St Bernard dog!…Did you see it in your mind’s eye? That big black, white and tan dog standing on the snow with a barrel of booze strapped to his neck? A mobile bar tender of sorts. If you’re like most of us, you certainly did. The St Bernard dog breed is best know for saving lives in the Alps, booze under chin, but what else is important to know about the St Bernard dog?
Here are 5 need to know facts about the St Bernard dog that current owners already know, and perspective owners should know. For example, did you know that St Bernard dogs can fit an entire size 12 tennis shoe in it’s mouth? Actually that’s not true, but sometimes the St Bernard slobbers so much you’d swear there were shoe laces hanging from either side of their mouths.
1. This Aint Lassie
St Bernard dogs are an intelligent and incredibly strong dog. They won’t tell you that Billy fell down the well, but they 
may be capable of pulling the well out of the ground. Proper training for St Bernard dogs is imperative to start early. As with any dog, a solid obedience foundation is required as a puppy, but especially with a St Bernard, otherwise you will have a strong, intelligent dog running your house.
St Bernard dogs may be a little challenging to train, but be patient. They can be independent and stubborn, and are often rowdy when young, but they mellow out very nicely as they mature. St Bernard dogs need daily exercise and mental stimulation, but they will tire quickly. For St Bernard puppies, you will find the most benefits with multiple short burst of play until they are about 2 years old to allow full bone development, whereas with a mature St Bernard dog a long, daily walk will suffice, barrel of booze optional.
2. Ready, Set, Groom!
St Bernard dogs come with two different coat types, smooth and rough. Rough simply means that it’s coat is a little
longer. Both coats are extremely dense and St Bernard dogs will shed twice a year almost religiously. If you’re taking notes at home, that was large dog-dense fur-sheds on purpose twice a year. Don’t let that scare you though, grooming schedules for St Bernard dogs are really quite minimal, just remember, whatever fur you catch in a brush is fur you won’t catch in your mouth, every corner of the house, the butter dish, on the furniture, in your bed…you get the idea.
Otherwise, St Bernard dogs should only be washed when they need it, ie: stinky or dirty. They have an oily water resistant coat that can be affected by over doing the ole’ rub a dub. Too much washing will strip the coat of those needed oils. Always remember to use a gentle dog shampoo. St Bernard dogs also have watery eyes. It’s important to keep the St Bernard’s eyes clean and free of any foreign debris to avoid additional problems.
3. Part of the Family
The number one response you will get from St Bernard dog owners when asked what they like best about their dogs are that they are superior family dogs. These gentle giants are great with kids, I mean really great. The thing to be aware of is actually the kids abusing the dog thinking they can ride them like a horse. The St Bernard will ly there and subject themselves to being used as a jungle gym and will be perfectly content.
St Bernard dogs have a very sweet disposition despite their enormous size. They are very much part of their families and do not like being separated from their family for long periods of time. They can be protective but will most often ward off strangers with their deep bark and sheer mass.
4. Keep Your Wallet Handy
St Bernard dog owners need to know that the breed can be expensive. First of all, they are one of the faster growing dog
breeds and with an average weight of 100 to 210 pounds, they eat, and eat and eat and eat. Second, and it’s unfortunate about the St Bernard dog breed, but they are prone to a few expensive genetic problems.
With an average life span of 8 to 10 years, St Bernard dogs are prone to heart problems, extropion (where their eye lids fold out, fixable surgically), dry skin and eczema, hip and elbow dysplasia and maybe the worse, bone cancer. With the latter, if you are buying from a breeder, they should be able to tell you about the genetic lines of the dog and if cancer has run in that particular St Bernard’s dog blood lines.
The good news with this is that one can significantly reduce the cost of vet bills simply by ensuring that your St Bernard gets proper nutrition. True with all dogs, but especially for the St Bernard dog, ensuring proper nutrition through diet and supplementation will drastically cut down on vet bills, increase life spans and improve the over-all quality of life for your St Bernard.
5. Size Doesn’t Matter
Although they are huge, St Bernard dogs don’t necessarily need a huge area to live in. They can make a comfortable home in an apartment if needed, but they will require some space to sprawl out inside the house. An ideal setting is a single family home with a fenced yard and a long daily walk. They are playful companions but because they tire easily, you will most often find then snoring in their favorite place. They are also very cat friendly.
Due to their breeding heritage, St Bernard dogs like colder weather. They actually have a very low tolerance to high heat and humidity, but I suppose we all do. Excessive temperature changes aren’t taken kindly either. Going from an air conditioned house to a hot sidewalk may prove to be a short journey.
