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A relatively new cross-breed, the St. Berdoodle is an interesting mix of the large St. Bernard dog and the tall yet intelligent standard poodle. This pup can take on the qualities of both dogs, creating a gentle mix of intelligence and protectiveness and sometimes even taking on the hypoallergenic qualities of the standard poodle. As with all cross-breeds, the specific personality traits that your dog will pick up can vary greatly, but there are certain characteristics that all St. Berdoodles have that you can look out for.

In our guide below, we will be giving you an overview of the St. Berdoodle breed and answering some of the most important questions you may have about this dog. By reading on, you can learn the basic facts about St. Berdoodles, such as their size, weight, and overall temperament, along with information about how easy they are to train, how to adopt one, and any health problems you should be aware of.

A Quick Look at St. Berdoodles

If you’re considering adopting a St. Berdoodle and want some quick facts about this breed, you can check the table below to determine whether or not they would be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

 

What Is the History of the St. Berdoodle?

The St. Berdoodle is a cross-breed of two dogs: the Saint Bernard and the standard poodle. The St. Bernard dog is fairly large and is known for its gentle nature; it is often seen rescuing individuals and has been referred to as a “nanny” dog due to how calm and friendly the breed is, especially around children. On the other hand, standard poodles were first bred for their skills as gundogs and used commonly in hunting excursions; this breed has been around in some form since the 14th century.

The exact year that St. Berdoodles were created is unknown, as the history surrounding this lesser-recognized cross-breed is vague. However, there are accounts showing that St. Berdoodles date back to the 1880s, with the breed gaining more popularity in the 1980s as cross-breeding in the United States reached increased popularity.

The unique combination of the St. Bernard and the standard poodle creates a dog with the general gentleness and friendly nature of a St. Bernard with the more hypoallergenic coat and the easy-to-train intelligence of the poodle. After all, the main goal of creating this cross-breed was to have an intelligent and easy-to-train, family-friendly dog.

However, this breed does have some issues with separation anxiety and may need supervision in certain circumstances due to their large size and the increased prey drive that the standard poodle’s genetics introduces – we will touch on these subjects for your consideration later.

What Do St. Berdoodles Look Like?

The St. Berdoodle is a larger dog and will typically have the stature of the St. Bernard in that they are a bit stockier. Some St. Berdoodles will have longer legs, similar to the standard poodle. The coloration of this breed commonly appears in white and brown or white and black, but mixtures of red with white accents or white with red accents have also been seen before.

Their coat is typically hypoallergenic, something that comes from the poodle side of the breed, and is thicker in texture. It could be wiry and curly, longer and silky, or an interesting mix of the two.

Their face is generally rounder, but depending on each dog may have distinctive St. Bernard or standard poodle snouts. Again, this is a relatively less common cross-breed, so there is bound to be a bit more variation in how each dog looks and the characteristics they take on from their parents.

What Size Is a St. Berdoodle?

St. Berdoodles tend to be larger and will stand between 24 and 30 inches tall. The typical weight for this breed is between 70 and 160 pounds. For the most part, male dogs will weigh more and stand taller than female St. Berdoodles.

What Is a St. Berdoodle’s Coat Type?

The St. Berdoodle’s coat usually ends up being a mixture of the standard poodle’s wiry and curly fur and the St. Bernard’s longer and more silky fur type. This results in a medium-length coat that may have variations between hair types, but is generally hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed too often. Most St. Berdoodles that you encounter will, however, have curly or wiry fur over most of their body.

What Is a St. Berdoodle’s Temperament?

St. Berdoodles are bred from the gentle and friendly St. Bernard dog and the companion standard poodle. This creates a friendly, affectionate, and generally calm breed. This dog can be taught to be well-mannered easily, and they love to be social, spend time with their families, and show affection or please their owner via good behavior. However, St. Berdoodles need a lot of companionship and affection mirrored back to them to remain calm, happy, and outgoing.

Are St. Berdoodles Affectionate?

St. Berdoodles are a very affectionate breed. Both of the parent breeds of this unique cross-breed have a history of being social and friendly towards humans (both strangers and people they know alike), and simply enjoy spending time around their owners. They are quite patient and develop deep bonds with their family members, which they will surely show more and more as you get to know your dog. So expect to receive lots of cuddles and affection from your St. Berdoodle.

Are St. Berdoodles Good With Kids?

Both St. Bernards and standard poodles are known for being good with kids, though for slightly different reasons. St. Bernards are recognized for their relatively gentle nature and their protectiveness of the children in their life. On the other hand, standard poodles are fairly active and make a good choice for older or very active children. When combined into a St. Berdoodle, the breed gets a fun mixture of gentle and protectiveness with children that can be very active and social from time to time.

It is important to keep in mind that due to their size, the St. Berdoodle can be a great choice for older children. While this breed may also be fine with smaller children, supervision is typically needed to ensure that neither dog nor child gets injured.

