Saint Shepherd

Saint Shepherd is a hybrid dog and is a crossbreed between the Saint Bernard and the German Shepherd. Both the parent dogs are rather large, making the Saint Shepherd an incredible breed. When they are full-grown, these dogs weigh approximately 120 pounds and stand tall at approximately 28 inches.

These dogs are outgoing and friendly, which is why they love being around children and other pets. However, they should be introduced to other animals and people early in life. Due to their genetics, some of these dogs may drool a lot, too. Luckily, they are generally easy to train and make great family pets.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Saint Shepherd

Before adopting a Saint Shepherd, get a clear idea of what is in store with this hybrid breed. With this pros and cons list, you know exactly what to expect.

Size and Weight

The Saint Shepherd is rather giant in size, despite the different breeds. Since the parent breeds are both rather large, it is easy to get a clear idea of how much space your new pet will take up as an adult. The male Saint Shepherd dog is 28 to 31 inches in size and weighs about 95 to 150 pounds, full-grown. Meanwhile, full-grown female Saint Shepherd dogs are 25 to 28 inches in size and weigh about 85 to 140 lbs.

Common Health Issues

Both of the parent breeds — the German Shepherd and Saint Bernard — are commonly associated with serious health conditions. Due to these predispositions, it is safe to say that the Saint Shepherd can inherit some of the traits as well.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is one of the most common issues that these dogs may face. This condition directly impacts the way that the bones fit into their respective joints. If this condition slowly develops, you’ll likely see that your dog starts favoring their other legs over one leg while walking.

Sometimes, the Saint Shepherd can develop dry eyes as well. Bloating is also a risk, though it is often due to an improper diet and is completely avoidable. More worrisome is the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy and renal cystadenocarcinoma. While dilated cardiomyopathy is a problem that occurs within the heart, renal cystadenocarcinoma is a type of kidney cancer. Some dogs of this breed can develop hemophilia, causing major issues in the clotting of blood.

Temperament

The Saint Shepherd is quite large, but its personality is gentle and friendly towards the entire family. The breed is well-behaved and loving. However, they carry the intimidating size and looks of a guard dog and are up to the challenge.

These dogs are playful around everyone and are also known as caregivers. They are quick learners and intelligent, making it relatively easy to train them. They are diligent in their obedience, and they have an eager-to-please attitude.

How to Take Care of a Saint Shepherd

Before you adopt a Saint Shepherd from a rescue shelter, it is important to understand that there are some things that you need to know in order to take care of them. Here are a few tips to make this transition easy and peaceful.

The Best Dog Food

At periodic vet appointments, check in about your Saint Shepherd’s diet to make sure they’re getting the proper nutrition for their individual health. This breed can be prone to heart problems, so read up on the connection between heart failure and dog food containing legumes. Legume-free dog food might be the way to go.

These dogs are giant and have big appetites, so you’ll likely spend quite a bit of money to make sure that you stock up on enough dry and wet food. Though they’ll need a few large meals a day, it is important to avoid overfeeding them (since it can lead to obesity).

A high-protein diet is the best way to support the appetite and muscle tone of these dogs. Though every pup appreciates treats, don’t overindulge them in these snacks either, as it can cause stomach issues. However, the amount of diet also depends on the height and weight of your dog and how active it is.

Maintenance and Grooming

Saint Shepherds tend to shed a lot. Make sure to brush their coat using a pin brush or a hard-bristle brush to remove the excess fur that they shed. If you prefer, you can also use a metal comb. The brushing needs to be done at least four to five times a week. This will help you remove the extra hair from your dog.

Despite the need to brush the Saint Shepherd, they do not need to be bathed often. Unless they become dirty, you will only need to bathe them once a month. Any more than that could cause their skin to be dry and could cause irritation in your dog.

Apart from that, your Saint Shepherd’s nails would need to be trimmed, and their teeth would have to be brushed at least three times a week.

Training

These dogs are extremely easy to train, which is a trait that they likely inherit from their German Shepherd side. They are known to be quick learners and intelligent, which makes it easier for them to pick up commands quickly. They also have an eager-to-please attitude and would always want to please their owner, which is also why training them is not a difficult task.

Sometimes, they can also be stubborn. You will have to make sure that you do not use negative reinforcement as a means to train. Consistency is the key with them. You can also use positive reinforcement to train your Saint Shepherd.

Exercise

These dogs need a vigorous amount of exercise to keep their healthy muscles strong. They would need about 60 to 90 minutes of daily activity, with the use of walks or even some time at a local dog park. If you have a large yard, that should provide enough room.

Not getting enough exercise would put your dog at risk for the development of behavioral issues (like aggression). Some of the exercises that you can incorporate into their exercise regimen are playing fetch, hiking, swimming, agility training, and playing with other animals at the dog park.

Puppies

Taking care of these hybrid puppies is the same as taking care of an adult. Divide their meals into several smaller meals to accommodate their stomachs at this age. Make sure to surround the puppies with other animals and family members that they can socialize with while they are still young.

Saint Shepherds and Children

These crossbreed dogs are great with children and are very playful around them. However, these dogs are giant in size and should not be left unsupervised around children, as they can eventually end up hurting, especially small children, in the family.

Dogs Similar to Saint Shepherds

Though the Saint Shepherd is friendly and loving, it may not be the pet that your family needs. Here are a few recommendations for other breeds that might suit you well.

• German Shepherd: These dogs are beautiful to look at and highly intelligent. They are also easy to train.
• Saint Bernard: These dogs are friendly and make great guard dogs. They are also intelligent in nature.
• Northern Inuit: These dogs are healthy and friendly, and they are known to be good to other pets as well as children.