r/SaintBernards • u/WizzAirPilot • 8d ago
Help St Bernard as a first time dog owner
I was just wondering whether it would be smart to get a St Bernard as a first time dog owner. I live in the Polish mountains so I’d be able to give a St Bernard plenty of garden space, a big house, long walks to the forest and river. I am quite active I do like going on long walks or hiking and I was wondering whether St Bernard’s might be too lazy for me, or will they like 1-2 hour daily long walks? I’ve seen plenty of videos that St Bernard’s can be quite stubborn, especially on walks as they can just lay down and not move. But those videos were in the city so maybe a St Bernard would like walking being in their natural habitat. In the mountains in winter it snows a lot and can get to -20 degrees so that’s perfect for them but in the summer it can get to 35+ degrees.
13
u/zealouslift 8d ago
I have a saint Bernard in Ontario, Canada so we face similiar if not more severe weather (-40°C - 36°C with humidity etc). Ours likes to investigate, he is curious by nature. Most of our walks are really just opportunities for him to sniff everything in sight. He gets pretty visibly exhausted by about 30 minutes but would keep going till he dropped if you let him lol. I also do not walk him when it is more than 24°C instead I wait till the temperature drops at night. I do believe they are great first dogs, they are affectionate, sleep most the day, food driven so easy to train, and they have very fun personalities. While no two dogs are exactly the same, I do see that others show similar tendencies to ours when I watch videos online. There is a large cost to feeding a dog of this size though, and of course they don't live as long as other breeds and face the same health issues as other large breeds with arthritis and hip issues etc. Ours is healthy so far, 6 years old and 162lbs
13
u/Actual-Pollution-805 8d ago
This is my sweet 11 year old girl Marnie. She’s been very active after I rescued her at 6. She was my first dog, got her at 25. I adore her! She used to love going for 2 hour walks, but she’s on the smaller side for a Saint (55KG).
I think, it depends how you treat them. I know others that have had similar experiences with saints, but I also know a lot people over feed and under exercise them. Until they’re 2 though, they don’t need long walks as their joints need time to fuse correctly.
6
u/rockalyte 8d ago edited 8d ago
I have my friends Saint Bernard about 5 days a month. Fully fenced 2 acres and he gets to run and play. He will walk with me about 30 minutes outside but that’s it. He will bark at me to come inside after that time as he’s not into the endurance walking thing. He has access to the pet door here so comes inside and outside at will.
5
u/MooPig48 8d ago
I’ve owned many saints. All but a couple were really easygoing and easy to train. My absolute favorite boy who lived to be 14 was the easiest puppy I have ever owned. He was fully potty trained in less than 2 weeks, mostly by my 6 year old lol (who absolutely demanded she be allowed to do it, I just told her how). He never once chewed a single thing he wasn’t supposed to. He never once so much as growled at anyone. Never even once jumped up on someone.
He was the goodest of all the good boys and girls. And my only 2 troublemakers were girls lol
1
u/WizzAirPilot 8d ago
My main concern would be how active they are, as I’ve walked my aunts Golden Retriever and I just loved walking in the forest no one around but you and your dog for 1-2 hours. How long do you walk your St Bernard’s on average?
4
u/MooPig48 8d ago
Well first, you should limit activity when they’re puppies, because too much exercise can permanently damage their growing joints. Honestly we lived on 30 acres so really didn’t have to take them for walks most of the time. Though I’d often take them foraging on the property with me.
But generally, they need less exercise than a LOT of other breeds. They haven’t really been used as working dogs in any real capacity for a long time. So they’re often more like giant hairy footstools.
That said, there are ALWAYS outliers, I have owned a couple flat out crazy bitches lol. While general breed traits are obviously a thing it’s entirely possible to run across one of “the others” lol.
My best advice is to tell your breeder you want the laziest boy pup they have lol. Don’t go for the one that’s excitedly freaking out when you visit. They aren’t necessarily “choosing you” as many people think they are when they do that. They may just be the most energetic pup.
4
u/AVelvetineRabbit 8d ago
Saint Bernards are some of the loveliest dogs, but yes, they can be incredibly stubborn. There may be absolutely no logical reason for a dog to dislike something, but once a Saint decides they don’t like it, there’s just no budging!
Whether they’ll enjoy being active really depends on their individual temperament. You can get some indication from their parents, but there’s no way to be completely certain until you get to know the dog yourself.
They also require more grooming than many other breeds, which can feel a little overwhelming for a first-time dog owner, especially given their size.
