What Kind Of Dog Is Cujo? Breed Information, Pictures, and Facts

Stephen King’s novel Cujo was adapted into a film in 1983. This movie features a formerly sweet-tempered family dog who contracts rabies after being bitten by a bat and becomes violent.

In both the book and the movie, Cujo was a Saint Bernard. These dogs are typically gentle, playful, and protective of their families. But, any dog can become violent after contracting rabies.

In this article, we’ll discuss what kind of dog Cujo was, who played him in the movie, and more.

Was the Dog in Cujo a Real Dog?

Real dogs mainly played Cujo. Four Saint Bernards played the part of Cujo in the film–but they were accompanied by an interesting stunt double! (Or would that be a stunt quintuple?)

Stuntman Gary Morgan wore a dog costume to film some of the stunts in the movie. Also taking the place of real dogs in some scenes were a number of mechanical dogs made to look like Saint Bernards.

Why was Cujo so Mean?

If Cujo was a Saint Bernard, why was he so mean? Is this breed known for its murderous streak?

Absolutely not! Saint Bernards are known as gentle giants. They’re affectionate, protective of their families, and typically do great with kids.

Of course, Cujo also started out as a sweet family dog. He became mean when he was bitten by a bat and contracted rabies. The disease is what made him so terrifying!

Indeed, some dogs in real life do become aggressive after contracting rabies. They may snarl, growl, or even bite.

This isn’t true in all cases, however, but rabies itself is always dangerous. 

If you have a pet dog, it’s important to keep their rabies vaccine up to date as rabies kills almost everyone who catches it–and it’s highly contagious to other pets and people. Most U.S. states have laws requiring every dog to be vaccinated for rabies to keep it out of our pet and human populations.

How do Dogs Get Rabies?

Dogs typically develop rabies after being bitten by an infected animal. However, they can also contract it by eating infected animals or getting their saliva in their eyes, nose, mouth, or open wounds.

Vaccinated dogs are extremely unlikely to contract rabies. This is why it’s so important that our household pets are vaccinated, as rabies is quite contagious and deadly for most animals and people who contract it.

The Truth About Saint Bernards

Are Saint Bernards Good Family Dogs?

Likely the biggest question from those who watched the film is whether or not Saint Bernards are friendly. Maybe you even saw these giant, blood-covered pups and wanted one for yourself. (Hey, I won’t judge!)

Luckily, Saint Bernards are known for their gentle disposition. They tend to be good with children, though they’re very large, and accidents can happen–like injuries while roughhousing or accidentally knocking a small child off their feet. Never leave children and dogs unattended.

Saint Bernards aren’t for everyone, though. Though they only require moderate exercise, they’re not suited for small spaces. These are giant, working dogs who can become bored or even destructive if their needs aren’t met.

They stay puppies for a long time and hit milestones later in life. You must be ready to handle a big dog going through the teething stage, the defiant adolescent stage, and more.

Saint Bernards can also be quite clingy and are prone to separation anxiety. They must be taught to be alone for short periods but shouldn’t be left regularly for long stretches of time. They do best in households where someone is home most of the day.

For a prepared and active family with a large, fenced-in backyard, Saint Bernards can make great pets.

Training a Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards are eager to please and shouldn’t be too difficult to train. I recommend researching force-free training methods before adopting a Saint Bernard, as this is the most effective and humane way to train a dog. 

Avoid aversive methods, and especially anyone who talks about dominating your dog or being the “alpha” as these techniques have long been disproven.

How Big Are Saint Bernards?

Saint Bernards stand 26-30 inches at the shoulder and weigh 120-180 pounds. They’re massive dogs!

When considering adoption, it’s important to think about how a dog’s size impacts your life with them. Saint Bernards will cost more to feed and vet than smaller breeds.

When untrained, they might pull on their leash during walks–and you may not be strong enough to hold them back! Lifting them in an emergency situation might also prove impossible.

Of course, teaching manners is also extra important for giant dog breeds. While a Chihuahua who jumps on people can be annoying or even harmful if they have sharp nails, a Saint Bernard can knock people right off their feet!

In Conclusion

Cujo was a Saint Bernard in both Stephen King’s 1981 horror novel and the 1982 film. He was played by several dogs, real and fake, alongside a human stunt double dressed in costume.

Though rabies can make our furry friends act aggressive and unlike themselves, it’s an easily preventable disease. Saint Bernards themselves are known for being quite friendly and gentle, especially toward their families.

Don’t let the film make you fear the breed–but do go check and make sure your own dog’s rabies vaccines are up to date!

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