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).

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

Owner guide - Good temperature for Saint Bernard

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

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

Owner guide - Hip dysplasia in Saint Bernard

Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to learn more about hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a skeletal defect in Saint Bernard. The ball portion in this condition (especially the femoral head) of the hip is not securely seated in the socket portion. This condition is quite common in working and sporting breeds of dogs. It would be typically essential to check a saint Bernard for that matter!

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

Owner guide - Plan to feed your Saint Bernard

Plan to feed your Saint Bernard 6 to 12 cups of food a day. This breed is more like us, humans. Best to feed them with frequent small meals rather than allow him to bloat. So in case you’re planning to lose weight and keep his weight and activity level high, don’t force down his meals to one or two in a day. Feed your Saint Bernard several small meals.

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - How much is it for a Saint Bernard?

Saint Bernard puppies sell in the range of $650 to $1200 according to breeding.

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - What should I do when bringing home a new Saint Bernard puppy?

Keep that diet during the first days, to avoid some digestive upsets, and change it gradually, never abruptly. Check the vaccines already applied to the Saint Bernard puppy, and if possible, ask breeder for a certificate indicating date and type of vaccine, which, in the future, could be of great help for your veterinarian, specially because now there are all sorts of vaccines available. It's also important to know how many times the Saint Bernard has been treated against parasites, and the date of the last one. In case of pedigree dogs, appropriate certificates will be given to you: the pedigree. That is the genealogy tree of the animal, and all the details of the register or a transfer card declaring the property cession to the competent authorities. This is very important for dogs that in the future, could be presented in exhibitions, cause if they are not properly registered they will be considered mixed-breeds.

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Can I trust Saint Bernard breeders?

An honest Saint Bernard breeder will appreciate your interest in a determined breed and will give you a date. Try always to visit the place; even if it is far away, cause it is better to travel some distance rather than receive a wrong bred dog or a sick one. Breeders working at small range always have litters of Saint Bernard puppy living at their homes. This guarantees that these Saint Bernards are used to domestic life since their birth. Temperament will change from one dog to another, and some will be more dominant than others. The most dominant are usually the first at the time of eating, pushing his brothers away from food. Puppies sleep for long periods, so that doesn't mean they are sick. Watch them all for a while before making up your mind.

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover

HEALTH INFORMATION

Health Concern : In general, the Saint Bernard is quite healthy. However, they can be prone to Wobblers Syndrome. The correct name for this problem is cervical vertebral instability. It is common in very large, fast growing dog breeds. Wobbler Syndrome causes the dog to wobble when they walk, particularly around the back end. They may also have difficulty with their front legs which may make them take short, choppy steps. If your dog has Wobbler Syndrome, your veterinarian may recommend kennel rest for a period of time and may prescribe pain medication as well as anti-inflammatory medications.

Saint Bernard is also more prone to bone cancer than many other dog breeds, and the tendency has been found to be hereditary.
.
Saint Bernard can also be prone to hip dysplasia, another problem in large, heavy dogs. Check with your breeder to find out about either of these problems in the lineage of any Saint Bernard you're considering Saint Bernards have a tendency to experience Bloat. For this reason, it's better for him if you feed him two small meals each day rather than one large one.

Saint Bernard - Dog Lover