This noble dog breed has secured for itself a sweet spot in dog careers as a rescue dog who finds and saves missing travelers.
Apart from building a successful career, St. Bernard has a special place in people’s hearts as a family companion. St. Bernard can offer you the tender love you deserve if you don’t mind a little drool.
Saint Bernards also perform exemplary in obedience tests and show rings, drafting, and weight pulling contests.
How much does Saint Bernard cost in India?
The price of St Bernard Puppies in India is Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000. The price range depends on various factors, such as the quality and health of the pup. The purest Saint Bernard pups are more expensive. Moreover, male pups are priced higher than their female counterparts.
Before purchasing a puppy, please do your homework by vetting the concerned breeder and verifying the puppy’s lineage by getting their health certificate.
Factors Affecting the Price of St Bernard In India
The price of St Bernard in India is influenced by different factors, both internal and external.
Pet Quality versus Show Quality
Many people prefer to purchase pet-quality pups because they are cheaper than show-quality dogs. Show quality Saint Bernard in India is priced at Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 200,000. That is an exorbitant amount for the average person.
Show quality dogs are the puppies born of show competition champions. Their high status makes them extremely expensive for the middle-class individual to afford.
Reputed Breeder
Reputed breeders are respected, but it comes as a cost because their litters are costlier than the average breeder.
Reputed breeders are the best to buy from because they produce premium quality puppies and they incur the extra cost to ensure all their puppies are healthy and well cared for, including offering a clean and healthy environment.
Travel Cost
Dogs love to travel! So, don’t leave your St Bernard at home on your next road trip or cruise. That said, you have to consider travel expenses for your furry friend, such as registration for Indian railways and the airline.
This cost increases with the dog’s weight, meaning a large Fido will cost you more than a few months old pups. The travel cost also varies with the travel agency you select.
Insurance Cost
You can’t neglect your doggy’s insurance as it comes in handy for emergency treatments when you don’t have money saved up for when accidents happen. It will cost you Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 per year to insure your St Bernard.
The premium varies with the policy you choose- the higher the policy, the more benefits your baby gets. The types of dog insurance policies include medical issues, loss due to theft, fire and flood, and accident in transit.
Grooming Cost
Saint Bernard is a high-maintenance dog; thus, grooming should be at the top of your daily to-do activities with this breed. It will cost you Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 every session to groom your Saint Bernard.
Vaccination Cost
Vaccination charges for St Bernard in Inia vary between Rs. 300 and Rs. 600. Vaccination is important for dogs just as it is for human beings, so don’t neglect this factor.
Food Cost
It will cost you Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 every month to feed your Saint Bernard. We recommend you get premium quality food for your pup to make him healthy and strong.
Training Cost
Saint Bernard loves to eat, and if you don’t regulate his food, he might overeat. It’s crucial to take his training and exercises seriously to guarantee he doesn’t become obese. Training will be relatively easy because Saint Bernard loves to participate in training activities.
The cost of training your St. Bernard starts from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,000 per session consists of building proper eating habits, voice instructions, guarding techniques, and potty training.
About and History
Saint Bernard came from Switzerland in the first millennium CE. It is believed that they originated from ancient canines known as Bauernhund (Farm Dog) and Talhund (Valley Dog).
A portrait of dogs highly resembling the well-built Saint Bernard was painted in 1695, while the first illustration of the breed was seen in the monastery’s records in 1703.
The hospice monks must have used Saint Bernards to guard their grounds. St Bernard also helped the monks a whole lot to search for lost travelers.
However, their perfect searchability was an accidental discovery as the monks initially needed the canines for protection. They then discovered that St. Bernards were excellent pathfinders.
The monks further developed the breed to withstand harsh winters and with the right physical features for search and rescue missions. Saint Bernards excelled in their search and rescue careers, rescuing more than 2,000 travelers. By the 1800s, these hospice canines had not been named yet despite being well recognized.
From 1800 to 1810, a hospice dog called Barry was recognized for 40 rescue missions and earned the title of one of the most famous dogs in history. After that, all the hospice dogs were named Barryhunden in his honor.
However, in 1833, a man known as Daniel Wilson suggested the name St Bernard for the breed, which gained traction.
When the breed began to be adopted in other countries, its physical characteristics started to change. Crossbreeding caused the dog to become slender and taller.
Today, Saint Bernard excels at home, on the big screen and in dog competitions. St Bernards can still be found at the St Bernard Hospice in Switzerland, but they no longer rescue lost travelers rather serve as living representatives of their forefathers’ amazing role.
Appearance
St Bernard is a giant breed, with sturdy muscular features and a massive head. Its muzzle is wider than it is long while the teeth are scissors-shaped. The lips and nose are black. Its medium-sized eyes are dark-colored and are slightly droopy, giving a sorrowful expression.
The feet are large with well-arched toes. The tail is equally large and often lays low when the dog is at rest. The ears and face are black, with the ears dropping and laying slightly off the head.
Saint Bernard’s coat is of two types-smooth and rough. Both coats are dense and made to protect the body against chilly weather. This breed comes in a mix of white with brindle, red, black, or tan spots. Sometimes you’ll find one with all these color combinations.
