May 25th, 2009 by admin

If your are convinced that the St. Bernard is the ideal dog for you, it’s time to learn about where to find a puppy and what to look for. Locating a litter of St. Bernard should not present a problem for the new owner. You should enquire about breeders in your area who enjoy a good reputation in the breed. You are looking for an established breeder with outstanding dog ethics and a strong

Commitment to the breed. New owners should have as many questions as they have doubts. An established breeder is indeed the one to answer your four million questions and make you comfortable with your choice of the St. Bernard. An established breeder will sell you a puppy at a fair price if, and only if, the breeder determines that you are a suitable, worthy owner of his dogs. An established breeder can be relied upon for advice, no matter what time of day or night. A reputable breeder will accept a puppy back, without questions, should you decide that this is not the right dog for you.

BOY OR GIRL

In the St. Bernard, there is no real advantage over either sex as a pet; the choice is a matter of preference. Both sexes get on equally well in a family setting. For pet dogs, though, it is always advisable to spay or neuter, as this reduces the risk of some serious health problems.

When choosing a breeder, reputation is much more important than convenience of location. Do not be overly impressed by breeders who run brag advertisements in the presses about their stupendous champions. The real quality breeders are quiet and unassuming. You hear about them at the dog shows, by word of mouth. You may be well advised to avoid the novice who lives only a couple miles away. The local novice breeder, trying so hard to get rid of that first litter of puppies, is more than accommodating and anxious to sell you one. That breeder will charge you as much as any established breeder. The novice breeder isn’t going to interrogate you and your family about your intentions with the puppy, the environment and training you can provide, etc. That breeder will be nowhere to be found when your poorly bred, badly adjusted four-pawed monster starts to growl and spit up at midnight or eat the family cat!

While health considerations in the St. Bernard are not nearly as daunting as in most other breeds, socialization is a breeder concern of immense importance. Since the St. Bernard’s temperament can vary from line to line, socialization is the first and best way to encourage a proper, stable personality. Remember a dog as large as the St. Bernard can do terrible damage should he possess an aggressive or unstable temperament. This gentle giant must be 100% reliable and fortunately most dogs are. Choosing a breeder is an important first step in dog ownership. Fortunately, the majority of St. Bernard breeders are devoted to the breed and its well-being. New owners should have little problem finding a reputable breeder Who doesn’t live on the other side of the country (or in a different country). The Kennel Club is able to recommend breeders of quality St. Bernads, as can any local all-breed club or St. Bernard club. Potential owners are encouraged to attend dog shows, obedience events, and, if available in your country, weight pulling events and draughting competitors firsthand and to get an idea what St. Bernard look like outside or a photographer’s lens. Provided you approach the handlers when they are not terribly busy with the dogs, most are more than willing to answer questions, recommend breeders and give advice.

PREPARING FOR UP

Unfortunately, when a puppy is bought by someone who does not take into consideration the time and attention that dog ownership requires, it is the puppy who suffers when he is either abandoned or placed in a shelter by a frustrated owner. So all of the ‘homework’ you do in preparation for your pup’s arrival will benefit you both. The more informed you are, the more you will know what to expect and the better equipped you will be to handle the ups and downs of raising a puppy. Hopefully, everyone in the household is willing to do his part in raising and caring for the pup. The anticipation of owning a dog often brings a lot of promises from excited family members: ‘I will walk him every day,’ ‘I will feed him,’ ‘I will walk housebreak him,’ etc., but these things take time and effort, and promises can easily be forgotten once the novelty of the new pet has worn off.

PUPPY SELECTION

Your selection of a good puppy can be determined by your needs. A show potential or a good pet? It is your choice. Every puppy, however, should be of good temperament. Although show-quality puppies are bred and raised with emphasis on physical conformation, responsible breeders strive for equally good temperament. Do not but from a breeder who concentrates solely on physical beauty at the expense of personality.

Now that you have contacted and met a breeder or two and made your choice about which breeder is best suited to your needs, it’s time to visit the litter. Keep in mind that many top breeders have waiting lists. Sometimes new owners have to wait as long as two years for a puppy. If your are really committed to the breeder whom you’ve selected, then you will wait ( and hope for an early arrival!). If not, you may have to resort to your second or third choice breeder. Don’t be too anxious, however. If the breeder doesn’t have any waiting list, or any customers, there is probably a good reason. It’s no different that visiting a pub with no clientele. The better pubs and restaurants always have a waiting list—and it’s usually worth the wait. Besides, isn’t a puppy more important that a print?

PUPPY APPEARANCE

Your puppy should have a well-fed appearance but not a distended abdomen, which may indicate worms or incorrect feeding, or both. The body should be firm, with a solid feel. The skin of the abdomen should be pale pink and clean, without signs of scratching or rash. Check the hind legs to make certain that dewclaws were removed, if any were present at birth.

Since you are likely choosing a St. Bernard as a pet dog and not a show dog, you simply should select a pup that is friendly and attractive. St. Bernards generally have large litters, averaging eight puppies, so selection is usually good once you have located a desirable litter.

Coloration is not a great concern in St. Bernard and given the many more important considerations, should not be at the top of the new owner’s list. Whether the dog is orange or red is far less important than whether the dog derives from healthy, stable parents that conform nicely to the breed standard.

St. Bernard litters are large, and because of the public’s admiration for their giant size, they are usually in fairly consistent demand by breeders.

