 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Submitted by GWSBC club members and Saint Fanciers from around the country
1 – Where is the best place to buy a Saint Bernard puppy? I’m not planning on showing so why spend the extra money of going to a breeder of show
dogs? What kind of health guarantee should I expect? Should I ask to see the parents?
As with any major purchase, you want to be a wise consumer. A puppy is not only an investment in money, but in time and emotion. You want to make a wise choice.
Most “show breeders” will help you after you take your puppy home, answer your questions and assist you in raising your pup. They are interested in continuing to
improve the breed and to offer quality pets to the public. Be sure the breeder is knowledgeable about the breed and his or her dogs, and willing to answer your
questions. A breeder’s affiliation with a breed club is not a guarantee that the breeder is reputable, but it is a good indication that the person is devoting time and effort to
the breed.
A breeder should guarantee the health of his puppies subject to a veterinarian’s exam within two or three days of purchase, and a more extensive health guarantee should
cover genetic defects that may appear as the dog matures.
By all means, ask to see the parents. Personality traits as well as appearance pass from parents to offspring. Ask about any health problems in the parents and
grandparents.
2 – Why do they cost so much?
The cost of producing a litter of Saint Bernards is not low. IN breeding these large dogs, a reputable breeder has a considerable investment: in the initial purchase price
of the dog, a large investment in her show career, a sizable cost for health screening (him and elbow x-rays, thyroid testing) the cost of seeking a suitable stud dog (phone
bills, travel to see the dog), shipping the bitch to the stud’s place of residence to be bred, the stud fee (more phone bills), veterinary bills involved in the breeding
(brucellosis testing and, quiet often, ovulation timing testing), veterinary bills incurred during the pregnancy (ultrasounds, x-rays), extra food and vitamins, veterinary bills
incurred during whelping (possible C-section), care and special food for the bitch after whelping and during raising of the pups, worming and vaccination of puppies, puppy
food and other incidentals. Being sure you get a healthy dog is a large and expensive responsibility for the breeder. That responsibility becomes your responsibility, by
the way—for the cost of purchase is only the beginning.
3 – Should I get two puppies to keep each other company, since we all work or go to school and nobody is home during the day?
No. Two puppies will bond to each other and no to their owners, particularly if left alone a lot. This means they may be difficult to train. The solution is to crate train your
puppy, and have him/her spend the day there. Puppies sleep a lot, and the puppy will adjust to the family routine with plenty of attention and exercise morning and
evening. It is helpful, too, to have someone come midday to walk your puppy and play with him for a period, then crate him again. This breaks up the monotony and helps
with housebreaking, since it’s so difficult for a very young puppy to go all day without relieving himself. Do consider your lifestyle carefully before getting any dog—it just
may not work to bring a dog into your life at this particular time. Wait until your schedule is more conducive to raising and training a puppy.
4 – Should we get a new puppy for the kids since we are expecting a new baby?
NO! A puppy IS a new baby and the adults in the household need to be able to spend time and attention helping kids get in the routine of caring for the puppy. No matter
how happy everyone is about a new baby, there will inevitably be more stress in the household for a few months. This few months is the time a puppy gets the
socialization that will make it a good family member the rest of its life, so you owe it a lot of responsible attention the first few months.
5 – How can I be sure my dog won’t have genetic problems like hip dysplasia or eye problems?
You can’t. These problems occur in many dog breeds, no matter how carefully the breedings are controlled, in much the same way that people have health problems that
cannot be made to go away. The best way to lower the likelihood of this is not to buy from a pet shop, nor from a person who has produced only one or two litters.
Educate yourself first on the breed, and call and visit, if possible, several breeders you can find through this club and other Internet sources. Talk to them about these
problems, and about how they deal with these problems in their own breeding. People who are members of local and national dog clubs have more incentive to produce
healthy animals, since they keep dogs from their own breeding, and sell dogs to be shown and used in performance events. So we try harder to prevent genetic defects in
our dogs then a person who simply breeds the dogs to make money.
6 – What is the difference between a show prospect and any other puppy?
Dogs shown in conformation are competing on many fine points of appearance that, though necessary in breeding stock to keep the dog looking like a St. Bernard, may
NO be necessarily present in all dogs. A healthy well-bred litter typically produces a small proportion of puppies that will be competitive in conformation shows, but since
these pups are considered to be the best prospects for breeding they will be kept by the breeder or sold to persons seriously interested in breeding and thus showing.