The rough-coated St Bernards have longer fur than the smooth-coated ones, with the hair being finer on the legs and thighs.
Temperament and Character
St Bernards are surprisingly quiet, which makes them the ultimate indoor dogs. Although he is not hyperactive, St Bernard still needs easy access to the outdoors. Remember that he is prone to obesity, so he needs to get daily exercise.
Saint Bernards aren’t the best for neat freaks because they drool, shed heavily, and their large paws track in dirt and mud into the house. You’ll need to mop your house clean every day with this breed.
St Bernard is gentle, easy-going, and very patient with little ones. He may not toss the ball around with kids, but he is understanding and sweet. He makes the perfect snuggle buddy with his large, fluffy warm body.
Because India is quite humid and hot, it’s not best to take your St Bernard out, especially when the sun is at its peak. The best times to go walking are early morning and late evening. Saints often suffer heat exhaustion and need access to cool water and a shade at all times.
Despite their gigantic size, Saint Bernards take a long time to mature mentally. You’ll have to deal with a big baby for several years so, don’t be alarmed by occasional house accidents. Just be patient and understanding during housebreaking.
This bred doesn’t do so well outdoors. First because of the hot weather, but most importantly, because he needs the love and companionship of his family.
Trainability
Training should begin as soon as you bring your St Bernard home. In the first three months or so, training should focus on basic commands such as ‘sit, ‘come’, ‘stay’, and ‘no’.
Getting your pup toys will help to reduce chewing behavior. Nevertheless, you should discourage chewing by looking into his eyes and telling him ‘no’ so that he knows it’s undesirable.
It is important to socialize your Saint with other pets, people, and new environments so he becomes a well-rounded canine. Let him get used to various sights and sounds for his social development.
You must set a dedicated schedule for when your doggy can relieve himself, preferably first thing in the morning, after every meal, and before going to bed at night.
If you have designated a spot for where he can go, don’t rush the process. Let him sniff around until he gets used to it. And always reward him after he finishes his business with praises ad treats.
Remember that Saints mature slowly, so indoor messes are bound to happen. When he goes inside the house, a resounding ‘no’ is enough to make him know that he shouldn’t go on that spot the next time.
It’s all about being a strong pack leader so that your Saint can feel secure. You must assert yourself as an alpha leader to discourage negative behaviors such as, not obeying commands or chewing on shoes and furniture.
Without establishing yourself as the leader of the pack, training will be a waste of time as your Saint will assume the leadership role himself. Lead with assertiveness, confidence, authority, but mostly with love.
Grooming
Saint Bernard needs brushing at least thrice a week using a rubber curry brush. For long-haired coats, use a pin brush and a hound glove for short-haired coats.
In case you see mats, don’t struggle to detangle when the fur is dry as it will be painful for the pup. Spray a little detangling solution on the region and gently detangle using your fingers or comb.
Saint Bernards don’t need frequent baths. A bath every fortnight would do, and keep doggy wipes on hand for a quick cleaning in between. Use quality shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t dry out the coat.
Wipe your Saint’s eyes gently using a damp clean cloth to get rid of eye stains. As you groom the eyes, pay attention to the ears. If they are dirty, wipe them using wipes or cotton moistened with an ear cleaning solution.
Dental hygiene is also important. Brush your buddy’s teeth twice or thrice every week to avoid bad breath and gum disease. Invest in a quality dog toothbrush and paste. Flavored dog toothpaste is available to make oral care enjoyable for your pup.
Because St Bernards aren’t very active, it’s unlikely that they’ll naturally wear down their nails. Therefore, trim your Saint’s nails at least once every month, especially if you start to hear them click on the floor.
Is St Bernard good for families?
Yes, this breed makes a great family pet. He is extremely friendly, gentle, and placid. He is also patient with kids. St Bernards are quick to defend their family when he senses they are in danger, thus making ideal bodyguards.
Moreover, Saints are easy to train because they are eager to please. Don’t leave your Saint pup out of family fun times as he likes to feel included and will often become emotional if he is neglected.
Is St Bernard intelligent?
Yes, this breed isn’t all muscles and power. He is also brainy, a quality that has helped him make a name for himself in the search and rescue employment. In history, this Fido was famous for being an excellent path tracker. That says a lot about the Saint’s IQ ranking.
How much does a St Bernard puppy cost?
A good quality Saint puppy costs Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 in India. As indicated earlier in the post, this cost varies with factors such as grooming, travel, vaccination, breeder reputability, food, insurance, training, and pet quality versus show quality.
Do St Bernards bite?
Saints don’t fantasize about biting every hunk of flesh that passes them by. They are gentle giants and one of the most beloved dog breeds. They also have very powerful jaws with a lethal bite. However, they don’t bite aimlessly unless they feel threatened or territorial.
Thanks to the showcase of St Bernard in films such as Beethoven, many people are growing fond of this large gentle breed.
Remember that since the Saint was bred for cold icy regions, you will need to take extra care of your four-legged pooch so that he can live comfortably with you in India.