The Heart Of Ohio Saint Bernard Fanciers, Inc., accepts the Breed Standard adopted by the International Congress at Zurich, Switzerland, on June 2, 1887 and all subsequent amendments as approved by the American Kennel Club and the Saint Bernard Club of America as the only standard to be used in breeding, evaluating and judging of the St. Bernard breed.
Breed Standard
Frequently Asked Questions
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 the 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/her 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 the 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 things 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/she 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 ST. BERNARDS HAVE SHORT HAIR?
The original Saint Bernard’s 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 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 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/She 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. There is more information about Saints in various climates elsewhere on this site.