What commands should a St. Bernard know? Raising a Saint Bernard. Raising a St. Bernard puppy

By choosing a truly majestic breed for yourself - the St. Bernard, with proper upbringing you will receive a faithful friend. But this is only possible with purebred dogs. in poultry markets is often associated with the risk of acquiring a very similar crossbreed. Therefore, if you need a St. Bernard, contact real breeders, and best of all, contact nurseries. So you will be sure that this charming ball of wool is a real St. Bernard, ready to give you all his love and kindness.

Raising a St. Bernard

As soon as you bring your new pet into your home, begin training it. The very first moments are the training of the dog to its new place. During the first night, your puppy will wake up frequently, whine, and become restless. You will need to support him. But under no circumstances take your dog in your arms or into bed. Main point raising a Saint Bernard puppy is that you should not allow him to do something that over time you will want to prohibit him.

The next thing you will need to teach your young friend is a nickname. Saint Bernards are very smart dogs and quickly understand that when they hear their name, they need to run to their owner. Therefore, carry a treat in your pocket and reward your puppy every time he responds to his name.

Although St. Bernards are large dogs, the allotted space in the apartment is quite enough for them. At first, the puppy does not yet know how to endure and may leave an unpleasant surprise for the owner. Never punish your pet for this. Better teach him to relieve himself outside. To do this, after sleeping and feeding, take the puppy out into the yard in the same place. After he has completed his business, praise him, give him a treat, and walk him outside for a few minutes.

Be sure to socialize your St. Bernard. To do this, teach him to calmly react to the arrival of strangers in the house. The same applies to passers-by on the street. Be sure to teach your dog proper behavior in public places and transport at a young age.

Quite a simple and at the same time complex breed. Raising a Saint Bernard puppy is fraught with pitfalls. The main ones are extremely accelerated metabolism. During the first year of life, the St. Bernard gains at least 60 kg of weight. Therefore, you need to ensure that his things correspond to his size, and that his nutrition and care meet the requirements of a rapidly growing organism.

Training a St. Bernard

It's best to trust your dog's training to professionals, but... St. Bernard training at home It can also be quite successful if you are ready to train yourself together with your pet.

First, understand the point that the St. Bernard was bred solely to be a friend and support to its owner. That's why training a Saint Bernard puppy should be built on the principle of trusting and affectionate relationships. This dog is so loyal that it will continue to follow commands even when it gets tired of it, if it pleases the owner.

The basics of training can begin in early childhood. It is easy to teach a puppy to the command “place”, “to me”, “no”. In the future, he will easily master other commands. To training a Saint Bernard puppy on your own passed effectively, eliminate all extraneous irritants and bring each command to automaticity. Over time, you need to repeat the same commands in conditions where there is something to distract you, but the dog should not react to it. A properly trained dog must obey its owner unquestioningly in any conditions. This is the ideal to which we need to strive.

If you dream of a reliable friend, a St. Bernard dog would be an ideal option. A large dog personifies an excess of affection and tenderness, boundless kindness and devotion. The St. Bernard breed became everyone's favorite after the release of the film Beethoven. Interesting fact: St. Bernard is listed in the Guinness Book of Records three times.

General description of the breed, character

The St. Bernard dog evokes great respect - this is explained by his intelligence and kind heart, rescue skills, the dog is a hero of our time. Saint Bernard is a smart and thoughtful member of the family. Sometimes, looking into a dog’s eyes, it seems that the pet is about to say something smart and important.

The main history of the breed began in the 11th century in Switzerland, in the monastery of St. Bernard. Hence the name St. Bernard - in the shelter of St. Bernard, founded in 1050 on the site of the Temple of Jupiter, there were wanderers, travelers who wanted to relax during a pass in the Swiss Alps. Probably, the ancestors of the St. Bernard were the Molossian Great Danes, brought by Roman legionnaires. Soon there was crossbreeding with local dogs. As a result, the monks created a breed with unique search abilities.

