Saint Bernard Stud Dog Guide: Health Testing, Fees & Breed Standards

The Saint Bernard is one of the great giant breeds — gentle, patient, and devoted. Producing healthy, well-structured Saints requires serious health testing and careful selection.

Saint Bernards are beloved for their massive size and gentle temperament, but their sheer scale means structural and cardiac issues have outsized consequences. A dog of 120–180 lbs with compromised hips or a cardiac defect will suffer significantly more than a smaller breed in the same situation. Health testing is not just a formality for Saints — it is the difference between a dog that lives a full, comfortable life and one that is in pain by age five.

Breed Overview for Breeding Purposes

Saint Bernards mature slowly. Males should not be used for breeding until at least 24 months, when preliminary health testing can be completed and temperament is fully established. Many breeders prefer to wait until 36 months for full OFA certification.

The breed comes in two coat varieties — shorthaired and longhaired — both equally correct. Some breeders specialise in one variety; others produce both. Coat type is determined by a simple dominant gene — longhair (L) is recessive. Two shorthaired dogs with one copy of longhair each can produce longhaired offspring.

Health Testing Requirements

Hip Evaluation (OFA or PennHIP)

Hip dysplasia is a primary concern in giant breeds. Saint Bernards have some of the highest rates of hip dysplasia of any breed. OFA evaluation at 24 months minimum is required — with a final certification at 24+ months. PennHIP can be done earlier and provides a more precise measurement of hip laxity.

For a breeding male, OFA Fair is the minimum acceptable. Good or Excellent is strongly preferred. Do not breed a Saint with Mild or Moderate dysplasia — the breed's weight amplifies joint pain significantly.

Elbow Evaluation (OFA)

Elbow dysplasia is common in large and giant breeds. OFA elbow evaluation is required — Normal (Grade 0) is the standard for a breeding male.

Cardiac Evaluation

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and other cardiac conditions occur in Saint Bernards. OFA cardiac evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist is the gold standard — not a general vet listening with a stethoscope. A clean cardiology exam on file is expected for any serious stud.

Eye Certification (CAER)

Annual CAER eye exams screen for inherited ocular conditions including Entropion (inward-rolling eyelids, common in Saints due to their facial structure) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

DM occurs in Saints. DNA test — Clear preferred, Carrier acceptable if dam is Clear.

Osteosarcoma Awareness

Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) is devastatingly common in large and giant breeds. There is currently no pre-breeding genetic test for osteosarcoma risk, but selecting against lines with a history of early osteosarcoma is advisable. Ask about the longevity of the stud's close relatives.

Temperament Standards

Saint Bernards must be gentle giants. Any male showing aggression, extreme fearfulness, or unpredictable behaviour should not be bred, full stop. This breed ends up in homes with children — temperament is as important as health testing.

A stud with a solid, confident, affectionate temperament will pass those qualities to offspring. Ask to meet the dog in person and observe how he interacts with strangers and children.

Stud Fees for Saint Bernards

Saint Bernard stud fees typically range from $1,000 to $2,500:

Summary

A quality Saint Bernard stud has OFA Good or Excellent hips, OFA Normal elbows, a clean cardiology exam, annual CAER eye certification, and DM testing on file. The breed's size makes structural health testing non-negotiable — hip and elbow issues are painful and expensive to manage in a dog this large. Temperament must be gentle and confident. Fees run $1,200–$2,000 for a well-tested male.