Is a Saint Bernard for You?
I have often been asked if my saints are wet mouth or dry mouth. Despite popular belief, there is no such thing as a dry mouth saint...they ALL drool...some more than others. I have noticed with mine that they drool more when they are excited, expecting a treat, after getting a drink, or when they are begging for something off my plate. They also tend to drool more when the weather is warmer. My motto here is "Drool is Cool". Yes, it does fly when they shake their big ole heads! One time I was sitting in my living room and happened to look up and yup, you guessed it, there was a big dried drooler hanging from my ceiling! If you don't happen to catch it when it happens, it peels right off when it is dry. So, if slobber makes you squimish, then a saint may not be for you.

Another common question I encounter is do they shed? My saints shed heavily in the spring and fall. During other times, the hair is manageable with regular grooming. When living with saints I tend to wear neutral colored clothes that don't show every piece of hair or drool (black clothing is definately not good).

The third question I get is do they eat you out of house and home? The answer to this is yes they probably would if I let them. People automatically think that a big dog has a big appetite. Because saints are rather lazy dogs, they are able to maintain a healthy weight with less food. Mine eat the same amount as a golden retriever. It is imperative to joint health for large breed dogs not to become overweight.

Other things to consider before welcoming a saint into your home, know that their vet bills are a bit more expensive due to their size, their life expectancy is generally shorter because they are so large (8-12years). They are "people" dogs and don't do well kenneled or chained for any extended amount of time.