If you are a fan of Saint Bernards, you’ve probably seen enough of the Beethoven movies to get a pretty good idea of what this breed is like. They really are big, messy, goofy dogs. However, not all St. Bernards will cover the house with slobber. Many of these massive dogs are dry mouth, which means they don’t have a drooling problem.

Since the St. Bernard is a big dog, be prepared to buy a lot of food and do a lot of yard clean up. You should start training your puppy early and often, so you are in control of your dog when it starts to outweigh you. We’ve noticed that as this breed reaches 6 t0 9 months, many puppies really attempt to challenge their owner’s authority. Be prepared to stand by any command you give and stay firm or your dog may grow up to become a very big, very bad bully instead of the marshmallow hearted sweetie you should have.

Before buying a Saint Bernard, be sure to ask the breeder if the parents have been screened for hip dysplasia. Having a dog this big that can’t walk turns an already terrible defect into a nightmare.

Share This