The Saint Bernard Community

The Saint Bernard is one of the world's most instantly recognisable and beloved dog breeds, a giant, powerfully built and magnificently gentle Swiss dog developed by the Augustinian monks of the Great St Bernard Hospice, a monastery and refuge located at the Great St Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps at an altitude of 2,469 metres, over several centuries as a mountain rescue dog to locate and save travellers lost or buried in the snow on the perilous alpine passes. The breed's heroic history of alpine rescue - the legendary individual Barry (1800-1814) is credited with saving more than forty lives - made it one of the most famous dogs in the world by the nineteenth century. The breed was formally standardised and registered with the Swiss Kennel Club in the 1880s and subsequently registered by the Kennel Club in the Working Group. The Saint Bernard exists in two coat varieties: the rough-coated, with a long, thick and slightly wavy outer coat, and the smooth-coated, with a short, dense and close-lying coat. Both varieties are white with red or brown and white markings. The head is massive, broad and expressive, with the kindly, intelligent and slightly concerned expression that has made it one of the most universally recognised of all dog faces. Adults typically stand 65 to 90 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 54 to 82 kilograms - one of the largest of all recognised breeds. The character entirely justifies the breed's legendary reputation for gentleness. The Saint Bernard is calm, patient, affectionate and deeply devoted to its own family, with a particular and well-documented affinity for children - tolerant, protective and genuinely fond of the young in a way that is entirely characteristic of the breed. It is good-natured with other dogs and generally open and pleasant with people it meets. The practical realities of Saint Bernard ownership should not be minimised. The drool is substantial, unavoidable and is an inseparable feature of the breed's brachycephalic tendencies and pendulous lips. The food requirements of a giant breed are significant in both volume and cost. The grooming commitment of the rough-coated variety is real. Space requirements are considerable. Health considerations are serious. Bloat is a life-threatening risk that must be managed actively. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia testing is essential. Osteosarcoma has a higher documented incidence in giant breeds. Purchase prices from KC-registered, health-tested breeders range from £1,000 to £2,500. Monthly running costs average £150 to £250. The Saint Bernard Club of Great Britain is the primary resource for breed information, health testing requirements, responsible breeders and rescue contact.