Dog Breed Guide

Saint Bernard

Profile

Size

Extra Large

Country of origin

Switzerland

Origin

17th century

Bred for

Mountain rescue, Watchdog, Companion

Height

male 70 - 90cm (28 - 35in), female 65 - 80cm (26 - 31in)

Weight

64 - 82kg (141 - 181lb)

Life span

8 - 10 years

A giant dog with a large head and a gentle expression. It comes in two coat types, short and long, and is white with large reddish-brown patches. A black mask on the face and a white blaze down the nose are characteristic.

Very gentle and patient, and kind to children, the Saint Bernard is the classic gentle giant. It loves people and is happiest relaxing beside its family. Because it is so big, teach it from puppyhood not to jump on people or pull on the leash.

It drools a lot and suffers badly in heat, so in summer it needs to stay somewhere cool indoors. As a fast-growing giant breed, it should avoid strenuous exercise as a puppy to protect its joints, and bloat is also a concern.

Good to know

The breed is famous for rescuing travelers lost in the snow from the hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass, 2,469m above sea level on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Over some 200 years, these dogs are said to have helped save more than 2,000 lives.

The most famous of them is Barry, who worked around 1800. He is said to have saved 40 lives, and after retiring he spent his last years in Bern, the Swiss capital. Barry, preserved by taxidermy, is still on display at the Natural History Museum in Bern.

Saint Bernards are often pictured with a small barrel of brandy around their necks, but the hospice's records show no such custom; the image is thought to have spread from paintings. For many years the hospice gave the name Barry to its finest dog. Since 2004 the breeding has been carried on by the Barry Foundation. The mischievous star of the 1992 film Beethoven is also a Saint Bernard.