The other puppies will be equally healthy, pretty and well bred, but may have faults that would prevent them from being bred but not from living a long healthy life and
competing in obedience and performance events.
7 – How much can I expect to pay per year for care of my Saint Bernard?
The first year of owning any dog can be expensive. You’ll need fencing, a crate, leashes and collar, bowls and toys, lots of food, shoots and obedience school. The next
year is generally much less expensive. You still have the vet bills and of course food and toys, but much less all the same. Costs vary depending on your geographic
locations, and even the veterinarians in your area may have different rats (do be sue not to select your vet merely on the basis of cost—be sure you trust him or her totally
with your dog’s care).
8 – What kind of food should I feed my puppy? How much?
Saint puppies should be fed a high quality adult maintenance food with a maximum protein level of 26% with a fat content of approximately 12%. Growth should stay
consistent and the puppy should be lean. This means you should be able to feel his ribs (not prominently, but very easily under a thin layer of skin). Fat puppies may be
cute, but you may be creating health problems in your dog’s future if you keep her overweight.
9 – How much exercise does a Saint Bernard puppy need?
Puppies should be allowed to self-limit their exercise. On his own, a puppy will usually sleep and exercise the right amount for him. Long walks and excessive amounts of
imposed exercise puts too much stress on developing joints and muscles and therefore are not advisable.
10 – When should I start to train my Saint puppy?
As soon as you get your puppy you should start to teach her what you need to make her a good pet. Dogs are always learning—it’s best to teach them what you want,
rather than what happens in the environment. Find a good puppy kindergarten and enroll you pup as soon as she has sufficient vaccinations to keep her safe. Get her
out and exposed to all manner of people and places, get her used to travel in the car, accustomed to walking quietly on the leash. Don’t stop her education after puppy
class—continue both the classes and exposure to the public for the life of the dog. More dogs are taken to the shelters because of lack of socialization than any other
reason. Don’t let this happen to your dog.
11 – Is it OK to keep my Saint in the house?
A Saint deserves a place in our heart and in our home. At the same time, it is very important to provide the right environment for the dog to exercise and to just be a dog.
What works for you is what is best for your dog. If you want your dog to live in your house, then by all means do so. However, be sure he gets adequate exercise,
outdoors, on a good supportive surface on a regular basis. Lots of interactive games with you and your dog with a ball or other toy will give the dog the exercise he needs
without overly taxing your strength; it also will help build your relationship with the dog. If the dog must spend a great deal of time outdoors, be sure that much of that time
is spent with you. There is no point in getting a dog if it will be confined to its own quarters, away from human companionship. Saints love to be with their people. And
their company is too wonderful to relegate to an isolated area away from you.
12 – How much toes a full-grown Saint weigh?
A male Saint Bernard can weight anywhere between 140 and 180lbs. and a female between 120 and 140.
13 – Do Saint Bernards really slobber? Shed?
YES! This is not a breed for finicky people. Slobber is as much a part of the breed as their gorgeous, big heads and sweet personalities. Just part of the territory. It is
necessary to their digestive process that they have saliva; and because of the structure of their jowls/lips, some of it has to come out in our direction. It’s a fact of life with
a Saint, as is the profusion of hair. In the house, a Saint will shed most of the year, with heavier periods during the late winter and summer, and they require a
considerable amount of grooming to keep this under control. The short haired dogs are easier to care for and keep looking neat, but they shed just as much as the long-
haired dogs.
14 – Do Saints need a lot of grooming?
Yes, but not so much as, say a poodle or many terriers. They have massive bodies and thus lots of hair, so just the territory to be brushed is huge. A short-haired Saint
can do with a good going over with a brush once a week, along with a nail clip and tooth-brushing. Ears should be cleaned out at the same time. A long-haired Saint
Bernard requires more care, or perhaps just longer sessions. Twice a week works pretty well for them. Brushing your dog is a wonderful pastime to engage in while
watching TV—and makes good use of that otherwise usually nonproductive time.
Information shared within the pages of the GWSBC website are offered for general informational purposes only. Neither the GWSBC club nor its members
endorse any particular breeder or medical practices.
| Different people with a common goal.... promoting quality Saint Bernard Dogs and the importance of responsible dog ownership!!! |
