At a glance the quick version
Hill's gives 120-200 lb for both sexes; the FCI standard sets no weight.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short (dense double) or long coat
Comes in two varieties: a short, dense double coat and a longer, slightly wavy coat with feathering. Both have a huge, powerful, well-muscled body and an impressive head with an alert, kindly look.12
Personality what they are like
A famously good-natured giant. It is friendly, calm to lively and watchful, and it tends to be patient and careful around children. Eager to please, which helps with training.1542
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate for its size. Sources range from under 20 minutes to about an hour of exercise a day; relaxed walks suit it better than hard running, especially while young and growing.43
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brushing more than once a week, and more often during the spring and autumn sheds. Keep a towel handy, as the breed drools.34
Home where they are happiest
Needs a large house and garden; suits town or country living.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Feed a quality diet in measured portions and avoid overfeeding; a lean body is kinder to its big frame. Its calm nature means it may eat less per kilo than more active breeds.4
Company who they like around
The story where it all began
Monks at the hospice on the Great St. Bernard Pass began keeping large mountain dogs around 1660 to 1670 for guarding and then for finding travellers lost in snow. The rescue dog Barry made the breed world famous in the 19th century. A Swiss breed club formed in 1884 and the St. Bernard became Switzerland's national dog.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Barry, the most famous hospice dog, is credited with saving somewhere between 40 and 100 lives.2
- 2
The hospice monks say their dogs never actually carried brandy barrels around their necks; that image is a myth.2
- 3
The last recorded Alpine rescue by a St. Bernard took place in 1955.2
- 4
The breed starred in the 1990s 'Beethoven' family films.4
- 5
It is the national dog of Switzerland.3
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 61, Group 2, Section 2.2 Molossoid, mountain type; standard dated 03.06.2016. Recognised as a Swiss breed in 1887.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Working group; not a vulnerable native breed.3
- AKC
- Working Group.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a St. Bernard. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 6every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 61, St. Bernard fci.beused for origin, recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Wikipedia: St. Bernard (dog) en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, fun facts, recognition
- The Royal Kennel Club: St. Bernard royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, lifespan, home, national dog
- Hill's Pet: Saint Bernard hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, exercise, diet, grooming, fun facts
- AKC: St. Bernard akc.orgused for temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.