Local dogs that lived in this area, in ancient times more reminiscent of small bear cubs, became famous for their unsurpassed sense of smell. Dogs have become rescuers: the monastery of St. Bernard is located high in the mountains - at an altitude of 2472 meters, next to a dangerous section of the road. The said pass in the Alps was notorious in Europe. People passing by were often caught in avalanches due to strong winds. To search for people in trouble, the monks sent dogs, which were indispensable in rescue excavations and used their keen senses.

In addition to avalanches, at that time the area was infested with robbers and bandits, which made crossing the Alps extremely dangerous. When local monks realized the uniqueness of the local breed, they decided to use dogs to save people who did not have time to hide from an avalanche of snow. Warm and thick wool reliably protected Saint Bernards from the cold, and their keen sense of smell allowed them to quickly find people affected by bad weather.

St. Bernard dogs became of interest to the public at the end of the 19th century. It was then that dogs began to be bred as a “pure” breed. Today, representatives of the breed are used as guide dogs, in rescue operations, and successfully perform guard duty.

Cynological standards recognize two varieties of Saint Bernards - with short and long hair. It has been suggested that the St. Bernard dog originates from representatives of the Tibetan mastiffs, brought to Europe and crossed with local representatives of other breeds.

The breed of dogs, famous for the title of rescuers, helpers and watchmen, was actively used by Alpine and Pyrenees shepherds, is considered a service dog and the best friend of the family.

Accurate data about the origins of the St. Bernards has not been preserved, but scientists agree that the dogs belong to the Roman Molossians. The ancestors could have been Tibetan Great Danes, a hypothesis put forward by a scientist named Keller, who studied the breed in parallel with the scientist Dr. Hawk. The second one does not entirely agree with the theory of the movement of dogs from Asia to Europe; rather, in the Alpine mountains there were their own “versions” of shaggy Molossians.

According to available evidence, already in the Bronze Age, 1200 BC, there was a population of St. Bernard-like dogs, displaying 70 cm at the withers, long hair and spotted coloring. During the Roman Empire, dogs were crossed with those available on the Apennine Peninsula, as a result the breed was purified. Differences arose between guard dogs, shepherds and hunters. Saint Bernards, as a special subspecies, became known in the mountains closer to Switzerland.

They say that during the history of the shelter, St. Bernards saved 2,500 human lives. Later, dogs were used as draft dogs, protectors of monasteries and villages from robbers, and even escorts of monastic travelers. The St. Bernard Club was founded only in 1900, although already in the 50s of the 19th century a certain Heinrich Schumacher, an innkeeper from Holligen, actively began the selection of St. Bernard livestock. The name sounded like Alpenhund for a long time, only recently they returned to the standard Saint Bernard.

With its large size and physical strength, the Saint Bernard is a strong and resilient dog, endowed with a keen sense of smell. Sometimes the dogs predicted the approach of avalanches.

The breed is prudent and does not like to make useless movements. Saint Bernard is trainable, raising a pet is easy and enjoyable. Never treat your dog with cruelty or force. St. Bernard is always happy to reciprocate the sincere attitude. The dog treats children with care and will become a favorite family dog.

Appearance

Let's start with the dimensions of the Saint Bernard breed:

Males show a height at the withers of 70 (no more than 90!) cm.
Bitches show a height of 65-80 cm.
Weight of at least 70 kg is the minimum accepted by international canine standards.

Today, most representatives of the species have a height at the withers of 80 cm and a weight of over 100 kg. The dogs' build is large and strong.

Representatives of the species do not live too long, only 8-10 years. Among the disadvantages recognized as common characteristics of the breed is the mandatory removal of the third eyelid. When growing, the atavistic trait serves as a source of constant infection, causing permanent eye diseases in an adult.