Are St. Berdoodles Good With Other Animals?

In general, St. Berdoodles are good with other animals, especially other larger animals. However, the standard poodle does bring a hint of prey drive into the St. Berdoodle’s personality, something that may cause them to chase smaller animals such as cats or rabbits. This behavior can be trained out of your St. Berdoodle, but you should always use caution and supervise your St. Berdoodle around smaller animals that might activate this chasing prey drive.

Are St. Berdoodles Aggressive?

The St. Berdoodle is not known to be aggressive, as they are bred from two different friendly and social dog breeds. However, if you do not properly socialize your St. Berdoodle and give them lots of life experiences in their puppy days, the natural caution that comes from both the St. Bernard and the poodle may cause them to be fearful and aggressive in new situations later on in life. Proper dog training and puppy care can prevent this and result in a dog that is happy, healthy, well-socialized, and not aggressive in the slightest.

Do St. Berdoodles Bark a Lot?

St. Berdoodles are relatively low energy, and though they have spurts of activity and social behavior, they rarely bark. This dog is naturally cautious but also very friendly and willing to meet new people. You are unlikely to encounter a St. Berdoodle that barks a lot or spends its days staring out the window looking for objects to bark at. This breed makes a good choice if you want a quieter yet still friendly and social pup.

Are St. Berdoodles Intelligent?

Bred from two fairly intelligent dogs (the St. Bernard historically has been trained for search and rescue missions, while the poodle is trained for hunting and other skills), St. Berdoodles are an intelligent breed. This means that they need lots of mental stimulation throughout the day in order to be happy. You may find that leaving out puzzle feeders and plenty of toys for your dog when you’re not home can help keep them from turning to destruction out of boredom, as this happens often with more intelligent dogs.

Are St. Berdoodles Easy to Train?

St. Berdoodles can be pretty easy to train, thanks to the trainability and intelligence of their parent breeds. This dog is typically happy to impress and work with their owner and will benefit from having proper socialization and training skills taught to them while still a puppy. They will pick up skills quickly and be much happier overall if they get to learn new things in addition to building their bond with their owners as training sessions take place.

Are St. Berdoodles Energetic?

The standard poodle is more high energy, and the St. Bernard is low energy, so your St. Berdoodle could pick up traits from either of these breeds and be very active or very lazy. However, it is found that St. Berdoodles are typically more low energy and don’t need a serious amount of exercise or outdoor activity. A few short to medium-length walks a day should be enough for this breed to stay healthy and happy.

Are St. Berdoodles Good Apartment Dogs?

Due to their size and need for larger spaces, St. Berdoodles are not the best choice for an apartment, especially a small apartment. However, if your apartment is larger or you are able to give your St. Berdoodle plenty of access to the outdoors where they can get their energy out, they may be able to adapt to apartment living. However, you should make sure that wherever you live, they have their own space, access to exercise and outdoor areas regularly, and their own toys to keep them busy.

Are St. Berdoodles Good Watchdogs?

Even though the St. Berdoodle is larger and may be a bit intimidating to new people, they are not great watchdogs. They were bred to be companion dogs and are simply too friendly and too happy to see new people to make an effective watchdog. Additionally, they rarely bark and are not really aggressive, which means that they likely wouldn’t help guard or protect your home against intruders.

Are St. Berdoodles Good Service Dogs?

St. Berdoodles can make excellent service dogs thanks to their intelligence, ability, willingness to be trained, and overall friendly and affectionate nature. They can act as mobility service dogs or psychiatric service dogs by helping individuals with disabilities move and helping out with daily tasks. Additionally, St. Berdoodles make excellent therapy dogs due to their calmer nature and how affectionate they are; they can help relieve negative moods and provide emotional support to their owners.

How to Care for a St. Berdoodle

Because the St. Berdoodle is mixed from the higher energy standard poodle and the lower energy St. Bernard, they can have a range of energy and activity desires. You should always tailor your dog’s exercise schedule to their particular needs and personality, but in general, your St. Berdoodle will need a few short walks per day, plus some time to play and explore outside in dog parks or other areas where they can be social.

Your St. Berdoodle should have its own set of toys and a safe place to cozy up and sleep, as they will need to nap during the day and require frequent brushing to stop their coat from getting tangled up. This breed will also need plenty of affection from you (which they will no doubt give back ten-fold!) and needs to have mental stimulation throughout the day in the form of training and puzzle toys (these items will keep them from turning to destruction out of boredom).

Do You Need to Groom a St. Berdoodle?

You do need to groom a St. Berdoodle, as their coats are often a mix of curly, wiry hair and long, silky hair. It makes for a medium-length coat that is a little thicker and can become tangled up and painful if you don’t brush them regularly. You can also take your St. Berdoodle to the groomers to have their fur trimmed and de-matted as needed.

Do St. Berdoodles Shed?

