OUR PHILOSOPHY
In this web-site you will discover what owning a Saint Bernard is all about. It may be that you have owned many Saint Bernards yourself and you possibly own one or more at this time. You may have or still do exhibit Saint Bernards at dog shows. You may have bred a few litters or made up some champions. Perhaps you have trained Saint Bernards in obedience, carting or competition. To all those of you that fit into this category I say "well done" Hopefully you have contributed positively to the welfare and improvement of the Saint Bernard breed.
However, this web-site is dedicated to the Saint Bernard dog with specific reference to our experiences over the past 25 years. Some of them have been good while others the complete opposite. It is important to remember that throughout the entire 25 years our objective has always been the welfare and improvement of this wonderful breed! The fact that the breed has changed over the past 25 years is also significant.
There have been several changes to the breed standard which have generally been to the benefit of the health of the breed. Some breeders have resisted these changes for their personal reasons while others have manipulated the standard to fit their own view of the ideal Saint Bernard. One must remember that this is a centuries old breed that has been adapted over time to become the breed that we know today.
Throughout the site I have used laymen's words and terms where possible. I know and use technical terminology such as telegony, phenotype, occiput or dystocia, but the average household does not have a breeding or technical canine dictionary available.
In order to learn more about the Saint Bernard dog I have traveled regularly to dog shows in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, England and the USA. I have personally handled Saint Bernards in shows in most of those countries. I have attended breed seminars presented by many of the great names in current Saint Bernard history. These include seminars on nutrition, training, breeding, artificial insemination, bone structure, eyes, teeth, skull structure, movement and detailed commentary on the FCI standard, as well as many other aspects on our breed. I have personally trained many, many Saint Bernards, as well as other breeds. I have bred 18 Saint Bernard champions, more than any other breeder in South Africa, and made up another 11 champions from dogs brought into our breeding program as puppies.
I have also treated sick dogs, lost dogs to disease or old age, personally whelped many puppies and personally buried many loved dogs, mostly my own but also some which belonged to friends and fellow Saint Bernard enthusiasts.
Obviously I have developed a personal philosophy regarding all aspects of the Saint Bernard breed, and it is this philosophy which has guided me to success with my hobby, ultimately to the benefit of the breed. You do not have to agree with my philosophy since there are many ways to achieve the same objective. I believe that there is still much to learn and many Saints to see. I am looking forward to my next show, next litter, next champion and next seminar with more enthusiasm than ever before.
So, whether you are an experienced Bernhardiner or a newcomer, please take what you can from my experiences and ensure that you apply the knowledge you gain to ultimately benefit the Saint Bernard dog. This does not mean feeding your Saint on steak or allowing it to chew up your favorite slippers. Discipline is as important as love and good food, and sometimes you need to act in the best interest of the dog although it may hurt emotionally or even physically.
So, if you have no time for training then buy another breed.
If you are not prepared to discipline your Saint when required then buy another breed.
If you are not prepared to feed the correct food then buy another breed.
If you want a short hair dog, don’t shave your Saint Bernard, buy a short hair Saint or buy another breed.
Take responsibility for your Saint Bernard. Sterilize your Saint Bernard bitch or board her in a suitable boarding kennel when she is in season. Know when your bitch is due to come into season. There are very few genuine "accidental" matings.
If you are not sure how to solve a problem, ask! There are many people who have been through the same problems and someone has probably already solved it successfully.
We hope that you enjoy reading about this wonderful breed and take something positive from this site. Never stop learning!