Saint Bernard Pups Facts and Health Problems Information

You have often seen the picture of the sweet Saint Bernard in the snow. More than one traveler on the Swiss Alps owes his life to the Saint Bernard. Developed by the monks in the Alps to be a rescue dog, this breed has done its job well time and time again. They are an old breed and are known to exist as far back as the 1700s.

Appearance
The Saint Bernard is from the Working Group. These are large dogs that weigh 120 to 200 pounds and are 26 to 28 inches tall. They have a short coat, typically, but can sometimes have a long haired coat as well. If they have a short coat, the snow will not stick to their hair as much, making them more versatile while searching. When the dogs became popular during Victorian England (and the warmer climates), these owners bred them to have longer, more beautiful hair and also worked to make them larger and larger.

Make sure that your prospective puppy is outgoing and sweet tempered. If you only concentrate on the appearance, you might end up with a high-strung and difficult animal that just looks pretty. It is more important to have a sweet dog than a fearful and aggressive 120 pound animal on your hands.

Characteristics
Young children can sometimes be knocked over when a new puppy is introduced because these puppies are clumsy and have a lot of new strength. When they get older, however, they will become more graceful and will not knock children over.

Apartments and town homes do not suit the Saint Bernard. They need a lot of room and aren’t happy without plenty of space to run around in. If they don’t get enough exercise, the Saint Bernard has been known to get into trouble because they are bored.

The Saint Bernard is loyal and loving with a strong desire to please. Their enormous size as an adult means that training as a puppy is integral. You will want to establish control and guidelines while they are still manageable. They will also meet strangers and other dogs at this time as well, which will be good for the puppies.

Health Problems and Grooming
Saint Bernards eat a lot of food based on their size. The breed can suffer from hip dysplasia and you might want to find food that gives them plenty of nutritional value to make them strong. These dogs are also prone to heart diseases and tumors.

Short-haired Saint Bernards do not need a lot of grooming. They will just need to be brushed once a week.

The Saint Bernard might be the same size as most people, but they make wonderful pets with plenty of room to run around in.

         

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