Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard is a giant dog that has its origins in the Swiss Alps where it was used primarily as a hospice dog, specifically in search and rescue. Perhaps the most famous Saint Bernard dog was one called Barry who reportedly rescued 40 people.

Today, Saint Bernard dogs serve as family pets. They are loyal and protective. They also make excellent guard dogs but this is due mainly to its size, which can be very intimidating to strangers, rather than its natural guarding instincts.

Saint Bernards are great with children. Their devotion to their masters also makes them good companions. But before you decide to get this dog from a reputable Saint Bernard breeder, there are a few things you need to consider first.

Gentle Giants Need Gentle Care

Caring for Saint Bernard puppy or a mature dog is not something you can just go about with one eye closed. This dog needs as much devotion as he can give. Its size should give you some clue as to how much basic manners training and exercise he needs. His coat needs regular grooming. And his energy needs channeling in order to prevent development of destructive behavior.

In addition to that, there are many more things you need to know about the Saint Bernard before taking one into your household.

Choosing The Right Breeder

It is easy enough to find Saint Bernard dogs. Ever since the Beethoven movies (a film franchise that featured a Saint Bernard named Beethoven as its main character), many backyard breeders and puppy mill owners have jumped on the bandwagon, producing Beethoven look-alikes for families.

Now, this set-up wouldn’t have been so wrong if it did not result in irresponsible breeding. Finding a Saint Bernard dog may not be difficult. But finding a well-mannered one is considered extremely difficult.

Therefore, if you want to be certain about the kind of training that your Saint Bernard has received, then you are better off getting your new pet from a reputable Saint Bernard breeder than from a pet shop or a backyard breeder.

And you can always tell a good breeder from an irresponsible one by his devotion not only to caring for the dog but to the development of the breed itself, taking care not to breed those dogs that have defects that can be passed on to other generations down the line.

The Saint Bernard Puppy

Saint Bernards are docile and gentle creatures. So even if you have relatively little experience taking care of a dog, you shouldn’t get into any major trouble with a Saint Bernard for a pet.

If you have decided to take a puppy, be sure that it is already at least six weeks old because that is the age that a Saint Bernard pup can be safely taken away from its mother. Also, be sure that the puppy is healthy.

As for food, during the first few weeks, use food that is prepared to suit the puppy’s delicate digestive organs. Remember that your new puppy would still be adjusting from the sudden change between its mother’s natural milk and the artificial food you are eventually going to give him. Make the transition as easy as possible.

If the puppy is newly weaned, provide him with a bowl of milk. Keep to the same brand until the puppy grows older and is finally ready for scalded bread, puppy dog cakes or boiled oatmeal. After about twelve weeks, substitute the milk with broth until such a time that your puppy is able to eat solid foods. Now, as with any other growing dogs, his appetite will increase so you may have to feed him more but a lot less frequently.