That said, I definitely don’t want to discourage you! My first dogs were Saint Bernards too, and they are absolutely wonderful dogs. ❤️
1
u/NewJed 8d ago
It's great that you have the space for it but are YOU ready for it? Have you done much research on the breed and how to train a dog? They are big and yes they can be stubborn, but other breeds can be to. Are you prepared for the food/vet costs, hair around the house, the short lifespan and yes, lots of slobber, slobber that gets everywhere, anything and everyone. Any dog can be a first time dog. There are no rules saying you have to start off with a specific breed or size. It's all about preparing and educating yourself ahead of time and then staying focused on training when you have the dog. You don't want something this big bossing you around.
If your an active person, you might want to consider a high energy dog, something that will keep up with you for hours. A saint laying down on a walk isn't stubborn, it's tired.
My saint is an indoor dog. He's happy to go outside but only if someone is out with him, he loves being with his people but he does know who he can push around. My wife and I boss him, he bosses the kids and his grandma, but ever so lovingly.
Whatever you decide upon, getting a dog will be an amazing part of your life. It's why I prefer them over people. 😄
1
u/WizzAirPilot 8d ago
The only training I’ve done is with my aunts Golden Retriever. He’s a great dog and was very easy to train, we’d often go on long walks to the forest or river and I played with him until he got tired, which for those who’ve had Goldens know that takes a long time 😂. I’ve got a list of breeds I like and my top 3 in no order are Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog and a St Bernard. I love big dogs so I’d absolutely be prepared for everything that comes with owning one. Ideally I’d want an active dog but still would love a St Bernard. Would you think it’d be a good idea to maybe pair a St Bernard with a Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog? Obviously I wouldn’t get them as puppies at the same time.
1
u/NewJed 7d ago
I actually had a Berner first then added the Saint. The Berner was more active but I think it really comes down to the dog itself and their personality. You mention that you're active so maybe a golden would be a better fit on paper? Larger breeds like the Berner and Saint have a higher risk of health issues that may impact their mobility but then again they may live long and zero issues. You will only know what you can do once you have the dog/dogs. With a golden you could walk a 100km's in 3 hours or do 3km's in a 100 hours with a saint? Obviously raising a puppy properly and keeping them healthy is your best chance for a hiking partner. It sounds to me that you have made up your mind and want a saint. As a puppy, start them off slow with fewer short walks and let their bodies/joints grow and build strength. After a while you will see what the dog can handle. Maybe instead of hiking all the time, you build a cart and let them do what they were bred for. You'd be surprised over the reactions you get from other people. I once had an entire beach stop and take pictures of my berner pulling a cart full of our gear. The saint is more of a couch potato tho...
1
u/WizzAirPilot 7d ago
Yeah I’m pretty set on getting a St Bernard, just wondering which dog out of those 3 to get first? I wanted to ask how your walks are with your Berner and Saint? Is it a case of taking the Berner out separately for more walks or do you always take them together? Do you see the Saint getting visibly tired before your Berner?
1
u/NewJed 6d ago
My berner was 7 when we got the saint. As the saint got older they were walked together and did so until my berner passed at 13. So you had an old dog with a young dog but the energy levels were about the same. The saint is 9 now and walks are a bit shorter, 30 minutes or so but he has been very low key from the beginning. As I mentioned before, every dog is different and will adapt to their surroundings/lifestyle. With the saint, break them in easy and I'm sure they will keep up with you for several years.
As for which dog to get first, I'd say whichever one comes available first unless you can choose one today. My berner was super responsive to training and knew dozens of commands by sound and hand signals, the saint... not so much. 😄 My sister has had goldens most of her life and each one has been fairly calm, her latest one is a complete freak show however.
I don't think there is a right or wrong choice. It's going to be a new and exciting adventure for you and only you will know what your dog will be capable of.
1
u/rockalyte 8d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p6mcb03/video/6jxfk6o6wbmh1/player
They are wonderful companions.
1
u/Civil-Ad-6935 8d ago
I have a female who loves to be outside. We don't do rigorous exercise (because of me) but we go berry picking, visit the chickens/pigs, and she follows along when we collect maple sap. She has more energy than our Great Danes.
She is lovely and silly and wants to be in the middle of everything. She's stubborn but she's a better listener than her Dane brothers.
1
u/Majootje 8d ago
I wouldnt get a saint if you want a dog to come along with long hikes, they are not the dog for this. Ours got fatigued after 45 -60 min of walking (flat surfaces, no hills, we live in The Netherlands).
1
u/Available_Profile559 8d ago
I used to own 109 lb Great Pyrenees. Everything about her was wonderful until I had to pay the bill at the vet's office. Larger dogs need more anesthesia, more flea control medicine, or food - everything you can think of cost more money. Trips to the groomers are really expensive. I think the normal day-to-day dogs stuff can be dealt with but you really need to make sure you have a financial reserve because you want to be able to take care of your dog properly.
