purchase the St. Bernard, you should know that the mentioned amount of money is an average of the collected data from breeders’ sites and puppy finder places.

If you have a St. Bernard for sale, please advertise it on a reliable website to make sure the St. Bernard gets to a happy place.

Very frequent: The St. Bernard is quite easy to get. There is a risk of overbreeding, as it is an extremely popular breed.

Inbreeding is common because of its popularity. A new study suggests that inbreeding contributes to the incidence of disease and health problems.

So be careful, buy from a trustworthy place or kennel and seek the help of an experienced person, a professional, to make the right decision.

Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one. Keep in mind that if you want to teach them any tricks, they understand and memorize new commands in 40-80 repetitions. St. Bernard obey the first command 30% of the time or better. So if you want to have a smart dog, you might have to reconsider your choice with this breed.

The St. Bernard ranks below average in the intelligence ranking of dogs.

A slightly harder to train than average. St. Bernard dogs aren't famous for their trainability. This breed needs more time and repetition to obey. It's challenging to teach them new commands, but not impossible.

St. Bernard dogs are average watchdogs. If they sense something different, they will alert you, but observation isn't considered their main job.

St. Bernard dogs strongly protect their territory. This breed is a complete security guard, so you don't have to be afraid in case of danger.

Sensitive: St. Bernard dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits.

This breed's emotional level reflects their owner's feelings and they don't handle punishments well.

High: St. Bernard dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. They enjoy quality time with their owners despite the activity and are considered great therapy dogs for those in need. This breed responds strongly to their handler's emotions because they bond closely. Their happiness is your happiness.

St. Bernard dogs need a lot of social interaction. They desire to always be with someone or around people. This breed hates being left alone.

St. Bernard dogs are not the biggest explorers. They have low wanderlust potential. Low chance of escaping from home with this breed.

Their prey drive is low. St. Bernard dogs don't have an impulse to catch or chase small animals.

Low: The St. Bernard barks none to minimal. Perfect choice if you prefer a quiet breed.

Top reasons for barking: protection, alarm, fear, boredom, attention-seeking, greeting, separation anxiety, compulsive barking.

St. Bernards are not the most playful dog breed. Sometimes they do like playing, but that's not their favorite activity.

It is not the best choice if you want to keep them indoors, however, with careful exercise and several walks a day, they will tolerate the indoor environment, so it is possible to keep St. Bernard indoors.

St. Bernard dogs adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. They don't mind moving from one place to another with their owner.

St. Bernard dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.

The St. Bernard has an average chance of biting somebody. Top reasons for dog bite: protection, pain, excitement, herding instinct, being provoked. (Data based on the available online bite statistics.)

St. Bernard dogs have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. It's a common habit during puppyhood, not aggressive behavior. These "bites" don't hurt, but St. Bernard dogs need to be taught a good attitude.

St. Bernard bite force: The Strongest. The St. Bernard bite force is among the strongest in the canine world. The bite force St. Bernard measurements are typically quite high, which is a testament to their powerful and large stature. The bite force of St. Bernard dogs is impressive, and their St. Bernard bite PSI is reflective of their powerful nature.

The St. Bernard PSI bite should be respected, and appropriate precautions should be taken when interacting with these dogs. The PSI of a St. Bernard bite is high, making them one of the strongest breeds in terms of bite force.

They are very protective of themselves and their families, therefore a dog bite from them could be exceptionally dangerous with their PSI being above 400.

To ensure a well-behaved and controlled dog, it's important to learn how to train a St. Bernard puppy not to bite from an early age. It is important that they’re trained to be around others safely.

The average lifespan of St. Bernard: 9 years

Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. Dogs with a double coat of fur have a layer of fur that insulates their skin and helps protect them from the cold and the heat.

Very healthy dog breed. The St. Bernard rarely meets with the veterinarian.

The St. Bernard should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). If your dog shows any symptoms, call your veterinarian.

St. Bernard dogs have a lower energy level than other dogs. If you live a chilled life, this breed can be a good choice for you.

St. Bernard dogs exercise need is minimal. If you live a slow life, this breed can be a good choice for you.

St. Bernard dogs like sleeping so they do sleep a lot. They're not the most active dog breed. If you live an active life, this breed can be a bad choice for you.

Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the St. Bernard's weight, he can easily gain weight. More than one daily walk should be on schedule. To make your dog happy and fit, feed him with quality dry dog food and live an active life together. Try to find the happy medium between exercise and feeding.

If you notice any weight gain, consult your veterinarian and make a diet plan. Reduce unhealthy food and snacks, and measure the St. Bernard weight regularly.

