Saint Bernard: The big friendly giants of the dog world but they don’t half drool and shed

Close up of a Saint Bernard laying on grass.

Saint Bernards overview

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Life expectancy: 8 to 10 years

Size: 28-30-inches (male); 26-28 inches (female);

Coat: Smooth or rough

Temperament: Gentle, calm, watchful, friendly and lively

Exercise needs: Around an hour each day

Origin/native country: Western Alps of Italy and Switzerland

The history of Saint Bernards stretches back as far as 1050 CE (AD) but they got their name when this breed began assisting hospice monks in finding lost or stranded Alpine mountaineers some 600 years later. They operated from a hospice built by the monk Saint Bernard of Menthon and they are believed to have saved as many as 100 lives.