Saint Bernard
| Size at withers | 66–90 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 60–100 kg |
| Life expectancy | 8–10 years |
| Size class | Giant (> 40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–100 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Dense coat, short-haired or long-haired |
| Temperament | Calm, patient, deeply bonded; low activity |
| Common health issues | Hip and elbow dysplasia; dilated cardiomyopathy; gastric torsion; osteosarcoma; entropion / ectropion |
| Exercise needs | Moderate — 45–60 min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Very poor for hot climates. Not recommended in warm regions. |
| Owner notes | The number kept in hot urban climates is a welfare concern raised regularly by veterinary academies. |
Origin and purpose
Working (AKC). Origin: Swiss Alps; mid-17th century.
The number kept in hot urban climates is a welfare concern raised regularly by veterinary academies.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Calm, patient, deeply bonded; low activity
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat')
Osteosarcoma
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Ectropion
Elbow dysplasia
Entropion
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Cardiac auscultation, echocardiography, and Holter monitoring | Annually from 2–3 years in predisposed breeds — DCM is silent until it is not |
| Ectropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Elbow dysplasia | Radiographic elbow evaluation | Once at 12–24 months |
| Entropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') | No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds | At neutering, if the vet agrees it is indicated |
| Osteosarcoma | No screening test. Radiographs on any persistent limb lameness in a large breed | Do not dismiss lameness in a giant-breed dog |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) — Cardiac auscultation, echocardiography, and Holter monitoring
- Ectropion — Eye examination
- Elbow dysplasia — Radiographic elbow evaluation
- Entropion — Eye examination
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
- Osteosarcoma — No screening test. Radiographs on any persistent limb lameness in a large breed
Feeding
Slow, controlled growth is essential — giant-breed puppies grow for eighteen months or more, and pushing that growth with over-feeding or calcium supplementation causes lasting orthopaedic damage. Use a diet formulated for large- or giant-breed growth and keep the puppy visibly lean. As an adult, two measured meals a day, never one large one. Feeding costs are substantial and should be budgeted before acquiring the dog.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate — 45–60 min/day
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Coat and grooming
Dense coat, short-haired or long-haired. Brush 3× weekly. Drools heavily; heat-intolerant.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Very poor for hot climates. Not recommended in warm regions.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 8–10 years. This dog is a senior from around 5–6 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Giant breeds age fast and live short lives, and this is the hardest fact about owning one. Senior screening should start early, orthopaedic support matters from middle age, and cardiac and bone cancer risks are real. Go in with your eyes open. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
