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Golden Saint Dog (Golden Retriever & Saint Bernard Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

golden retriever saint bernard

Height: 30–36 inches
Weight: 100–220 pounds
Lifespan: 9–13 years
Colors: Black, white, cream, red, brown, brindle, pied, yellow
Suitable for: Active families with children, a house with a yard
Temperament: Loyal, loving, intelligent, friendly, calm, gentle

The Golden Saint is the offspring of the Golden Retriever and the Saint Bernard breeds, which gives us these calm and gentle dogs. The Golden Saint is a blend of two beloved purebreds and has the same friendly, gentle, loving, and obedient nature of its parents. The Golden Saint is one of the largest hybrids there are, and while they are not particularly agile, they need lots of exercise due to their size.

The Saint Bernard Golden Retriever mix’s coat could be long, smooth, rough, heavy, or water-repellent and comes in colors such as black, white, yellow, red, cream, or brown. It could also be a solid color or spotted, merle, or speckled. They have broad skulls, triangular floppy ears with a feathery tails, and they tend to look like very large Golden Retrievers.

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Golden Saint Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The Golden Saint are active dogs that require long walks but are not overly high-energy or excitable. Their intelligence and eager-to-please nature make them very easy to train, and because they are crossbreeds, they are not prone to most of the health issues that affect their parents.

Their lifespan is 9–13 years but owing to being extra-large dogs, they aren’t as long-lived as smaller dogs. Like every dog, early socialization will make future engagements with strangers and other animals easier. Still, in general, the Golden Saint is a very friendly dog with little to no aggression issues.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Golden Saint

1. The Golden Saint can live just about anywhere.

Because of their considerable size, they would do best in a larger place, particularly with a backyard. However, they are very calm and adaptable dogs, and as long as they get the right amount of exercise and enough attention from their owners, they might do fine in an apartment.


2. The Golden Saint struggles in hot weather.

They enjoy the cold weather but don’t do as well when it is hot. You should limit exertion during the hottest part of the day.


3. The Golden Saint will do very well with beginner dog owners.

Their calm and gentle nature and ability to be trained easily make them the perfect dog for people with little to no experience with dogs.

Parents Breeds of the Golden Saint Dog
Image By: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Golden Saint 🧠

The Golden Saint dog is a very smart and sweet dog that will be an excellent companion for single people and families or would make a fantastic service or therapy dog. They are protective, calm, and loving pets that would be an amazing addition to almost any household.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Golden Saint is perfect for families as well as single people. They are very patient with children as long as the children are shown how to play gently with them (and certainly not ride them like a horse!). They are lovable and calm and are not known to knock small children down. They are also good watchdogs as they will bark at strangers approaching the door but have no aggressive tendencies, which makes them safe around the family.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Just like with any dog, they need to be properly trained and socialized while puppies, but due to the easygoing nature of the Golden Saint, they do get along very well with other pets. Their lack of aggression and their calm and gentle personalities make for a dog that will be very patient and loving with other animals.

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Things to Know When Owning a Golden Saint:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Golden Saint is prone to gaining excess weight, which will need to be taken into consideration. They should be fed an average of 4 to 6 cups of high-quality dry dog food designed for large breeds about twice a day. The larger the dog, the more obesity will have serious ramifications on your dog’s health, so consult your vet about your dog’s diet requirements.

Exercise 🐕

The Golden Saint is an active dog, but with relatively low energy; therefore, daily exercise of around 45 minutes per day will be sufficient. If you live in an apartment, daily walks and play in a local park will keep your dog happy and in great shape.

Training 🦮

The Golden Saint is a highly intelligent dog that is very obedient and eager to please, all of which make for a dog that is easy to train. Early training in socialization and teaching them to avoid potential bad behaviors (such as jumping on people, which will be a problem in adulthood given their size) is critical.

Like with all dogs, training should be consistent and firm but with lots of love and positive reinforcement.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming the Golden Saint is not as difficult as you might imagine given their coat and size. They tend to shed a lot and so will require daily brushing (or depending on their coat, just about 3 times a week). They should only be bathed when necessary (about once a month) with a good shampoo designed for dogs.

The Golden Saint’s ears do tend to be floppy, so their ears should be cleaned regularly as the folded ear might contain oils and excess wax. Start trimming your dog’s nails when they are puppies so it becomes a habit they become used to and brush its teeth regularly.

Health Conditions ❤️

Minor Conditions
Serious Conditions

The Golden Saint might inherit some of these conditions from their parents, but because they are hybrids, they are much less likely to be prone to the same health issues as purebreds. Your vet might run hip, heart, and elbow exams during a physical exam.

The veterinarian will check the thyroid and run eye exams as well as check for skin conditions and allergies.

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Male vs Female

The female Golden Saint will be slightly lighter than the male. Both females and males might measure 30 to 36 inches in height whereas the female might weigh 100 to 200 pounds and the male might weigh as much as 220 pounds.

Female dogs should be spayed unless the owner plans to breed her. The surgery is more challenging than neutering the male and will, therefore, be more expensive, and the dog will take a longer time to recover.

Some believe that female dogs are more affectionate and less aggressive than males, but there is some debate on this subject. The most important thing to consider is that no matter what gender your dog is, the training and socialization of your puppy will have the greatest impact on its personality.

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Final Thoughts

If you love the Saint Bernard and the Golden Retriever, you don’t have to choose one if you bring a Golden Saint into your household. These extraordinarily beautiful, calm, and loving gentle giants bring the best qualities of their parents into one dog that is perfect for families and beginner dog owners.

The Golden Saint puppies might not be easy to find so you can start by talking to the breeders of Saint Bernards and Golden Retrievers. You could also speak to local and national dog clubs as well as attend dog shows and speak to the dog experts found in these places. Social media has proven to be a great way of sending out messages and requests for help, so this could be another avenue to follow.

The Golden Saint might be a challenge to find but is worth the effort. If you’re looking for a perfect companion for your family or even a therapy dog, you absolutely can’t go wrong with the Golden Saint.


Featured Image Credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock

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