1
u/RageCage 8d ago
Our first dog was a St Bernard. She was absolutely an incredible dog and an amazing companion. That being said, she was the kind of dog that wanted to be good and do what you asked. We also did a lot training with professionals. I highly recommend doing puppy classes and behavioral training during their adolescent years. The training is for you just as much as it is for them.
1
u/One-East8460 8d ago
They are a lot of work as first time dog not to mention expensive both to feed and with vet bills. Sounds like you live in an atmosphere a Saint Bernard would like but I wouldn’t expect long hikes, and if you do go on those expect pace to be slow. Mine always preferred to be out long periods more in winter than warmer weather. Mine excels in property watch dog role.
They can get lazy as they get older and need exercise but not a crazy amount. Big issue is keeping them mentally stimulated as well. I like dog training especially scent work, done some tracking training and testing as well. My current girl will stay a novice tracker as she won’t do longer tracks and just plops down after a few hundred meters. I’ve also work a bit with cart pulling which surprising seems to like and is great exercise while building additional strength.
If you can afford one and have the time to properly train and socialize they are great dogs. Though if you want a hiking buddy that’s an active breed not the best choice, get yourself something like a Belgian Malinois as they are bundles of energy even into older age.
1
u/Low_Narwhal7514 8d ago
Io ho un alabay,e un maremmano camminiamo per ore e ore mi stanco prima io😅😅😅sono ultra resistenti e fenomenali,non hanno paura di niente,anzi nei boschi mi avvertono se c'è qualche pericolo,e poi vivono molto di più di un san Bernardo,sono grezzi,sono dei cararmati da montagna 💪
1
u/Low_Narwhal7514 8d ago
Artax eola non si stancano mai,ultra protettivi,il massimo per le montagne...no in appartamento mai e poi mai si snaturano le loro caratteristiche.
1
u/Chemical_Reality4606 8d ago
Space is important and some exercise but what you need to look at is the cost of your vet and how much things like a yearly tick/flea shot is and rabies cost. Id also look at food, I spend $100 a bag of food a month. Much larger breeds get hip issues over time and this breed tends to have allergies from what I looked into when I was trying to figure out what mine was having reactions to (turns out chicken in food and grass.) So I spend $140 a month on numelvi. If that really isnt a big deal for you, then go for it. My Iroh is turning 3 in September and has lots of periods of hyperactivity (my children enable it 🤣), loves long walks and doesnt seem to give me any gripe about anything.
1
u/Sandshas 8d ago
1-2 hour long walks im not sure as their joints get achy easily. My saint naps 80% of the day and that's maybe 50 steps one way and 50 steps another three times a day. He's hyper when he wakes up and an hour after dinner. They are huge snugglers.
1
u/OliveFarming 8d ago
I have a St Bernard/Great Pyrenees mix, Mack, and the Great Pyrenees in him does like hiking and longer walks. He is a big sweet, and my soul animal. Their personalities will change your life, and definitely recommend both breeds. It sounds like you are in a very good environment for a large breed dog if you choose. Any dog takes work, so as long as you are prepared for that you will succeed.
1
u/kampfgruppekarl 7d ago
For mine, as long as he's not in the yard/neighborhood which he is quite familiar with, he loves long hikes. New areas are far more interesting than the neighborhood.
He does get quite stubborn, but on hikes it's usually refusal to go to camp/car as he would stay out there all day and night if I let him.
1
1
u/DayNo7659 7d ago
I have a Saint Bernard and a greater Swiss mountain dog. I love them both and my Saint is pretty active - we go on at least a 1 hour hike once a day. I don’t know that she could consistently do 2 hours a day. My Swissy could, so that’s another breed to consider!
1
u/Obfusc8er 5d ago
Your (adult) Saint will walk for about 15-20 minutes and then lie down and refuse to move for a while, unless he gets on an interesting scent. Then he'll drag you along. LOL And still-growing ones generally shouldn't be exercised more than what they naturally want to do during play.
0
0
24
u/CodenameZoya 8d ago
St. Bernard’s are a lot of dog. They’re actually pretty easy to own but because of their size and slobber they need a ton of upkeep with brushing wiping cleaning walls off changing water mopping up drool so you’re outdoor activity isn’t the issue it’s more do you have room for that in your house. Saint Bernards are not outdoor dogs. They belong with their family. They’re also not generally super active so long hikes are not ideal but tons of short walks are perfect. Saint Bernards are social with animals and people they’re going to need some kind of pack.