Saint Bernard Dog Breed Information

The Saint Bernard is the iconic Alpine rescue dog, instantly recognisable from a hundred Christmas cards and almost as quickly recognisable for the volume of drool produced by a 70 kg adult after a drink. In New Zealand the breed is uncommon, mostly kept by families on lifestyle blocks in Otago, Canterbury, and the cooler central North Island where the climate suits and there is room for a giant indoor dog.

Adults stand 65 to 90 cm at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 82 kg, with males consistently larger than females. The breed comes in two coat varieties, both correct under the standard: short-haired (the original Hospice type) and long-haired (the result of 19th-century Newfoundland outcrossing). Both are double-coated, weather-resistant, and shed heavily. Colour is always a base of red, brindle, mahogany, or orange combined with white markings.

Personality and behaviour

Saints are calm, affectionate, and deeply bonded to family. They lean against people, sleep on feet, and prefer to be in the same room as the household. The breed is patient with children, civil with strangers, and tolerant of other dogs. Aggression is heavily faulted in the breed standard, and a well-raised adult is more likely to greet a visitor with a slow tail wag than to bark.

The trait that surprises new owners is the level of drool. The breed has loose flews that hold water and saliva, and a vigorous head shake will redecorate a room. Drool also lands on walls, ceilings, jeans, and visitors. Households that prize tidy interiors will struggle.

The other surprise is sensitivity. Saints read tone and atmosphere closely, and harsh handling produces a withdrawn adult. Reward-based training is the standard. The breed does not handle being shouted at and bonds tightly enough that a stressed household builds a stressed dog.

Saints also do not cope with long workdays alone. They are family dogs in the literal sense and develop separation anxiety when shut outside or left for ten hours at a stretch.

Care and exercise

Plan on around 45 minutes of moderate exercise per day for an adult. The breed is not built for endurance running, and joint development through the first 18 months means avoiding forced jumping, slippery floors, and high-impact play. Two short walks per day plus indoor pottering suits the breed better than one long bike-jor session. Lifestyle blocks with grass and gentle hills are the natural environment.

Grooming is regular but manageable. The double coat sheds heavily year-round and dramatically twice a year. Brushing two to three times a week is the baseline, with daily brushing through the seasonal coat blow. Long-haired Saints need an extra session weekly to prevent matting on the britches and behind the ears. Bathing every six to eight weeks is enough; the coat is mostly self-cleaning.

Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a real risk in deep-chested giants. Feed twice daily, avoid hard exercise within an hour either side of meals, and learn the early signs (unproductive retching, restlessness, distended belly). It is an emergency vet visit, not a wait-and-see condition.

Heart screening matters in giant breeds. Dilated cardiomyopathy occurs in the breed and reputable breeders cardiac-test their breeding stock with a veterinary cardiologist before mating; ask to see clearances. Eye conformation issues (entropion and ectropion) are also common; the puppy you are looking at should have clean, dry eyes without inward or outward eyelid roll.

Where to find a Saint Bernard in New Zealand

Three paths, in order of typical preference.

1. Registered NZKC breeders. The Dogs NZ breeders directory lists every registered Saint Bernard breeder. Expect a 12 to 24 month waitlist (litters are infrequent), NZ$2,500 to NZ$4,500 per puppy, and detailed parent health screening (hip and elbow scores, cardiac clearance, eye certificates). Reputable breeders ask about your fencing, work hours, and prior giant-breed experience before they accept a deposit.
2. Breed-specific rescue. Saint Bernard rehoming in NZ is informal and coordinated through the breed club rather than a dedicated rescue. Adolescent and adult dogs occasionally come up, often surrendered by under-prepared owners. Adoption fees vary.
3. SPCA NZ. Pure Saints are rare in SPCA centres; Saint crosses appear very occasionally. Adoption typically NZ$300 to NZ$600 including desexing, microchipping, and vaccination.

Avoid Trade Me listings without parent health screening and any breeder who cannot show you the dam in person. The breed’s heart, joint, and eye risk make unscreened lines especially expensive over a lifetime.