Breed library

Saint Bernard

Also known as Bernhardiner, St. Bernard dog.

Saint Bernard photograph.
Hummel Vedor vd Robandahoeve.jpg - Blanky. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hummel_Vedor_vd_Robandahoeve.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The St. Bernard or Saint Bernard (, ) is a breed of very large working dog from the Western Alps; they were originally bred for rescue work by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass on the Italian-Swiss border, with Switzerland recognized as its country of origin by the FCI. The hospice, built by and named after the Alpine monk Saint Bernard of Menthon, acquired its first dogs between 1660 and 1670. The breed has become famous through tales of Alpine rescues, as well as for its large size and gentle temperament.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.

Breed facts

  • Bernard are from monks at the Great St Bernard Hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog dating even earlier.
  • Early British accounts of the breed described the breed as the Alpine Spaniel.
  • The first evidence that the dogs were in use at the monastery is in two paintings dating to 1690 by Italian artist Salvator Rosa.
  • Severe winters from 1816 to 1818 led to increased numbers of avalanches, killing many of the dogs used for breeding while they were performing rescues.
  • Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands brought from the Colony of Newfoundland in the 1850s, as well as with other breeds.

Size and appearance

The St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the molosser breeds. It is a giant dog. The coat is smooth being close and flat. The colour is primarily white with smaller or larger red patches with a clear to dark red mantle and reddish-brown mantle being the most 'valuable'. A brindle reddish colour and brownish-yellow colour are both allowed but less desirable. The tail is long and heavy, hanging high. The eye colour ranges from light brown to dark brown and should have naturally tight lids, with haws only slightly visible.

  • Body mass reference: 54.431 - 63.503 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 120 - 140 lbs. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 63.503 - 81.647 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 140 - 180 lbs. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 65 - 80 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 65 - 80 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 65 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 80 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 70 - 90 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 70 - 90 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 70 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 90 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: very_tall
  • Height category: tall
  • Weight category: giant

Personality and behavior

Known as a classic example of a gentle giant, the Saint Bernard is calm, patient, and sweet with adults, and especially children. Overall, it is a gentle, loyal, and affectionate breed, and if socialized should be very friendly. While generally not instinctively protective, a St. Bernard may bark at strangers, and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders. The St. Bernard was bred to be a working companion and to this day it lives to please its master, and is an amiable yet hard worker. St. Bernards have retained their natural ability for scent work and depending on the skill of the trainer and the talents of the dog, they can participate in tracking events or even become involved in search and rescue work.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.93 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 1.49 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.93 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.55 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 1.50 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 1.83 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.26 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.68 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.07 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.43 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.56 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.35 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.37 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Saint Bernard.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 9.3 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The earliest written records of the St. Bernard are from monks at the Great St Bernard Hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog dating even earlier. Early British accounts of the breed described the breed as the Alpine Spaniel. The first evidence that the dogs were in use at the monastery is in two paintings dating to 1690 by Italian artist Salvator Rosa. The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass was Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who reportedly saved somewhere between 40 and 100 lives. There is a monument to Barry in the Cimetière des Chiens, and his body was preserved in the Natural History Museum in Bern.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. St. Bernard (dog breed) - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, St. Bernard (dog breed), revision 1374483475. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St._Bernard_%28dog_breed%29&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Hummel Vedor vd Robandahoeve.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Hummel Vedor vd Robandahoeve.jpg - Blanky. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hummel_Vedor_vd_Robandahoeve.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.