Your St. Berdoodle can be a low to medium shedding dog, depending on the specific traits they inherit from their parents. If your pup’s coat is more like the poodle, in that it is wiry, short, and a bit thicker, they are unlikely to shed a lot. On the other hand, if they inherit more of the St. Bernard’s medium-length silky hair, they are likely to shed more often and need more assistance in the way of grooming.

What Should a St. Berdoodle Eat?

St. Berdoodles are quite large, and they will need to intake a larger amount of high-quality food in order to grow healthy and happy. The exact amount of food you feed your pup depends on their exact weight and height, but in general, your St. Berdoodle will need between four and ten cups of a quality and nutrient-rich dry food per day spread over two or three meals. You can also supplement their diet with treats and other nutrient-rich snacks, but make sure that you don’t overfeed your pup.

What Health Problems Do St. Berdoodles Have?

St. Berdoodles are likely to inherit the health problems of their parent breeds, which means you will need to look out for conditions such as hip dysplasia, frequent ear infections, Wobbler Syndrome, skin problems, and Willebrand disease in your pup. Routine veterinarian visits and taking good care of your dog is the best way to prevent these illnesses or catch them early before your dog is in distress.

Additionally, St. Berdoodles are highly affectionate and have a great need to be around people. You may find that your dog suffers from separation anxiety when you are not around or when you leave them alone. Try not to leave your dog for more than eight hours a day and speak to a veterinarian if you suspect your St. Berdoodle suffers from this.

How Long Do St. Berdoodles Live?

The average lifespan of a St. Berdoodle is between eight and twelve years. Taking good care of your pet and ensuring they are always in the best health possible increases their chances of reaching the higher end of this average and being happy throughout their life.

Are St. Berdoodles Expensive?

St. Berdoodles can be an expensive cross-breed, especially if their parents are from more distinguished or show-quality linages. You can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 for a St. Berdoodle puppy depending on the breeder, your location, and the lineage of your puppy’s parents.

How to Find a St. Berdoodle Breeder?

If you have your heart set on adopting a St. Berdoodle, your next step should be to find a reputable breeder. You can perform internet searches of breeders in your area and may even want to reach out to others in your community to inquire about the best place to adopt this cross-breed.

When searching for a breeder, you should be careful that you don’t accidentally purchase a dog from a puppy mill or any breeder that looks like they aren’t treating the parent dogs properly. Always ask to tour the facility or home that the breeder works out of and check any available licenses or certifications to ensure you support ethical and respectable breeding practices.

Can You Adopt a St. Berdoodle?

You may be able to adopt a St. Berdoodle from a shelter or other such dog care facility, but finding a St. Berdoodle in such a place is rare. St. Berdoodles are already a rarer cross-breed, and the chances that one of these expensive puppies ends up in a shelter is low. However, this shouldn’t stop you from taking a look around local shelters and dog adoption agencies to see if one is available before you look for a breeder.

Are St. Berdoodles Purebred?

Because the St. Berdoodle is a cross-breed, they do not count as a purebred dog. This is because their lineage is mixed. However, you can find St. Berdoodles that are mixed from two show-quality purebred parents (both the standard poodle and St. Bernard are considered purebred dogs); these puppies are likely to be more expensive.

Can You Show St. Berdoodles?

While St. Berdoodles are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (the AKC only recognizes purebred dogs), they may be eligible to be shown or registered through other organizations that cater to hybrid mixed-breed dogs. One such noticeable organization is International Designer Canine Registry.

Are St. Berdoodles Good for New Dog Owners?

St. Berdoodles are commonly recognized as a good choice for new dog owners due to their friendly nature, the affection that they bestow on their families, and the strong bonds they form. They are intelligent and can be trained easily, and make a great companion dog. However, new dog owners should be prepared for the size that this pup may reach, potential health issues such as separation anxiety, and take into account any small children or animals they have in their home before adopting a St. Berdoodle puppy.

Is a St. Berdoodle the Right Dog for Me?

Trying to determine if a St. Berdoodle is the right fit for you can be a formidable task. Review the bullet points below about St. Berdoodles to help you make your decision on whether or not you should adopt one of these large, friendly dogs.

The St. Berdoodle is right for you if:

• You can give it a few short walks per day, plus plenty of social activities (especially when they are a puppy)
• You have enough space to house and care for a larger dog
• You are prepared to deal with any separation anxiety your St. Berdoodle may have
• You want a companion dog that is easy to train and will give as much affection as they receive

The St. Berdoodle is not right for you if:

• You won’t be able to groom them regularly to help them feel more comfortable and healthier
• You don’t have enough space to support a larger dog, nor enough time to exercise them regularly
• You will be away from your dog for long periods of time and plan to leave them home alone
• You want a guard dog or a watchdog for your home

Adopting a new family member can be a stressful undertaking as you work to make sure you have the right choice. Make sure to review our article carefully to determine whether or not a St. Berdoodle is the best dog breed for you and learn all of the important facts you need to know before adopting one of these friendly, social dogs.