Tess - Dog of the Month.

Our January Dog of the Month Tess would love to fill you in a little more about her breed and background so you can get to know this beautiufl giant a little better!

The Saint Bernard is a large, strong, muscular dog who is considered a gentle giant. The breed was founded by St. Bernard de Menthon back in 980 AD and was bred by the monks. Originally only the short coat was bred as the longer coat seemed to collect icicles in the colder climates. They were used to travel through the dangerous Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy and quickly became popular as rescue dogs to save people from avalanches due to their excellent sense of smell. The Saint Bernard was able to smell a person under many, many feet of snow and when they found the person would lay onto of them and lick them to keep their bodies warm.

They are an extremely loyal breed who are eager and willing to please. They are very tolerant with children and their gentle nature makes them a great family pet. They are a highly intelligent breed so training and socialisation with other animals and people must begin at a young age. You need to teach them that you are the pack leader from the start while they are at a manageable age. A disobedient, uncontrollable Saint Bernard is not a fun pet, as they can grow in excess of 90kgs! They make a fantastic watchdog, their size and deep bark is a great deterrent. They do drool, especially after drinking or eating! As a pup not too much exercise is advised until their bones are well formed and strong enough to support their solid frame, though as an adult as long daily walk is a must to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. They do suit well to apartment life as long as they are exercised regularly, they are able to live outside though prefer to be in with the family. They must be closely monitored in the warmer weather as their body is built for the cold.

Being a large dog, Saint Bernard’s are prone to bloat, this is when their stomach twists and if not treated quick enough will result in death. Like all broad chest and large breeds it’s best to feed them a number of small meals throughout the day instead of one large one. Grooming of both the long and short coat is an easy task, combing and brushing daily and only bathing when necessary. Their coat produces water resistant oil and regular bathing can strip this oil away. They only shed twice yearly. 

Thanks for reading - Tess.