Saint Bernard - devoted, patient and gentle giant

Saint Bernard - devoted, patient and gentle giant

Bernardine. This awe-inspiring calm giant with a gentle-temper fully deserves the admiration he is bestowed upon. It is famous for its great stature and equally big heart. Qualities such as devotion, loyalty and exceptional patience make him an excellent guardian and family friend.

Big Saint Bernard

St. Bernard - the standard of the breed

According to the FCI classification, St. The immediate ancestors of this breed were large mountain farm dogs, which were bred in the Alps from the 2th century for the purpose of guarding and defending their homes. The first Bernardine to be mentioned in the Swiss Book of Breeders (in 1884) was Leon. Since 1887, the Bernardine is officially recognized as the national breed of Switzerland. Over the years, its exemplary features have undergone many modifications. The standard adopted in 1993 is now in force.

General appearance

Saint Bernard is a large, strong dog with a muscular, harmonious body structure. It comes in two varieties: short-haired (hard-haired) and long-haired. The short-haired variety is characterized by a thick, straight and hard topcoat with an abundant undercoat. There are small pants on the thighs and the tail is very densely covered. The long-haired variety, on the other hand, has a straight, medium-length coat with a lush undercoat. The hair is short on the head and the muzzle. Feathers protrude on the front legs, and distinct pants on the thighs. The basic color of the coat is white, with rusty-brown patches of various sizes or with brindle. In both varieties, white markings on the chest, feet, tip of the tail, muzzle and neck are desirable.

Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:

Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog ​​is different.

On average, female dogs weigh 60-85 kg, and their height ranges from 65 to 80 cm. Dogs, on the other hand, weigh 75 - 90 kg, and their height ranges from 70 to 90 cm. The St. Bernard has a massive head with well-developed cheekbones. The skin on the forehead creates lines above the eyes that become more pronounced when the dog is alert. Eyes of medium size, usually dark brown or hazel in color, have a friendly, intelligent expression. The ears are pendulous and the tail is long, heavy and wide at the base. St. Bernard has a strong, well-proportioned body with a fairly deep chest and well-defined withers.

Character of Berdardine

Before deciding to bring a Saint Bernard home, you should analyze his most important character traits. The puppy is a calm, gentle and balanced pooch who is devoted to his owner. Also, an adult St. Bernard is a very good companion to all household members and their best friend, provided that he receives a lot of warmth from them. There is also no problem accepting another animal in the house. Calm and balanced character are the hallmarks of this breed. This Swiss quadruped, however, needs close contact with people and a lot of attention.

Character traits of the Saint Bernard and his massive appearance, which arouses respect among other people, predestine him to act as the house keeper. He is very alert, has an excellent sense of smell and can sense impending threats. Due to its size, it feels best in a large house with a garden. In such conditions, he can discharge energy according to his temperament. A St. Bernard can live in a playpen, but only on condition that he has good and constant contact with people. At the same time, remember to give your pet permanent access to attractions, especially during the puppy period. These can be towing ropes or balls. When buying, pay attention to the material from which they are made and choose the most durable. When giving rubber balls to puppies, you must systematically check the condition of the toy and make sure that the pooch has not swallowed any fragment.

Bernardine is perfect among the youngest members of the family, towards whom he is gentle and exceptionally gentle. However, it cannot be left alone with small children, because due to its size, it may inadvertently hurt them.

Saint Bernard and care

Though St. Bernardines have thick hair, they don't require complicated and time-consuming care. The huge advantage is that their hair is self-cleaning. It is enough to brush an adult St. Bernard once a week, and the hair Puppies should be combed even several times a week. In during the molting period, when your pet sheds abundantly, it should be combed daily. In long-haired dogs, you need to pay special attention to the hair behind the ears, It has a great tendency to felting and it is worthwhile to remove all litter on a regular basis. In addition, due to the predisposition to inflammation, you should control the inside and outside of the ears, regularly take care of their hygiene, while keeping in mind the area around the eyes. It is worth getting your pet used to all the treatments from the puppy, so that we can be sure that when the Saint Bernard reaches its mature size, it will not rebel while grooming.

Saint Bernard - health

Due to their posture, Saint Bernards struggle with many ailments typical of large, massive dogs. The most common diseases affecting this breed include:

  • hip dysplasia, degeneration of the joints and spine in old age
  • eyelid defects - ectropion (eversion) and entropion (collapse) and inflammation around the eyes (usually the third eyelid)
  •  osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint (a disorder of endochondral ossification) 
  • expansion and torsion of the stomach

 Saint Bernards are prone to purulent ear infections, which can be prevented by regularly washing and thoroughly wiping the auricle and inner ear canals (preferably once a week). This breed, although much less frequently, is also affected by heart conditions and cardiovascular disease. 

Interesting facts

  • Legend has it that the heroic Bernardine Barry, who served as a lifeguard in the Alps at St. Bernard's Pass at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, saved the lives of as many as forty people!
  • A native of an American St. Bernardine kennel named Benedictine, he is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the heaviest dog in the world. He weighed 134 kg.  

Maybe you'll like it:

Also check....

How to deal with dog diarrhea
Category: Blog, Dog health,

Dog diarrhea is one of the most common health problems in dogs. It is not a disease in itself, but only a symptom that may occur in the course of many ailments. It can occur as a result of simple indigestion, but it can also be a symptom of a serious illness. Therefore, understanding the cause of diarrhea and the ability to determine where it occurs in the intestines is crucial for the effectiveness of the therapy. 

White Maltese
Category: Blog, Dog breeds,

The Maltese is a lovely dog, a white ball with an exceptionally nice disposition. With remarkable ease, in just a few seconds, it can melt the human heart. He is a companion dog, an excellent family friend, although his long and interesting pedigree indicates various predestinations.

Nose in a dog
Category: Blog, Dog health,

Dog nasal spray is a highly contagious, extremely dangerous disease that can lead to irreversible changes in the body or result in the death of the animal. It is common all over the world and, together with parvovirosis, is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases among canines. While dogs can develop the disease at any age, puppies are most at risk, as well as fragile and elderly dogs. Thanks to preventive vaccinations, the incidence of distemper has been significantly reduced. Remember, however, that the virus is still in the environment and is a threat to our pets.