The St. Bernard Dog is a large breed of dog originally bred for rescue and as a working dog. A full-grown male can weigh between 150 and 220 lb (68 and 100 kg)and the approximate height is 27.5 inches to 35 inches. According to several resources they are the one of the largest dog breed. There are two varieties of the breed: the short-haired or smooth-coat variety and the long-haired or rough-coat variety.
The Saint Bernard is known for its loyalty and vigilance and is tolerant of both children and animals. Because of these traits, it has become a family dog. They also make good watchdogs, as their size can be intimidating to strangers, though their temperament is gentle.
Appearance
The Saint Bernard is a dog whose every characteristic conveys strength, size and power. The head is large and broad with loose wrinkly skin, and the ears set high on the skull. The muzzle is short with a scissors or even bite. The eyes are intelligent and friendly, and are set deep enough in the skull that the eyelids do not close completely. The back and chest are well muscled and powerful, as are the fore- and hindquarters. The legs add significantly to the overall height of the dog and the feet are broad, both features adding to the dog’s effectiveness at trudging through snow. The coat can be either short or long, but is always dense and tough yet smooth to the touch. The coat is predominantly white and red, with the chest and feet always white, and the head having dark markings.
Temperament
St. Bernards are very gentle giant dogs. St. Bernards are often fond of children and are loyal to their family, but, as with any dog, should not be left unsupervised with young children. It is imperative that St. Bernards should also remain very socialized because of their size. They are also very prone to anxiety if left alone for long periods of time and may destroy their owner's belongings like all other dogs. It is recommended that a suitable safe environment be made available during times that the owner cannot be home. This could range anywhere from a fenced yard to a suitably sized crate (normally Extra Large). They commonly get along very well with other dogs and love high amounts of attention.
Even though they can usually be seen lounging around the house, that's not all they do. Depending on the dog, they like to dig, and are capable of jumping over fences. Before you consider bringing this type of dog into your house, make sure you have lots of room for them to run, and a sturdy fence that they can't jump over, or dig under.