WorkingSwitzerland

Saint Bernard

The Alpine rescue dog, gentle giant included.

Weight: 120–180 lbs
Height: 26–30 in
Lifespan: 8–10 yrs

In short

The Saint Bernard is a giant working breed from Switzerland, kept by monks at the Great St. Bernard Hospice to guide and rescue travelers in the Alps. Adults weigh 120–180 lbs and live 8–10 years. Gentle and patient, they need early training, a cool climate and an owner ready for drool.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a gentle, patient family giant
live somewhere cool
don't mind drool and dog hair

Think twice if you…

live somewhere hot
have stairs and no elevator
want a dog that lives into its teens

The daily plan

Exercise: 30–60 min
Training: 1–2 × 5 min
Treat limit: 225–305 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityWilling learner6.5/10

EnergyEasygoing3.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors10.0/10

SheddingHeavy shedder8.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Massive head with loose lips
Expect drool, especially after drinking and in warm weather.
02
Giant, powerful frame
Bred to push through deep snow; strong enough to pull an adult over.
03
Short or long coat
Both types have a dense undercoat and shed heavily, especially in spring and fall.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	140–180 lbs	120–140 lbs
Height	28–30 in	26–28 in
Lifespan	8–10 yrs
Coat	Short or long, dense double coat

Side profile 26–30 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Saints are calm, friendly and famously patient. They like being with their people and are usually easygoing with visitors. Young Saints are clumsy and bouncy, which at this size needs managing.

With kids

Usually gentle and patient with kids, but their size can knock toddlers over.

With other pets

Generally friendly with other dogs and cats.

With strangers

Friendly and calm; their size alone deters most strangers.

Alone time

Usually handle time alone well when adult, as long as they're cool and comfortable.

Training

Saints are eager to please but can be stubborn and slow to respond. Start training young, before they outgrow you.

How often

1–2 sessions a day of about 5 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

From 8–16 weeks, focus on calm greetings, handling and loose-leash walking. A Saint that pulls or jumps becomes a problem fast at full size.
Self-control

Teach loose-leash walking and "wait" at doors and in the car. A calm greeting without jumping is essential.
What it works for

Food and praise work best. Use small, high-value pieces such as freeze-dried liver, kept within 10% of daily calories, since extra weight is hard on giant joints.

Exercise

Saints need daily moderate walks and some play, not running. Cool weather suits them best.

Exercise a day 30–60 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Daily leashed walks
Gentle play in a cool yard
Cart pulling once fully grown

Brain work

Scent games
Food puzzles
Basic obedience

Best home

Best in a house in a cool climate; heat and stairs are hard on them.

Watch for No forced running or jumping before 18–24 months, avoid heat, and no hard exercise around meals given bloat risk.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Saint Bernard (120–180 lbs) lands around 2,250–3,050 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 2,800–3,800 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 280–380 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 14–19 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 2,250–3,050 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 225–305 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 11–15 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 3,075–4,175 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 310–420 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 15–21 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,975–2,650 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 200–265 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 10–13 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	2,800–3,800 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	280–380 kcal	14–19 pieces
Adult Maintenance	2,250–3,050 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	225–305 kcal	11–15 pieces
Active / Working	3,075–4,175 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	310–420 kcal	15–21 pieces
Senior	1,975–2,650 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	200–265 kcal	10–13 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, heart disease and eyelid problems are the main concerns, and Saints have short lifespans. Keep them lean and learn the signs of bloat.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Elbow dysplasia	OFA elbow evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Heart disease	Cardiac exam by a veterinarian or cardiologist	In breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Eyelid and eye disease	Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist (CAER)	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Degenerative myelopathy	DNA test (SOD1)	Once (a DNA result does not change)

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Saint Bernard breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Hip evaluation (24 months+)
Elbow evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Heart exam (24 months+)
Degenerative Myelopathy

Also recommended

Thyroid panel

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Heavy, with big seasonal sheds

Brush weekly (2–3 times for long coats), daily during seasonal sheds. Wipe drool and around the eyes daily. Trim nails every few weeks, check ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week.

History

1000s–1600s

Alpine hospice

The Great St. Bernard Hospice was founded around 1050; by the late 1600s monks kept large dogs there.
1700s–1800s

Rescue dogs

Hospice dogs guided travelers through the pass and found lost ones in the snow; a dog named Barry became famous for his rescues.
Late 1800s

Recognition

The breed was named Saint Bernard in the 1800s and recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Questions owners ask

Are Saint Bernards easy to train?

Moderately. They are eager to please but can be stubborn. Start leash training early, while you can still move them.

Are Saint Bernards good with kids and other pets?

Usually. They are gentle and patient with kids and friendly with other pets. Their size means toddlers need supervision.

How much exercise does a Saint Bernard need?

About 30–60 minutes a day of walks and gentle play. Avoid heat and hard exercise around meals.

Do Saint Bernards shed?

Yes, heavily, with big seasonal sheds. Brush weekly and daily during shedding season, and expect drool.

What health problems do Saint Bernards have, and how long do they live?

Saints live 8–10 years. Watch for hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, heart disease and eyelid problems. Ask for hip, elbow and heart results.

Is a Saint Bernard good for apartments or first-time owners?

Not usually. Their size, drool and heat sensitivity suit a house in a cool climate. A first-timer can succeed with early training and space.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Saint Bernard needs only 11–15 pieces a day, well inside the 225–305 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Saint Bernard ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.