According to the classification, Saint Bernards belong to group 2, section 2; according to their constitution, they are large, massive, and raw. Coat variants are mentioned - soft-haired and hard-haired. Regardless of the trait, the body and head of the two St. Bernard species are similar. The head shows characteristic features:

large dimensions,
the forehead is convex; if you look closely, characteristic wrinkles are noticeable;
strong and short skull, wide front;
clear stop, no blur with the forehead;
high cheekbones;
damp eyelids;
the eyes are located close to the bridge of the nose, slightly sunken, shallow-set, brown in color;
wide nose with flat nostrils;
short muzzle with a blunt bridge of the nose;
The edges of the eyes, lips, and black nose are trimmed in black.

The ears are small, hanging, of medium length, with a lagging rear part.
The neck is powerful and strong, with a slight dewlap, the coat forms a characteristic collar.
Wide back and steep loin. The ribs are clearly visible.
The tail is widened at the base, strong and weighted towards the end.
The paws are set wide apart, the forearm and shoulder are the same length. The paws of St. Bernards are massive, strong at the tips, with arched toes.
The color is either red with white spots, or mostly white with red spots. Any shade of red is allowed.
The dog's coat is long, soft to the touch with a thick undercoat. The body is covered with hair of short or long length, the long one below can curl slightly. The “skirt” and “pants” are not too long, they are pronounced in comparison with the muzzle and ears. Here the fur is shortened.
Saint Bernard demonstrates a phlegmatic, devoted character; training, especially in a professional field, takes a lot of time.

Features of maintenance, care, health

St. Bernard puppies require careful care from an early age:

Short-haired dogs require 1-2 brushing sessions per week, while long-haired dogs require daily brushing.
For frequent maintenance, it is permissible to use a brush with stiff bristles.
During the shedding period, it is advisable to comb the coat more often.
You need to bathe your St. Bernard infrequently - as needed, using special shampoos for washing dogs.
Wash your animal's paws as needed after walks if the dog lives directly in the house.
Clean your pet's ears and teeth frequently.
The eyes of a St. Bernard require constant attention. Requires wiping daily with a damp cloth. If you see purulent discharge, contact your veterinarian.
Saint Bernard is prone to salivation; you will have to wipe his face after eating.

Representatives of the breed exhibit a number of specific characteristics:

Dogs drool frequently, sometimes worse than bulldogs.
The eyes are considered a weak point; the organs of vision often become watery. Requires regular cleaning and care.
Representatives of the breed are prone to obesity; you will need to monitor the diet and prevent the pet from being inactive, providing the necessary physical activity.

As a rule, St. Bernard puppies are given away at a young age, after reaching a month. Babies grow quickly, but in their hearts they take a long time to mature; only by the age of one and a half years a dog is considered an adult. Take the puppy in a warm and spacious bag, take a cloth that will become familiar to the puppy, or a toy. Try asking the breeder for a similar cloth from the puppy’s mother, so that the St. Bernard can feel the familiar smell in the new place.

In the first week, you should feed the puppy its usual food. If the baby is abruptly weaned from feeding, you will have to mix bitch milk into the food (fermented milk, by the way). Check with the breeder to see if the puppies have been dewormed and vaccinated. Perform responsible care immediately.

The environment at home may slightly frighten the baby, be patient and try to convey to the puppy that everything around him is friendly. If the puppy has done something wrong or torn something, you cannot beat or scold it. But firmly explain that this cannot be done. The dog must see the owner as a mentor and friend in order to obey unquestioningly.

Place it in a warm and dry corner, perhaps next to the owner’s bed. In the hallway, drafts and the clatter of passers-by will cause discomfort to the puppy. When leaving your puppy alone for the first time, take care to hide valuables and leave the radio on.

Regarding training: the puppy is taught a nickname immediately, and a single one, and not a bunch of affectionate nicknames. As the dog matures and becomes tamed, commands are introduced. First, training is practiced at home, then on the street, in crowded conditions. It is important for the St. Bernard to become socialized.

