Dog care - Be careful not to overexercise

Be careful not to overexercise your Saint Bernard puppy in its first two years of life, when its delicate bones are still forming.

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Dog care - Take your Saint Bernard on daily walks

Take your Saint Bernard on daily walks, but keep it on a leash. Because of its size, a Saint Bernard can quickly become unmanageable if it so desires. Bear in mind that they are slow-moving.

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Dog care - Train your Saint Bernard early in life

Train your Saint Bernard early in life to socialize with children, people and other pets. Although a loyal and obedient dog by nature, the Saint Bernard can be difficult to manage because of its size alone.

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Dog care - Concern about hip dysplasia

Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to learn more about hip dysplasia.

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Dog care - Give your Saint Bernard high-grade dog food

Give your Saint Bernard high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent, and crude fat no less than 20 percent. Also, the fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.

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Dog care - Plan to feed your Saint Bernard

Plan to feed your Saint Bernard 6 to 12 cups of food a day. Because the Saint Bernard is prone to bloat, remember to give it two or three small meals a day, as opposed to the normal one to two daily meals.

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Dog care - Vaccinate your Saint Bernard

Vaccinate your Saint Bernard and follow up with yearly booster vaccinations to maintain the dog's immunity to diseases. Worm your adult dog every three months, and consult your veterinarian about defleaing products.

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Dog care - Remember that Saint Bernard does not like to be alone

The secret to success with the Saint Bernard, as with any large dog, is early training. Teach it to obey as a puppy, and its large size will be quite manageable when it matures. Remember that the Saint Bernard is a family dog and does not like to be alone.

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Selection guide - Plan to spend a lot of money on food

Plan to spend a lot of money on food. A Saint Bernard eats 6 to 12 cups of food a day.

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Selection guide - Be aware that Saint Bernards are only truly happy when they are with the family

Be aware that Saint Bernards are only truly happy when they are with the family. If you plan to keep yours outside, this may not be the dog for you.

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Selection guide - Note that a Saint Bernard will reach an impressive size

Note that a Saint Bernard will reach an impressive size. Males grow to heights of 27 inches and weigh between 110 and 180 pounds. Females will reach heights of at least 25 inches and will also weigh between 110 and 180 pounds.

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Selection guide - Look at potential breeders very carefully

Look at potential breeders very carefully, being sure to ask whether they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. Affiliation through a club means you can check their references to make sure they are not a puppy mill (a place where puppies are constantly bred for financial gain without consideration of the integrity of the breed).

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Selection guide - Understand the health problems that a Saint Bernard is prone to

Understand the health problems that a Saint Bernard is prone to. These include wobbler syndrome (a spinal disorder), heart and skin problems, hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint) and extropion (folding eyelid). Talk to a breeder to find out what type of screening they have done for these health problems.

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Selection guide - Check out a Saint Bernard's features before you get one

Check out a Saint Bernard's features before you get one. There are two varieties: longhaired and shorthaired. Their coats are white with either tan, red, mahogany, brindle (gray or tawny with darker streaks or spots) or black markings on it. Overall, the Saint Bernard should appear large and muscular with a bright and friendly expression.

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Selection guide - Realize that despite the Saint Bernard's size

Realize that despite the Saint Bernard's size, it is well-behaved indoors and not overly active. It does well in apartments, as long as it gets plenty of exercise.

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Selection guide - Saint Bernard is a family dog

Remember that a Saint Bernard is a family dog and very playful, loving and watchful with children. However, should you decide to get one, it must be supervised with children so that it doesn't knock them over.

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Selection guide - Choose a Saint Bernard if you are looking for the granddaddy of watchdogs

Choose a Saint Bernard if you are looking for the granddaddy of watchdogs. Its size alone makes it a formidable presence to strangers.

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Owner guide - Good temperature for Saint Bernard

This breed does not do well in the heat, so be sure that Saint Bernard remains cool.

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Owner guide - Health of Saint Bernard

Make a definite effort to understand the health problems that a Saint Bernard is prone to. These would include wobbler syndrome (a spinal disorder), heart and skin problems, hip dysplasia and extropion (folding eyelid).

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Owner guide - Clean your Saint Bernard's eyes

Clean your Saint Bernard's eyes frequently with a moist cotton-wool pad. Be sure to use a new one for each eye.

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