Swissy Saint (Swiss Mountain Dog & St Bernard Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts
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Height: | 21 – 24 inches |
Weight: | 120 – 180 pounds |
Lifespan: | 8 – 10 years |
Colors: | Black, red, brown, white, fawn, cream |
Suitable for: | Families that are active with a big backyard; Experienced owners that work with canines |
Temperament: | Devoted and loving, intelligent, laid back, gentle, obedient and even-tempered |
Do you have space for a large dog that is intelligent, calm, and loyal? If you have been looking to adopt a gentle giant into your family, you won’t do better than the Swissy Saint. This large pup is a designer hybrid that comes from a Saint Bernard and a Swiss Mountain Dog. What these two purebred canines created is a loving and gentle family companion that incidentally excels in several professions.
Due to their large size and regular care needs, this dog will not be the right fit for everyone. Of course, the best way to know whether this pup is for you is by checking out the information below where we have shared all the details of owning this dog.
Keep reading to see if the Swissy Saint is the right pet for you!
Swissy Saint Puppies
The Swissy Saint, or Swissy for short, comes from two working-class parents that have been used in many human service fields. This makes them intelligent, easy to train, but still playful and funny. They can often be clumsy as they get used to their big paws and size, as well.
Their small stature won’t last long, though. They typically double their weight between 6 months and 12 months. They are also fully grown at about 18 months, though they can still retain some happy puppy antics.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Swissy Saint
1. Origins
Both the Swissy Saint’s purebred parents originated in Switzerland and were used as working dogs. However, some research indicates the Saint Bernard has ties to Italy as well.
2. BC References
Researchers have found references to the Saint Bernard as far back 57 BC and they may have been bred by Romans.
3. Blaze Mark
Although the Swissy Saint can take after either parent, you will find most of them have the blaze marking on top of their head.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Swissy Saint 🧠
Your Swissy Saint is a very intelligent animal whose ancestors have been used as search and rescue dogs, service dogs, and other human service fields. As you would expect, they are gentle, loving, and confident. This is not a canine that is scared easily, nor do they suffer from anxiety. If fact, it’s hard to shake the calm composure of this stoic pet.
Be that as it may, they are not standoffish creatures, either. You will see they are very friendly, loving, and exceptionally loyal. Though they are not overly affectionate, they are protective and love to spend time with their humans. They love playing, walking, playing games, or just relaxing with you.
The Swissy Saint is also obedient and devoted. They will also make a good guard dog. Keep in mind, they are not aggressive in the least, plus they rarely bark. That being said, they are also brave and not excitable. If you hear them bark, there is a specific reason why.
Are Swissy Saints Good for Families? 🏡
You will find the Swissy Saint is an excellent family dog. They are right at home with the daily chaos of family life. Their calm demeanor keeps them from getting rambunctious and knocking over the furniture when teenagers come in yelling. Their gentleness also makes them great with small kids.
With the little ones, you will find your Swissy following them around like a mother hen. If a toddler ventures too far away, you will most likely hear one of their rare woofs. This large pooch is perfectly happy to sit with you in the living room, go for a ride, or play in the backyard.
On the flip side of the family equation, the Swissy Saint is also a great pet for single people. They do not constantly need attention from their owner, so you will be able to leave them while you are at work. Keep in mind, though, that they are very loyal and devoted pets, so they do best when you can spend a considerable amount of time with them.
As we mentioned, this is also a great canine for people who need a helping companion. Whether you need one yourself, or your work allows you to train them for specific service jobs, they will excel. Working with your pet is the best of both worlds.
Do Swissy Saints Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Swissy Saint is also good with other pets, whether they are new canine faces they meet in the park, other pups you have at home, or the neighborhood cat. Socialization is still important for this dog, as it is for all canines, but this hybrid is exceptionally friendly.
The only issue to point out is space. As they are so big, other pets may not be so happy with the invasion of their space. For that reason, you always want to introduce your animals to a newcomer before adopting them.
Things to Know When Owning a Swissy Saint:
The breed may sound like the perfect dog for you, but it’s always crucial that you research what it takes to care for them before making a decision. Always remember, although they are gentle, calm, and friendly, they are still a large animal that will be reliant on you for their overall care and happiness.
Before making any permanent decisions, take a look at this Swissy Saint care guide below.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Feeding this pup is one of the easier aspects of their care as they don’t have many restrictions on their diet. That being said, they will eat about 4 cups of kibble per day. Most Swissy parents find splitting the food up to three times a day works best. Additionally, you want to pick their food up when they are done and not leave more pet food around as they will continue to eat.
You will also want to speak with your vet about the best meal plan for this canine. They are prone to weight gain, which is another reason we recommended picking up excess food. Your vet will be able to give you some basic guidelines based on their weight, age, health, and activity level. Above all, however, make sure they are fed a wholesome and nutritious meal that is packed with lean protein and healthy fats and fiber.
