The St Bernard is a descendant of the Tibetan Mastiff. These dogs were taken to the Alps by the Romans in around 1000 AD and were crossed with Great Danes and Great Pyrenees. This gave rise to what we now know as the St Bernard around the 17th century.
Originally these dogs were bred for protection and as watchdogs but now belong to the working family of dogs. St Bernard’s are also commonly used for search and rescue, particularly in colder climates as their massively thick coat allows them to spend large amounts of time in the snow without any problems. For this reason they are often called upon to look for people who may be buried in avalanches. They have the ability to find people buried deep under snow. They are excellent swimmers and can be relied upon to tow people and boats back to shore.
St Bernards are large, strong and muscular dogs. They can have short thick coats making grooming easy or a longer medium haired version is also popular. St Bernards are sensitive to people’s needs and desires thus making them very loyal and obedient dogs.
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Do St Bernards Make Good Pets?
The answer is undeniably yes! St Bernards are extremely gentle and dependable dogs and are very well suited to families with children. Unfortunately, due to their size many people are reluctant to buy a St Bernard. These dogs are exceptional as family pets as they are sweet, gentle, protective and intelligent. These dogs prefer the cold so living outside is no problem for them. They don’t like warm, stuffy rooms or cars in hot weather. If you live in a warmer climate you will almost certainly need air conditioning for the summer months.
St Bernards can be quite active when they are young but this boisterousness develops into a mature dog with energy and stamina. Until around the age of two your St Bernard will need quite a lot of exercise; several short walks and play sessions per day. As your dog gets older the walks can be reduced to one to two long walks per day and playtime sessions a few times per week. This means it’s possible to own a St Bernard if you live in a city apartment as long as you are willing and able to exercise your dog regularly.
Are St Bernards Difficult to Train?
It is a common misconception that their size makes them more difficult to handle, this is no more true than for any other breed. St Bernards are extremely bright and willing to learn which makes training a fun and rewarding time. You will need to take the same approach to training your St Bernard as you would with any other dog type. As they are very intelligent, they learn easily and quickly.
Due to the size of your St Bernard it’s a good idea to start training early (around eight weeks) and be consistent and firm with your commands. An unruly large dog on a leash can present a number of problems, especially in public. Make sure, as the owner, you control your dog from the beginning.
St Bernard training should start with plenty of socialisation. Make sure your puppy meets all types of people and is exposed to a wide variety of experiences and noises. Although St Bernards are natural watchdogs and will warn their family about anything or anyone approaching, they are not aggressive dogs. St Bernards are always willing to help and keen to please their owners. After a short time training your St Bernard basic dog obedience commands, you will progress to more complex tasks like fetching and returning objects and catching a ball. For more detailed information on training your St Bernard we recommend the lessons provided by the Dog Training Zone.
