Bringing home a Saint Bernard puppy is a commitment to a giant dog for life. Here is the advice of the Saint Bernard Club of America for anyone looking for a puppy, with notes for families here in New England. FzyBr Saints is in Falmouth on Cape Cod.
Start with a Reputable Saint Bernard Breeder
The SBCA keeps a Breeder Referral Program and can connect you with a Breed Advisor in your area who can help you know what to look for. The club can also point you to reputable rescue and to a local Saint Bernard club, even if you never plan to show. FzyBr Saints is listed through the SBCA Breeder Referral Program.
Meet the Dam, and Get to Know the Sire
The SBCA suggests taking a close look at a puppy’s parents. Expect to meet the dam, and the sire too if he lives with the breeder. Ask to walk them on a leash, imagine a grown Saint in your car, and spend time helping groom one. A puppy will grow to be as big as you are.
Often the sire lives somewhere else. Many breeders choose a stud dog from another kennel and breed with shipped chilled or frozen semen. It is a common practice, and we often do it ourselves, because it lets us use the best match for our female rather than whichever male lives nearby. When the sire is not on site, ask to see his pedigree, photos, show record, and video of him moving.
Judge the Dog, Not the Story
The club says a puppy’s value should reflect how closely he matches the breed standard. Ancestors in movies or with famous owners mean nothing. It also notes there is no such thing as a pure, massive Swiss strain Saint, since every Saint traces back to Swiss ancestors.
Papers Come with the Puppy
According to the SBCA, you should never pay extra for papers. A puppy should go home with a bill of sale, a three generation pedigree, and AKC registration papers. Read everything carefully before you sign.
Choose a Vet Early
The SBCA urges new owners to choose a veterinarian as soon as the puppy arrives, ideally one experienced with giant breeds.
Saint Bernards in New England
Saints were built for Alpine snow, so New England winters suit them. Summer takes more care for a big, heavy coated dog, with shade, water, and walks in the cooler parts of the day. Our dogs live with us on Cape Cod, and if you are in Massachusetts or elsewhere in New England, you are welcome to call us at 908-577-0923 or apply for a future puppy.
What to Look for in the Parents
The SBCA’s An Illustrated Commentary on the Saint Bernard Standard (SBCA, 1999) gives buyers a useful checklist when getting to know a puppy’s parents. Look for a powerful, athletic dog, a little longer than tall, whose height comes from length of leg. Watch the dog move on a loose lead: a correct Saint has good reach and drive, a level back, and does not shuffle or lumber. Above all, look for the steady, friendly, gentle temperament the club calls essential.
Markings matter less than many people think. The commentary describes three body patterns, mantle, torn mantle, and splash, and calls the choice between them trivial. Every correct Saint has white on the chest, feet, and tip of the tail.
The FzyBr Saints
Remi
Remi is a young smooth coat female and our next planned breeding, once she reaches 18 months of age.
Bolt
Bolt was a smooth coat male who earned Winners Dog at the Northern New Jersey Saint Bernard Club.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a reputable Saint Bernard breeder in New England?
Start with the SBCA Breeder Referral Program, which can also connect you with a Breed Advisor in your area. FzyBr Saints, in Falmouth on Cape Cod, is listed through it.
What papers should come with a Saint Bernard puppy?
The SBCA says you should receive a bill of sale, a three generation pedigree, and AKC registration papers, and you should never pay extra for papers.
Should I meet the puppy’s parents?
You should meet the dam, and the sire as well if he lives with the breeder. Many sires live at other kennels and are bred by shipped chilled or frozen semen, so the breeder can choose the best match. In that case, ask to see his pedigree, photos, show record, and video.
Do Saint Bernards do well in New England weather?
They were developed in the snowy Alps and enjoy cold weather. In summer, give them shade, water, and exercise during cooler hours.
Does it matter whether a Saint is a mantle or splash coat?
Not for quality. The SBCA’s illustrated commentary calls the body pattern trivial. Look at structure, movement, and temperament instead.
More Saint Bernard Guides
- Raising a Saint Bernard puppy
- Saint Bernard temperament with kids and families
- Saint Bernard size and growth
- Saint Bernard care and grooming
- The complete Saint Bernard Guide
- Saint Bernard puppies in Massachusetts from FzyBr Saints
Sources
Breed facts on this page come from the Saint Bernard Club of America (SBCA), the AKC parent club for the breed, and the official AKC breed standard, written here in our own words.
- SBCA: About the Breed
- SBCA: Breeder Referral
- SBCA: AKC Saint Bernard Standard
- SBCA: An Illustrated Commentary on the Saint Bernard Standard (1999, member publication)
- SBCA: Saint Bernard Standard, illustrated edition (1992, member publication)
Keep reading in our Saint Bernard Guide, or learn about future FzyBr Saints puppies. Questions? Call us at 908-577-0923.