Saint Bernard Care and Grooming

Saint Bernard care and grooming is mostly about planning for size, hair, and drool. Here is what the Saint Bernard Club of America and the breed standard say, along with what we have learned from our own smooth and rough coat dogs.

Two Coats, Both Need Grooming

The breed comes in a shorthaired, or smooth, coat, called Stockhaarig in German, and a longhaired, or rough, coat, called Langhaarig. The SBCA says both coat types are of equal value. We cherish the smooth coat because it shows off structure and muscling with nothing hidden by a groom; you can hide things in a rough, but not in a smooth. Easier grooming is only a bonus, and in our experience smooths actually shed more than roughs. The club is clear that both coats shed and both need regular grooming. Read more in our article on smooth vs rough coat Saint Bernards.

The standard describes the smooth coat as very dense, short, lying smooth and tough without feeling rough. The rough coat is of medium length, plain to slightly wavy, with slightly feathered forelegs, very bushy thighs, and a bushy tail.

Saint Bernard Shedding

The SBCA puts it plainly: Saints shed, and because they are so big, they shed a lot. In our experience smooth coats shed even more than roughs. Regular brushing helps keep the hair under control, but a Saint is not the breed for a home where dog hair is a problem.

Saint Bernard Drool

Every Saint drools. There is no such thing as a dry mouth Saint. Keep a towel handy and wipe the mouth after meals and drinks.

Veterinary Care for a Giant Breed

The SBCA urges new owners to choose a veterinarian as soon as the puppy arrives, ideally one experienced with giant breeds who likes big dogs. A good vet is your partner in feeding and caring for a fast growing puppy.

Training and Activity

A Saint grows to be as big as you are, so good manners matter early. The SBCA notes that Saints take part in obedience, rally, drafting, and agility, and many work as therapy dogs.

Keep Your Saint Fit

The SBCA’s An Illustrated Commentary on the Saint Bernard Standard (SBCA, 1999) stresses that a correct Saint is a well conditioned, athletic dog and that an overweight, out of shape dog is not a good example of the breed. Keeping your Saint lean and in good condition supports the powerful, efficient movement the club describes: good reach in front, balanced drive from behind, and a firm, level back.

Grooming Can Fool the Eye

The commentary also notes that a skillfully groomed rough coat can make a Saint look more massive than he really is, and that smooth coat dogs often look smaller beside them. When you look at a Saint, use your hands as well as your eyes to judge the real substance under the coat.

A Grooming Routine

The SBCA’s Your Saint Bernard Basic Care Booklet lays out a simple routine. The tools are a bristle brush, a curved wire slicker brush, a wide toothed comb, and thinning shears.

Brush at least once a week, and always before a bath, since tangles tighten when wet. Work a small section at a time, pushing the coat back with one hand and brushing it down to the skin without scraping the skin. The Young Saint Bernard: His Care, Feeding, and Training suggests brushing even more often, and paying extra attention behind the ears.
Bathe about every two or three months with a dog or baby shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and dry your Saint completely, with towels or a dog dryer.
Trim the hair around the pads and between the toes. In winter this keeps snow from balling up, and washing the pads helps with salted walkways.
Check a puppy’s nails weekly and an adult’s every two weeks, clipping just the tip. Do not forget dewclaws.
Look into the ears weekly. A healthy ear looks clean.
Brush teeth daily.

Never shave a Saint. The Young Saint Bernard: His Care, Feeding, and Training notes that a Saint usually sheds heavily twice a year, in spring and fall, when a wide steel comb helps pull out the loose undercoat.

Feeding and Exercise

The SBCA’s newer booklets recommend an adult food for puppies and adults alike, two or three meals a day, a separate stainless steel bowl for each dog, and no exercise for at least an hour before and after meals. Exercise is essential for a Saint at every age, but puppies should never be pushed, because their bones are not fully hardened until 18 months to two years. See Raising a Saint Bernard Puppy for details.

Housing and Seasons

A Saint needs a fenced yard and should not run loose. The Young Saint Bernard: His Care, Feeding, and Training advises insulated shelter for dogs kept outdoors, and in hot weather plenty of shade and fresh water. Many Saints eat less in the summer heat. Indoors, cover slippery floors with nonslip rugs.

The FzyBr Saints

Lola Mae

Lola Mae was a smooth coat female whose short, dense coat was easy to keep.

Dino

Dino was a smooth coat male, shown here at his specialty win.

Caesar

Caesar is our rough coat male, with the feathering that takes more brushing.

Yolo

Yolo is a rough coat female with a full, feathered coat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Saint Bernards shed a lot?

Yes. The SBCA says Saints shed, and because they are so big, they shed a lot. Regular grooming helps.

Is a smooth coat Saint easier to groom?

A little, but that is only a bonus. Smooths are cherished because they show off structure and muscling with nothing hidden by a groom. In our experience they also shed more than roughs, and both coats need regular grooming.

Can a Saint Bernard stop drooling?

No. Every Saint drools, and there is no such thing as a dry mouth Saint.

What kind of vet does a Saint Bernard need?

The SBCA recommends choosing a vet as soon as the puppy arrives, ideally one experienced with giant breeds.

How often should I bathe a Saint Bernard?

The SBCA’s Basic Care booklet suggests about every two or three months, with regular brushing in between.

Should I shave my Saint Bernard in summer?

No. The SBCA’s Young Saint Bernard booklet says never to shave a Saint. Provide shade and fresh water instead.

More Saint Bernard Guides

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.