The Saint Bernard is a very large and intelligent dog originally from Switzerland. He is eager to learn and also very affectionate. Despite its imposing appearance, the Saint Bernard is a gentle, calm, loyal and child-friendly dog that is easy to keep in a family.
General
Saint Bernard is notable for its large and massive stature. A male can reach a height of 70-90 cm (or sometimes even higher), a bitch can reach a height of 65-80 cm and it can weigh over 80 kg. It has a muscular body and a broad head with an impressive muzzle. There are two varieties of this breed namely the short-haired and the long-haired. Both short-haired and long-haired dogs have their hair smooth or slightly curled and close to the body. The colors red and white are the most common, but black can also occur. They have white markings on the chest, legs, nose, neck and tail tip. The character of the Saint Bernard is characterized by friendliness, good-naturedness, peace and relaxation. They are balanced in behavior and, despite their vigilance, are not excessive barkers. This giant is very good with children and will protect them with heart and soul.
Origin
The Saint Bernard is related to the Swiss Mountain Dog and became known for his rescue work. From the end of the seventeenth century, the Saint Bernard was kept as a mountain dog by monks in Switzerland to guide and guard them. The dogs have a very good sense of orientation and they soon began to track down and rescue lost travelers in the fog and snow. They were extremely suitable for this, this breed is very vigilant and they have an extremely good sense of impending danger. We are all familiar with the statue of Saint Bernard with the keg of brandy around his neck, which probably originated from a myth. Later, around 1830, the dogs were crossed with Newfoundlanders and Pyrenean mountain dogs, which led to the creation of a long-haired variety in addition to the original short-haired variety. Nowadays the Saint Bernard is rarely used as a rescue dog, because he has become too big and too heavy due to breeding (probably crossed with the mastiff), they are now mainly kept as domestic dogs.
Movement
The Saint Bernard needs a lot of space. This large dog does not have much urge to move, but he does need some space to develop, he can also appreciate long walks. A small townhouse may not be the best idea for him, he feels more at home in a house with a large yard or yard. In this way he can also use his urge to protect. The Saint Bernard is not only good-natured and helpful, they are also very smart. His intelligence, coupled with his pronounced ability to learn, makes the Saint Bernard easy to train. They are therefore suitable for agility or obedience training.
Health
Due to its considerable size and weight, Saint Bernard is at an increased risk of developing HD (hip dysplasia) and ED (elbow dysplasia). It is therefore important that puppies are careful about movement. Furthermore, health problems such as wobbler (a hereditary nerve disorder that puts pressure on the back and neck vertebrae of the dog), skin disorders and heart problems. They also often get eye inflammation because of their drooping eyelids. The average age is about ten years.