Nutrition

It is permissible to feed the dog natural food or purchase Magnusson dog food, which contains the necessary vitamins for the animal. We warn you about the direct connection between feeding your dog and your health. St. Bernard puppies also need proper nutrition. Each owner has the right to choose a convenient feeding method: dry food or a diet based on products of natural origin.

From the second month they offer milk, later kefir and fermented baked milk. Teach your dog to eat vegetables from an early age; do not give your dog potatoes.

It is preferable to feed dogs of this breed twice at a set time. If we talk about a diet consisting exclusively of products of natural origin, it is better to adhere to the given menu.

Most of the diet consists of raw meat. Better beef or veal. It is much easier for a dog to digest than pork. The daily meat requirement for an adult is 500 g. They eat a variety of meats, including horse meat and lamb, but be careful with pork. It is acceptable to serve boiled food in small quantities; if eaten raw, you risk “giving” helminths to the dog.
It is permissible to give offal in boiled form. Lamb stomach has a good effect on dog digestion. allowed in raw form. The kidneys and udder contain excess fat. It is important for your dog to get as low-fat meat as possible. For example, boiled tripe, heart, liver. The latter products are high in calories and are served in reduced quantities.
Fish is a must in your pet’s diet—the second most important source of protein. Ideally, it is advisable to alternate meat and fish. Have 2-3 fish days a week. Moreover, adult dogs and puppies should be given fish and meat at night, so that there is time to digest complex food. Only sea fish is given raw. River catch should be boiled and, if possible, replaced with sea analogues. Representatives of river fauna are often infected with worm eggs.
Cartilage and bones are required in the diet. They carry calcium, vitamins and microelements necessary for normal growth.
Dairy products are served. Cottage cheese is preferable if we talk about an adult.
Don't forget about vegetables, preferably raw.

Bone is a well-known delicacy; bones are preferably given to young animals, either with cartilage or bone meal. Among dairy products, they offer cottage cheese or fermented baked milk; milk is poorly absorbed even by an adult body. It is good to eat eggs; twice a week, mix cottage cheese with the yolk of an egg for breakfast. Porridge is cooked in meat broth, milk, and herbs and vegetables are added. Smoked meats, sweets, flour and fatty foods, especially fast food, should be excluded.

The nutrition of an adult dog is different from that of a puppy. For St. Bernard puppies, it is advisable to adhere to the following diet:

During the period of active growth, the puppy eats cottage cheese and milk in larger quantities than an adult dog.
It is advisable to cut meat and offal into small pieces, give it with water or add it to porridge. Do not give porridge in excess; do not make the dish the basis of a growing dog’s diet, as this leads to the formation of excess weight.
Egg yolk is a must in the diet. The puppy is administered with caution; an allergy to the product may occur.
It is better to start the morning like this: for puppies - with cottage cheese with eggs or porridge with milk, for adult dogs - cereal with meat broth or vegetables. Vegetables are acceptable at night, fruits during the day as a reward or treat.

A healthy and nutritious diet will turn your pet into an energetic and cheerful dog.

Education and training

The dog has amazing self-control and willingness to obey its owner. A dog will reveal its talents if it understands for sure that it is loved and dear to the family. By punishing, you risk the dog's trust. Important - never keep your dog on a chain. This makes the animal angry and aggressive, the dog turns into an unfriendly animal.

Do not allow your dog to lie on a bed or sofa from an early age; the bad habit will remain for life, causing inconvenience to the owner.

For six months, it is better not to leave the puppy alone for a long time. This will make the puppy feel insecure. When leaving home, feed and walk the dog so that the dog can sleep peacefully when alone.

If you decide to take a representative of the breed into your home, choose a puppy, not an adult dog. It is possible to train a puppy to suit yourself; in adulthood, the breed is extremely difficult to train. It is better to buy a dog from trusted breeders or a good kennel. When choosing, use the standard feature.

The Saint Bernard dog breed is smart, balanced and calm animals. They are easy to train and are characterized by obedience and discipline. The character is not dominated by stubbornness or leadership in the pack. The only negative is that representatives of the species treat small dogs with disdain. If the puppies initially grow up together, there will be no problems.