St. Bernard dogs don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing allergic reactions. Some dog breeds are even considered to higher possibility of an allergic response. Coat type isn't necessarily relevant, because most people are allergic to dander (flakes on the dog's skin) or saliva, not actually to dog hair.

Average: The St. Bernard requires average grooming effort. Cutting the dog's hair by a professional groomer isn't essential.

Brushing the dog's coat is useful to reduce shedding. Ears and eyes should be cleaned regularly to avoid infections.

Don't skip the seasonal flea treatment too. Dog nail trimming and dog bath can be helpful sometimes.

Check the local pet store for dog grooming supplies and find the best dog shampoo to keep its coat healthy and give your dog a pleasant experience of a dog bath.

If you don't have the time, skill, or money to take care of your St. Bernard, search for a dog groomer or clipping service in your area and book an appointment.

Maybe you're lucky to have a dog boarding service that includes grooming or walk-in dog bath places nearby.

The St. Bernard is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed. Drooling is the unintentional saliva flowing outside of the mouth. It can be completely normal or a sign of a health problem. Certain dog breeds drool much more than others, just like the St. Bernard.

If you notice any change in your dog's drooling habit, you should contact a vet as soon as possible.

The St. Bernard has a high chance of bad smell. Top reasons for dog stinkiness: infection of bad tooth/ear/skin folds, gas attacks.

Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. According to a study, 56% of pet parents don’t bathe their dogs as frequently as they should, and 60% use the sniff test when deciding when it’s bath time.

Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. It’s also a good time to look for unusual scratches, bumps, fleas, and other irregularities. When their hair is wet and flat against their body, these details are more visible.

St. Bernard dogs shed above average. It's a natural process of the hair growth cycle. The amount and frequency of hair loss mostly depend on their health status and breed type. If you don't like vacuum cleaning, you might have to reconsider your choice of having a puppy from the St. Bernard breed.

St. Bernard dogs are kid-friendly dogs. This breed is a good choice if you have children.

St. Bernard dogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds.

St. Bernard dogs are average friendly towards strangers.

St. Bernard dogs are very cat-friendly dogs.

St. Bernard dogs are very dog-friendly dogs. If you want more dogs in your family or you'd like to join dog meetups, the St. Bernard can be a great choice.

St. Bernard dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.

St. Bernard is not the best dog breed for office environment.

St. Bernards are usually recommended for elderly people.

This breed generally not used as a service dog. A service dog is a term used in the USA to refer to any type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities, such as visual impairment, hearing impairments, mental disorders, seizures, mobility impairment, and diabetes. Service dogs are protected under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

St. Bernard is not the best breed for service purposes.

This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. A therapy dog is a dog that might be trained to provide affection, comfort, and love to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and people with anxiety disorders or autism.

St. Bernard breed is a good choice for therapeutic purposes.

They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.

St. Bernard is not the best breed for detection purposes.

This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.

The St. Bernard breed is a good choice for SAR purposes.

St. Bernard breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.

Boat dogs were typically bred for their strength, stamina, and water resistance, as they were often required to perform tasks such as pulling in fishing nets, and jumping into the water to retrieve ropes or lines, or helping to move cargo.

Sailor dog is a type of dog that was bred to accompany sailors on their voyages. They were typically used for three purposes: as a working dog, a watchdog, and as a companion. A boat dog is a term used to describe a type of dog that was traditionally bred and used as a working dog on boats.

A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. Dogs bred for this work have strong builds and qualities that are needed, strength and determination.

St. Bernard breed is a good choice for drafting purposes.

In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. A combat dog is a specially trained dog that is used in warfare to help protect military personnel and assets. Combat dogs are often deployed in areas where there is potential for contact with the enemy, such as during raids or search operations. Combat dogs are typically assigned to either infantry or special operations units. They are used for a variety of tasks including area security, sentry duty, trackers, and explosive detection. In addition to their combat roles, combat dogs also play an important role in troop morale by providing companionship and emotional support.

Reproductive cycle of the female St. Bernard: The first period called Proestrus lasts for about 9 days.

During this time the females start to attract males. You can notice by swelling vulva and bloody discharge.

The second part is the Estrus when the female is receptive for the male. It lasts for about 3 to 11 days.

The sign of the proestrus part is the soft and enlarged vulva. The discharge decreases and lightens in color.

The third part is the Diestrus. Normally, it occurs around day 14. In this period the female’s discharge changes for vivid red and coming to its end. The vulva returns to average, and she will no longer permit mating.

The fourth part called the Anestrus. The time frame between heat periods normally lasts about six months.

More frequent breeding is not healthy. It is very important not to buy a dog from a puppy mill, where the needs of the pups and their mothers are ignored. It's an inhumane high-volume dog breeding facility, where puppies born several times a year.