Hi all
I seen a st bernard dog tonight when out on our walk, so cute,  i want one. Even tho its going to be years yet befour i can get a pup
does anyone have one. as i no only a little on this breed. So all information needed please. Going to learn well,  befour i get one.

Loulu

St Bernard History

The breed takes its name form the Hospice of The Great St Bernard Pass which was founded after AD980 by St Bernard De Manthon as a refuge for travellers through the dangerous Alpine Pass between Switzerland and Italy.  By 1707 the overworked monks realised that dogs with their superior noses, strength and water-resistant coats were better equiped to rescue travellers.  They had in bred sense of direction, which was the key to survival in blizzards which caused humans to become lost and disorientated.
Early records have been lost but by 1800 , the monks had established their own breeding programe, calling the dogs "Alpine Mastiffs".
Tales of great rescues were reported one of the most famous dogs "Barry" having saved the lives of 40 people.  On his 41st mission, the traveller killed the poor dog in a "fit of cowardly terror".
Around 1810 the breed was refered to as the "Barry Hounds" In the 1830s many of the dogs were lost due to interbreeding, disease and bad winters causing the monks to outcross the dogs with the, Great Pyrenees, and also it is thought Great Danes.
This established the St Bernards breed, today the breed is still a mascot at the monastary. In 1870 the Reverend J C Macdona, an english owner, brought the breed before the public, making a sensation in America.

St Bernards are slow thinkers, they require a lot of understanding from their owners during training, Young dogs must be taught not to pull on the lead, as this a habit that is hard to break when they are older.
Exercising St Bernards puppies must be done gradually to avoid putting strain on their growing bones and tender tissues, even with the adult dog, care must be taken to build up exercise gradually.  A "Gentle Giant" sums up the character of a St Bernard, they are good humoured, trustworthy, and benign.  This is a breed that loves family life and revels in the company of children, they are loyal dogs and rarely bark.  St Bernards need daily grooming to remove loose hairs the ears should be kept clean, and the eyes checked regulary, especially those that have drooping eyelids.  St Bernards are clean animals, but do tend to slobber.  The breed can be solid white with red markings, solid red with white markings or brindle patches with white, and there are both long haired and short haired St Bernards.
They are definitely on of the most expensive breeds to own, with large feeding bills.  Average puppy price is £900+ yearly vet checks are recommended.  They can suffer with hip dysplasia and both parents of a puppy should be hip scored.
HTH, Dean

Hi Loulu, i had Saints for many years when we lived in our bigger house as you do need space as they take up alot of room and they slobber every where it would be up the walls doors ceilings any place, i always had a wipe cloth in my hand, and they are active dogs and you have to be very careful as they get bloat, and if you get a rough coat it will need grooming every day and they shed  alot we had both the rough/smooth, and they do need training as some males can be a handful, i love them.