However, they are not as popular as some of the other larger breeds. This helps with your selection, ensuring that most pups will come from healthy lines unencumbered by over breeding, inbreeding or the countless finicky prejudices that have damaged other breeds. Looking in local newspapers or specialized dog-breed publications is another reliable way to find the best St. Bernards.
Breeders commonly allow visitors to see the litter by

Around the fifth or sixth week, and puppies leave for their new homes between the eighth and tenth week. Breeders who permit their puppies to leave early are more interested in your pounds than their puppies well-being. Puppies need to learn the rules of the trade from their dams, and most dams continue teaching the pups manners, and dos and don’ts until around the eighth week. Breeders spend significant amounts of time with the St. Bernard toddlers so that they are able to interact with the ‘other species,’ i.e. humans. Given the long history that dogs and humans have, bonding between the two species is natural but must be nurtured.

DID YOU KNOW

You should not even think about buying a puppy that looks sick, undernourished overly frightened or nervous. Sometimes a timid puppy will warm up to you after a 30-minute ‘let-get-acquainted’ session.

Always check the bite of your selected puppy to be sure that it is neither overshot or undershot. The undershot bite is tolerated by some judges

More so than the overshot, though neither is desirable. In the US, dog with even bites are equally acceptable to the scissor bite. An imperfect bite may not be too noticeable on a young puppy but it is a fairly common problem with certain lines of St. Bernards.

DOCUMENTATION

Two important documents you will get from the breeder are the pup’s pedigree and registration certificate. The breeder should register the litter and each pup with The Kennel Club and it is necessary if you plan on showing or breeding in the future.

Make sure you know the breeder’s intentions on which type of registration he will obtain for the pup. There are limited registrations which may prohibit the dog from being shown, bred or from competing in non-conformation trails such as Working or Agility if the breeder feels that the pup is not of sufficient quality to do so. There is also a type of registration that will permit the dog in non-conformation competition only.

On the reverse side of the registration certificate, the new owner can find the transfer section which must be signed by the breeder.

COMMITMENT OF OWNERSHIP

After considering all of these factors, you have most likely already made some very important decisions about selections your puppy. You have chosen a St. Bernard, which means that you have decided which characteristics you want in a dog and what type of dog will best fit into your family and lifestyle. If you have selected a breeder, you have gone a step further- you have done your research and found a responsible, conscientious person who breeds quality St. Bernard and who should of help as you and your puppy adjust to life together. If you have observed a litter in action, you have obtained a firsthand look at the dynamics of a puppy ‘pack’ and thus, you should learn about each pup’s individual personality – perhaps you have even found one that particularly appeals to you.

INSURANCE

Many good breeders will offer you insurance with your new puppy, which is an excellent idea. The first few weeks of insurance will probably be covered free of charge or with only minimal cost, allowing you to take up the policy when this expires. If you own pet dog, it is sensible to take out such a policy as veterinary fees can be high, although routine vaccinations and boosters are not covered. Look carefully at the many options open to you deciding which suits you best.

DID YOU KNOW

Breeders rarely release puppies until they are eight to ten weeks of age. This is an acceptable age for most breeds of dog, excepting toy breeds, which are not released until around 12 weeks, given their petite sizes. If a breeder has a puppy that is 12 weeks or more, it is likely well socialized and housetrained. Be sure that it is otherwise healthy before deciding to take it home.

However, even if you have not yet found `the St. Bernard puppy of your dreams, observing pups will help you learn to recognize certain behaviour and to determine what a pup’s behavior indicates about his temperament. You will be able to pick out which pups are the leaders, which ones are less outgoing, which ones are confident, which ones are shy, playful, friendly, aggressive, etc. Equally as important, you will learn to recognize what healthy pup should look and act like. All of these things will help you in your search, and when you find the St. Bernard that was meant for you, you will know it !

Researching your breed, selecting a responsible breeder and observing as many pups as possible are all important steps on the way to dog ownership. It may seem like a lot of effort and you have not even taken the pup home yet ! Remember , though, you cannot be too careful when it comes to deciding on the type of dog you want and finding out about your prospective pup’s background. Buying a puppy is not- or should not be- just another whimsical purchase. This is one instance in which you actually do get to choose your own family ! You may be thinking that buying a puppy should be fun-it should not b so serious and so much work. Keep in mind that your puppy is not a cuddly stuffed toy or decorative lawn ornament, but a creature that will become a real member of your family. You will come to realize that, while buying a puppy is a pleasurable and exciting endeavour, it is not something to be taken lightly. Relax-the fun will start when the pup comes home !

Always keep in mind that a puppy is nothing more than a baby in a furry disguise, a baby who is virtually helpless in a human world and who trusts his owner for fulfillment of his basic needs for survival. In addition to water and shelter, your pup needs care, protection, guidance and love. If you are not prepared to commit to this, then you are not prepared to own a dog. Wait a minute, you say. How hard could this be? All of my neighbours own dogs and they seem to be doing just fine. Why should I have to worry about all of this? Well you should not worry about it; in fact, you will probably find that once your St. Bernard pup gets used to his new home, he will fall into his

Place in the family quite naturally. But it never hurts to emphasis the commitment of dog ownership. With some time and patience, it is really not too difficult to raise a curious and exuberant S t. Bernard pup to be a well-adjusted and well-mannered adult dog-a dog that could be your most loyal friend.

ARE YOU A FIT OWNER?

If the breeder from whom you are buying a puppy asks you a lot of personal questions, do not be insulted. Such a breeder wants to be sure that you will be a fit provider for his puppy.