St. Bernard training begins at an early age. The puppy must gradually get used to the training sessions in order to perceive the lessons as something natural in the future. To provide incentive for subsequent training, do not forget to praise your pet when he follows commands correctly and encourage him when he fails. Never push, force or punish your dog unfairly.

Having decided to buy a St. Bernard puppy, the future owner must soberly assess his capabilities.

A large dog requires not only financial costs, but also physical strength - after all, you will have to walk with it and sometimes restrain it from any unwanted actions.

St. Bernards also want constant communication.

St. Bernard puppies are very sociable, just like Cane Corso puppies, so they are constantly looking for an interesting companion in each one.

You will have a wise family member who is excellent at finding an approach to children and getting along with other existing pets.

St. Bernard puppies, like shorthaired pointer puppies, are also swallowed. It is important to ensure that the food your puppy receives contains mineral supplements and calcium supplements.

Small St. Bernards, like , are still swallowed. Puppy feeding frequency:

from one and a half to two months - six times a day;
from two to three months – five times;
from three to five months – four times;
from five to ten months – three times;
from ten months – twice.

At the same time, the daily norm of consumed products increases from one and a half months to ten:

St. Bernard puppies should receive food that contains mineral supplements and calcium supplements.

Important! Food with a high protein content is contraindicated for small pets - it can cause diseases of the skeletal system. Adult food that contains up to 26% protein and up to 15% fat is suitable for them.

Puppies can be given bones, but only large and raw ones, so that they cannot bite off a piece of them and swallow them - there is a danger of choking.

Tendons will help small puppies’ teeth develop properly.

Accustoming to neatness

For the animal, you should prepare a spacious and bright place without drafts and on which you cannot accidentally step.

It is necessary to feed the puppy only from his own bowl, not from the table, and in a certain place.

From the very beginning he must firmly understand that food is given only here.

Then you won’t have to collect pieces and bones around the house.

Walk the little St. Bernard in any weather, on.

From the first days he must learn that all intimate matters must be done only on the street, and he must not go to the toilet in the house.

Gradually, the animal will develop the habit of settling at a certain time, and it will calmly endure until the owner arrives.

To prevent the St. Bernard from becoming accustomed to recovering at home, he should be taken out into the yard to relieve his needs and, without allowing contact with yard animals, returned to the house.

Vaccinations for St. Bernard puppies

A week before vaccination, the dog should be given antihelminthic drugs.

You can give baby pyrantel (2 cubes) before morning feeding, then feed and an hour later introduce 2 cubes of Vaseline oil.

This will help avoid intoxication and remove helminths faster. The next feeding is no earlier than an hour.

The procedure is repeated a day later, and a week later. The puppy needs to be vaccinated.

First, a comprehensive vaccination against coronavirus and parvovirus enteritis and hepatitis is administered.

At 2.5 months, the puppy is vaccinated against distemper, and when the teeth are completely replaced, it is repeated (at about 7 months).

When the adaptation period after distemper vaccination ends - this is the age of eight months - the dog is vaccinated against rabies.

Raising a St. Bernard puppy

It is easy to train small St. Bernards, they are so smart and understanding.

Affection and patience will quickly help instill in the puppy the basic rules of behavior, and he will respond with trust and a willingness to please the owner.

You should not put your dog on a chain - this can lower its self-esteem and drive it into depression.

Puppies should not be left alone for long periods of time - they can become insecure and, as a result, a little angry.

Punishment should only be for a very good reason.

In case of minor mistakes, you can simply scold the puppy and calmly show your dissatisfaction.

