Introduction & History

The Saint Bernard is a legendary hero of the Swiss Alps. Dating back more than 1,000 years ago with an uncertain origin. Some believe they emerged from mixes between native Swiss dogs and large Asian dogs that Roman armies brought to Switzerland. This breed was named for Archdeacon Bernard de Menthon, who founded a hospice in the Swiss Alps as a refuge for travellers. These dogs were being used as rescue dogs to locate travellers in need of help. It is thought that over 2,000 travellers have been saved by St Bernard’s, which labelled them Good Samaritan dogs.

Appearance and Personality

Females are approximately 66cm in height and 54 to 63 kg in weight. Males can reach 76 cm in height and weigh up to 81kg. Coat colours range from red and white, brown and white, and brindle and white. Some dogs also have darks masks over their eyes. The adult Saint Bernard sheds twice a year, in spring and autumn, so regular brushing will help to minimise such shedding. They come in long-haired and short-haired varieties but both types require the same care. Their life expectancy is 8 to 10 years.

Saint Bernard’s are loving, placid dogs and have an instinctive friendliness which offsets a stranger’s initial fear of approaching such a large breed dog. They are quick to protect families members who they believe are in danger. They are especially good for families with well-behaved children and are known to be exceptionally understanding and patient. These dogs are eager to please which can make training easier than other breeds. It would be best to also expose them to different people, other dogs, and various locations from an early age to boost its comfort and confidence.

Exercising a St Bernard must be done gradually when puppies to avoid putting excess strain on their growing bones and tender tissues, and care must be taken to build up exercise gradually. For their size, surprisingly, they do not need copious amounts of exercise. Due to their jowls, St Bernards are also prone to drooling.

Common Health Concerns

The five most common reasons for a St Bernard to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data from the 2021 calendar year include:

Rank Condition Average cost for treatment of the condition* Highest cost for treatment of the condition*
1 Otitis Externa $479 $1,984
2 Gait Abnormality – Lameness $446 $1,148
3 Diarrhoea $447 $3,112
4 Entropion $1,975 $5,926
5 Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder $701 $3,185

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

* Please note that the values calculated are based on all claims for that condition and medically related conditions in each calendar year.

For the same period (2021 calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for from PetSure data were:

Rank Condition Highest Cost of treatment for condition*
(average pet insurance claim amount)
1 Traumatic Injury $11,161
2 Elbow Dysplasia $9,597
3 Fracture – Pelvic Limb $7,934
4 Von Willebrand Disorder $7,804
5 Cruciate Disease $5,965

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

*Please note that the values calculated are based on all claims for that condition and medically related conditions in each calendar year.

 Most popular St Bernard names from PetSure 2021 calendar year data:

Most popular names

  1. Barney
  2. Winston
  3. Humphrey
  4. Bear
  5. Boston
  6. Delilah
  7. George
  8. Luna
  9. Mack
  10. Maggie

Most popular female names

  1. Delilah
  2. Luna
  3. Maggie
  4. Nala
  5. Rosie
  6. Winnie
  7. Alaska
  8. Aurora
  9. Bailey
  10. Bella

Most popular male names:

  1. Barney
  2. Winston
  3. Humphrey
  4. Bear
  5. Boston
  6. George
  7. Mack
  8. Mason
  9. Apollo
  10. Arthur

Did you know?

One of the most famous St Bernards was named Barry, who lived in the early 1800s. Barry was much smaller than the St Bernards of today, reaching similar size as a German Shepherd.

References

  1. Spruce Pets, Saint Bernard, accessed on 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.thesprucepets.com/breed-profile-saint-bernard-1117994
  2. Hills Pet Nutrition, Saint Bernard, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.hillspet.com.au/dog-care/dog-breeds/saint-bernard#:~:text=Saint%20Bernards%20are%20very%20large,(54%20to%2063%20kilograms).
  3. American Kennel Club, St Bernard, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/st-bernard/
  4. Purina, St Bernard, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.purina.com.au/dogs/breeds/st-bernard-dog#.YnCgn9pByUk