Breed Name
Quick Facts
Description
Height
Weight
Lifespan
Ideal Owners
Overview
Background
Breed Personality, Characteristics, and Temperment
Compatibility With Other Pets
Care Requirements
Conclusion
St. Bernard
St Bernards can live up to 9 years of age.
Families, couples, those living alone - just about everybody.
The Saint Bernard is the original and renowned rescue dog of Switzerland. Since the middle of the 17th Century the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard has been home to large mountain dogs that first protected the monks and their belongings, and later were developed to help find and rescue lost travellers.
The breed is friendly, loyal, fun loving (particularly youngsters) and people orientated. Individuals will range from very steady and quiet through to a more cheeky and boisterous personality. It is a breed that loves to please which makes training and socialising your pup from an early age an experience that you will both enjoy. With its history as a protector, many of today's "Saints" will also instinctively watch over the family and belongings, barking at strangers and demanding introduction before allowing that person to enter the home, but it must never be aggressive or fearful.
Like any other dog, it needs to be properly introduced and supervised with any new additions. Once a friendship is forged, most Saints take on a life-long attachment and consider other pets to be a part of their household.
St. Bernards grow rapidly in the first year or so, and sometimes very awkwardly. Because so much stress is placed on fast growing bones and joints it is necessary to keep a puppy from gaining weight too quickly and becoming fat. Limiting formal walks and training in the first 10 to 12 months of life will protect the growing pup from small injuries and stresses that may affect it well into adult life.
Please take note:
St Bernards – as with other giant breeds – can be prone to various complaints that may reduce their lifespan and enjoyment of life. While some of these, including heart disease, cannot be tested for when buying a pup, other problems, such as hip and elbow dysplaysia can be tested for in breeding stock.
If you have decided that the Saint Bernard is the dog for you and you realise that this is truly a big dog and can involve a lot of care, contact one of the groups listed below:
BREEDERS
| State | Breeder | Kennel | |
| WA | Ann Oppelaar | Raaleppo | Contact |
| NSW | Mandy Burns | | Contact |
| NSW | Amanda Burns | Luvbubs | Contact |
| VIC | Jim Harvey | Bernedale | Contact |
| SA | Kimberley Herewane | Snobound | Contact |
| SA | amanda chapman | sibernard | Contact |
| NSW | Rodney Herbert | Summervogel | Contact |
| QLD | Mike Scott | Mertonabbey | Contact |
| QLD | JIm John Frank Lesley Harvey Egglestone Newman Newman | Bernedale | Contact |
Disclaimer
We have vetted and approved these independent breeders as meeting, at the time, our criteria for the reliable breeding, feeding, care
and sale of suitable quality puppies of this breed. This does not mean that other breeders do not meet these criteria or are not otherwise
suitable suppliers. Nor can our vetting and approval guarantee the quality of a breeder or puppy or that you will be happy with them.
We disclaim any liability for the quality, acts or omissions of these breeders or their puppies and our approval of breeders is not a
substitute for you making all appropriate enquiries and checks (including veterinary checks) before choosing a specific breeder or puppy.