Important! If you will be away for a long time, give your pet a good walk, feed him and leave him toys, you can even turn on the TV at a muted volume or radio - this will make the puppy feel like he is not alone at home.
Saint Bernards love to swim
When the St. Bernard puppy is tired enough after a walk and well fed, he can calmly wait for his owner.
But he should leave a few toys so that he has something to occupy himself with.
Even at home, you need to play with animals (especially small ones) so that their activity is directed in a positive direction, while being unobtrusive and explaining the rules of behavior.
St. Bernard puppies require great care when handling.
You can’t lift them by their front legs - you can dislocate their joints, and in general you shouldn’t carry them around often.
If you need to lift the baby, support him under the chest and under the buttocks, and when lowering him back to the floor, make sure that all four paws are on the floor, and only then remove your hands.
A St. Bernard puppy can easily injure ligaments if it jumps from a height greater than its height. Running is better for this breed than jumping.
Contact with the owner
Saint Bernards cannot live without communication. They prefer not just to see, but to constantly be close to the owner.
Therefore, do not drive the St. Bernard to its place, let it play or lie next to you.
During walks, your baby should feel your presence; keep him in sight at all times.
At home, the St. Bernard will happily play with children, getting used to being a nanny, and you encourage him for this in every possible way.
Just don’t give him treats all the time; just petting your pet and praising it is enough to make him feel good.
For St. Bernard puppies, the price can vary greatly depending on the pedigree.
But you don’t have to buy a show dog if you just need a friend.

St. Bernard puppies: rules of care and education
Saint Bernard puppies. Have you decided to get a St. Bernard? Do you know how to properly feed a puppy, raise it, and teach it to be neat? What physical activity does he need? Read, watch videos, make wise choices.

As soon as you bring your new pet into your home, begin training it. The very first moments are the training of the dog to its new place. During the first night, your puppy will wake up frequently, whine, and become restless. You will need to support him. But under no circumstances take your dog in your arms or into bed. The main point of raising a St. Bernard puppy is that you should not allow him to do things that you will eventually want to forbid him.

Be sure to socialize your St. Bernard. To do this, teach him to calmly react to the arrival of strangers in the house. The same applies to passers-by on the street. Be sure to teach your dog proper behavior in public places and transport at a young age.

The Saint Bernard is a fairly simple and at the same time complex breed. Raising a St. Bernard puppy is fraught with pitfalls. The main ones are extremely accelerated metabolism. During the first year of life, the St. Bernard gains at least 60 kg of weight. Therefore, you need to ensure that his things correspond to his size, and that his nutrition and care meet the requirements of a rapidly growing organism.

You won't believe this: huge creatures are easy to train. Discipline is in the blood of these dogs. But a St. Bernard can reveal its full potential when raising and training only if the owner treats him with understanding and love. The peculiarity of the breed is that they are very smart people who cannot stand rudeness and cruelty.

When training a St. Bernard at home, it is important to say “no!” in time, especially when it comes to raising a puppy. For example, a tiny lump climbed onto the sofa. This may seem cute, but imagine that without proper training, a St. Bernard will do the same thing when he grows into an adult dog.

General description of the breed, character

The St. Bernard dog evokes great respect - this is explained by his intelligence and kind heart, rescue skills, the dog is a hero of our time. Saint Bernard is a smart and thoughtful member of the family. Sometimes, looking into a dog’s eyes, it seems that the pet is about to say something smart and important.

Cynological standards recognize two varieties of Saint Bernards - with short and long hair. It has been suggested that the St. Bernard dog originates from representatives of the Tibetan mastiffs, brought to Europe and crossed with local representatives of other breeds.

The breed of dogs, famous for the title of rescuers, helpers and watchmen, was actively used by Alpine and Pyrenees shepherds, is considered a service dog and the best friend of the family.

According to available evidence, already in the Bronze Age, 1200 BC, there was a population of St. Bernard-like dogs, displaying 70 cm at the withers, long hair and spotted coloring. During the Roman Empire, dogs were crossed with those available on the Apennine Peninsula, as a result the breed was purified. Differences arose between guard dogs, shepherds and hunters. Saint Bernards, as a special subspecies, became known in the mountains closer to Switzerland.