Treats
You also want to keep their treats in mind. With weight gain as a possible issue, you should stay away from feeding them table scraps. Instead, find the snacks that have vitamins and minerals and don’t have sugars or artificial ingredients.
Exercise 🐕
Daily exercise is very important for this breed due to the weight gain issue we mentioned above. More than that, though, they can also tend to be lazy. If you allow them to, they will chill out on the couch all day watching the activity around them.
Instead, you want to get them out for at least two 30-minute walks each day. You also want to give them some backyard time. We recommend a big backyard with a fence for this breed, although they can do well in an apartment due to their nature. If you are in an urban setting, it will be even more crucial to get them outside daily.
Just as important as their physical exercise is their mental stimulation. As the Swissy is an avidly intelligent pup, they need to stretch their minds with other activities. Games like fetch and chase are fun. They also love learning tricks, puzzle games, and hide and seek games.
If you can teach them responsibilities, jobs, or tasks, it’s even better. This is where they shine and it’s where they are the most engaged. It will also prompt them to be more physically active.
Training 🦮
As you have probably guessed, the Swissy has no problem picking up basic training. Obedience, behavioral, and housebreaking lessons are best started as early as possible, however. This also goes for socializing them as we talked about above.
Like most dogs, though, you will need patience and repetition. Sometimes, this breeds intelligence can work against them, as they think they know best. Positive reinforcement will be your friend here, as they respond well to this training technique.
Keeping a consistent training schedule, while also keeping the sessions fun and engaging, will be the best way to train your pooch. They are naturally obedient, but you will want to ensure that they can follow commands, and won’t break your furniture by jumping on it!
Grooming ✂️
The Swissy Saint is likely to have a short to medium-length coat that is thick and soft. They are also moderate shedders, so you’ll want to keep up with their fur maintenance. If their fur is on the longer side, you want to brush them three or four times a week with a pin brush. It will not only remove excess fur but will also loosen any knots.
If your Swissy has shorter fur, you can use either a pin or slicker brush to get rid of shed two or three times a week. They are also seasonal shedders, so during spring and fall you will want to increase their fur grooming to keep the majority of their hair from sticking to your textiles.
Bathing the Swissy Saint can be done as needed. This designer breed tends to have a strong “canine” smell, so you will likely need to bath them with regularity. That being said, you don’t want to do so more than three or four times a month. Doing so can strip the fur of natural oils.
Other Grooming Needs
You will also want to take care of their ears, nails, and teeth. The latter should be brushed as often as possible to protect them from tartar and plaque build-up. You can also provide them with dental treats and gels if you are not able to brush their teeth often.
Their ears will need to be examined a few times a week, too. You want to look out for any redness, excess wax build-up, and mites. Once a week, you want to wipe the ear clean with a cotton pad and a canine ear wash. Make sure you don’t get the solution in their ear. Instead, dampen the cloth and wipe the ear clean of any dirt and debris.
Finally, you need to clip their nails as needed or as soon as you can hear them walking across a solid surface. The Swissy Saints nails are typically thick and tough, so a grinder is only useful for smoothing jagged edges. Instead, you want to go with a guillotine clipper versus the scissors clipper as you will have more control.
Health and Conditions ❤️
There is no way to tell whether they will have any health issues in their lifetime. That being said, there is genetic testing that can be done for certain hereditary diseases. You can ask the breeder to have this done, but it’s still not a guarantee that they will develop the issue.
That being said, certain ailments are more likely to occur in this breed, as we will outline below. For the most part, the Swissy Saint is a healthy pup, but it’s best to be prepared for all eventualities.
- Bloat
- Weight gain
- Entropion
- Hip dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Wobblers syndrome
- Digestive problems
You must get your Swissy annual check-ups with your vet. Depending on the condition, there may be medications that can help slow down the progress. Not only that, but specific diets, supplements, and other holistic approaches can also make a difference if your pet is predisposed to any health concerns. Finally, it is better to call for help if you notice something is off with your dog. Waiting even an hour too long can have detrimental effects.
Male vs. Female
There are very few differences between male and female Swissy Saints. No matter which sex you get, you will want to spay or neuter them as soon as possible. Spaying and neutering has several benefits. It will reduce mating behaviors such as roaming and heat cycles, reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, and will prevent litters of puppies. Most dogs can be spayed or neutered as early as 6 months of age, but speak with your vet about the best time to spay or neuter your Swissy Saint.
Final Thoughts: Swissy Saint
The Swissy Saint is a gentle giant that will make a great family companion. They are loyal, social, and friendly dogs that thrive in a situation where they have a job to do; even if it’s just watching the kids. You will need to persuade this pup to come out and play, but they are the best cuddle-friend on a rainy afternoon.
Provided that you have enough space for this big pet, they will be a great addition to most homes. We hope you enjoyed this article on the Swissy Saint designer breed.
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