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.
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.
Females are somewhat smaller at about 26-28 inches at the shoulder and typically range
from 120 to 140 pounds.
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.
ARE THEY EASY TO TRAIN? Because of the size of
the animal, the Saint Bernard MUST be trained and this must be done early in his life.
Fortunately, Saints are eager to please and will begin responding to commands as soon as
they understand what you want of them.
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.
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 an offensive degree.
ARE THEY GOOD WATCHDOGS? The Saint's size and
bark will discourage most intruders, yet he 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 him straight to the family silver since he would much prefer to be a friend to
all. The one exception to this is when a member of the family is being threatened. The
Saint's instinct to protect those he loves becomes very apparent at this time.
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 their Saints. Today, the influence of that breeding is
still with us and we have both long and short-haired Saint Bernards.
HOW MUCH ROOM DO THEY NEED? The Saint by nature
does not require acres and acres to roam. They are not as active or nervous as some breeds
and are content to remain close to home for the most part. Consequently, a small fenced
yard or kennel run is enough just so long as there is some place for regular exercise. The
apartment dweller must be walked frequently to make up for the exercise he would normally
take at his leisure.
SHOULD I GET A MALE OR A 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. Modern veterinary practice recommends neutering of
non-breeding animals of both sexes as a means to a healthier, better pet.
HOW DO THEY HANDLE THE HOT WEATHER? The dog will do
well as long as there is a cool dry place to nap and plenty of fresh cool water. He will
cut down both his food intake and his amount of activity. It must be remembered that going
from an air conditioned place into the boiling heat can be disastrous. Abrupt changes in
temperature are extremely hard on a Saint.
