Information on Saint Bernard Breeders
The dog that we recognize today as a Saint Bernard has had many different forefathers dating back to the 1st century A.D. A mixture of mastiffs, hounds and great danes have produced what would eventually be known as the Saint Bernard. The Archdeacon Bernard de Menthon was the first of the Saint Bernard breeders. He instituted a hospice in the Swiss Alps as a shelter for travelers in the rugged Jural Mountains. The isolation of the hospice necessitated in-breeding and line-breeding, and created a huge and powerful short-coated dog. The hospice itself became victim to an avalanche, and many of the dogs were lost. Even more were lost due to a distemper epidemic. The few remaining dogs were bred with Newfoundlands, and the breed we recognize today as the Saint Bernard was born.
Saint Bernards are friendly, patient, tolerant with children and very loyal. They will bond with the whole family. They thrive on affection and only want to please. Saint Bernard breeders will tell potential new owners that they are easy to train, and that training and socialization should begin early. An unruly Saint Bernard can quickly become unmanageable as it grows to adulthood. The home should have lots of space. The males can weigh up to 260 pounds, so you may feel as if there’s another person living in the house. And since they drool after they eat or drink, they may not be a good choice for the picky homeowner. Saint Bernards require daily exercise and their life expectancy is 8-10 years. They do not do well in hot weather, warm rooms or in cars.
Saint Bernards face many health issues; these include genetic conditions as well as conditions common to large dogs. Saint Bernard breeders must be very careful to selectively breed, because genetic conditions may dissipate with careful breeding practices. The genetic conditions include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. The conditions that affect large dogs include bloat, a potentially fatal twisting of the stomach. You can help to avoid this condition by ensuring that the dog bowl is raised and that the dog eats slowly; giving two or three meals daily in place of one may help. In addition, Saint Bernard breeders find that their dogs can suffer from bone problems, which include osteosarcoma and osteochondritis, the heart problem of cardiomyopathy, extropion (the eyelid folds outward) and entropion (the eyelid folds in on itself), and skin problems. Proper diet is crucial for these dogs; their bodies grow very fast, and owners must be careful not to overfeed them. But no matter their health concerns, breeders know that Saint Bernards make wonderful companions.
