St. Bernard is a large, powerfully built, heavily coated dog that is famous for helping to rescue people lost in snowstorms in the Alps. Their thick coats protected them well against ice and snow and their outstanding sense of smell led them to victims buried in snow or avalanches. They are also excellent pathfinders, never losing their way. They accompanied the monks on trips into the valley, and their ability to sense avalanches often saved the lives of the clerics. The breed gets its name from the Hospice of Saint Bernard, where it has long been kept by the monks to help them in rescuing lost travelers. By the 1970's they were credited with saving more than 2,500 lives.

Physical Characteristics: The modern St. Bernard is somewhat larger than the old hospice dogs.

• Height: The dog stands 25 to 30 inches (64-76 cm) tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: About 170 pounds (75 kg) (when full grown).
• Head: The Saint's most impressive feature is his powerful and imposing head. It has a massive skull with a rather squarish muzzle and high set ears that droop sharply to the side of the head and moderately deep-set eyes; and noticeable wrinkles.
• Body: It has broad sloping shoulders, a very broad back, strong legs, broad feet, and a rather long and bushy tail. The female St Bernard has a finer and more delicate build.
• Hair Coat: They have a very dense, coarse, short-haired coat, but some long-haired varieties have been developed. The coat is usually red and white with white markings on the chest, feet, noseband, ruff, and tip of the tail. The coat shed profusely at least once a year.

Grooming: His coat needs regular grooming, particularly if he is long-coated or if he spends a lot of time outside.

Training: Saints can be easy to train because they like to please their master, but difficult to train if the owner waits too long or if they are not consistent in their training methods or commands.

Exercise: The breed needs a moderate amount of outdoor exercise. A long walks two or three times a week is enough to keep him in shape.

Common Health Problems of St Bernard dog: Most large-breed dogs suffer to some extent from joint problems such as hip dysplasia, heart disease, eyelid abnormalities, tumors, and skin conditions.

How to buy a good Saints? Saints can have poor temperaments and suffer from the several health problems that plague the breed. The best chance of getting a good-tempered St. Bernard puppy is to contact a breeder of show dogs, because they give importance on good health in their breeding and they usually have puppies for sale. As a buyer it is important to ask breeders for certification that the puppy is free from any diseases and abnormalities before committing to purchase the puppy.