CHAPTERS

Chapter 2: General Requirements for Saint Bernard

Owning a Saint Bernard is not all fun and cute: taking care of these puppies or dogs cost a considerable measure. In this section you will discover exactly what you have to know before setting out on the trip of being a legitimate dog owner. This part ought to help you advance in making an informed decision on whether you are capable and prepared to possess a pet like the Saint Bernard.

Dog Licenses

Before getting a Saint Bernard, you must find out about certain licensing needs which can benefit you and your dog. The licensing needs for dog owners vary from one country to another which means you need to do a little bit of research on your own to figure out whether you wish to get a dog license or not. Within the United States, there are no federal requirements for dog licensing, however it’s determined at the state level. Whereas some states don’t, most states need dog homeowners to license their dogs on an annual basis.

Licensing Your Dog in United States

Even if your state doesn’t require you to license your dog it is still a good idea because it will help someone to identify him if he gets lost so they can return him to you. Dog licenses in the United States usually cost approximately $25 per year and they can be renewed annually when you renew your dog’s rabies vaccine.

Dog license will serve as your tracker so make sure that the documents are updated when you apply for a dog license this will also serve as a proof that your dog has been given a rabies vaccine.

Licensing Your Dog in Europe

The cost to license your dog in the U.K. is similar to the U.S. which is more or less £20, but you do not have to have your dog vaccinated against rabies. In the United Kingdom, licensing requirements for dog owners are a little bit different and it is imposed. In Europe, particularly in Great Britain, they require that all dog owners license their dogs and get it renewed every twelve months or annually. The reason for this is because rabies does not exist in the U.K. anymore, it was eradicated a long time ago, through careful control measures. If you travel with your dog to or from the U.K., you will have to obtain a special animal moving license and your dog may have to undergo a period of quarantine to make sure he doesn’t carry disease into the country.

Do Saint Bernard Breeds Get Along with Other Pets?

The answer to this is both yes and no. If a Saint Bernard is successfully trained and adequately socialized – then yes, he will definitely get along well with other pets. Saint Bernard is generally very friendly towards all kinds of animals and even with strangers. However, if these dogs are spoiled too much by their owner, they can sometimes become territorial and jealous of other pets going near or getting any attention from their owner. If you don’t socialize them at an early age, and teach them certain boundaries – then no they may not get along with other pets and could also be aggressive towards people.

How Many Saint Bernard Dogs Should You Keep?

It actually depends on you on how many can you take care of. If you are an experienced dog owner or just simply love the company of dogs, then you might want to consider getting another one of this breed, having more than one Saint Bernard means that you’ll have no shortage of entertainment and affection. Take into consideration that these dogs thrive on being the center of attention and jealousy can become a problem. The chance of dealing with quarreling for attention amongst them is highly possible. If you do decide to get more than one, make sure you don’t play favorites because it might cause emotional damage to the less favored one/s.

On the other hand, if you are a first time dog owner, it might be best to see for yourself if you can handle more than one, Saint Bernard are high maintenance dogs that needs to be trained, you must give them your full attention, if you are inexperienced, then it is highly recommended that you settle with one dog first and learn from it so that if ever you decide

to get another one in the future, you’ll be well-equip and knowledgeable already.

General Cost in Keeping a Saint Bernard

Owning a dog or any pet in general is not always about the cuteness or the glamour, it comes with hard work and of course the financial capacity of your wallet. Owning pets mean including them in your budget because the expenses are as a regular as your grocery and utility bills. Basically if you own a dog, it’s like you’ve adopted a baby, you need to nurture it and take care of all its needs to keep it healthy and happy. Spending money on your Saint Bernard will begin even before you take him home because you have to prepare for his arrival and you have to purchase a crate, toys, indoor gates or fences, and food bowls. The responsibility of being a dog owner also includes being able to provide for their needs so before you take one home make sure that you can keep up with the expenses.

In this section you will receive an overview of the initial costs and monthly costs to keep a Saint Bernard as your pet.

Tip: Before buying anything, try to do a window shopping first, so you can compare prices as well as its quality.

Initial Costs

The initial costs for keeping a Saint Bernard include those costs that you must cover before you can bring your dog home. Some of the initial costs you will need to cover include your dog’s crate, food/water bowls, toys and accessories, microchipping, spay/neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, and supplies for grooming and nail clipping – it also includes the cost of the dog itself.

Here are the estimated prices of each of these needs as well as an overview for the total price you need to pay in order to get and maintain a dog:

• Cost of the Dog

The cost to purchase a Saint Bernard can vary greatly depending where you find the dog. Since these dogs are huge and high maintenance, it can be very expensive; the average cost for a Saint Bernard is $1,800 or £1,419.70 and above. You can adopt a rescue Saint Bernard for as little as $800 or £630.98 but purchasing a puppy, especially a purebred puppy from an AKC-registered breeder, could be much more costly.  Just be cautious when buying from unregistered breeders and do a background check on their credibility.  Make sure the puppy is completely healthy.

• Crate

Since Saint Bernard dogs are huge breeds, you should consider buying a larger crate. Otherwise, you may need to constantly buy a bigger one especially when it reaches full adult size. The average cost for a big dog crate is about $50 and above in most cases.

• Indoor Fences/Gates

Indoor Fences or gates will serve as your dog’s own space, aside from the crate; you’ll need to create a boundary for your puppy that he can acknowledge as his own where you will set up his bed and toys. The average cost for these fences/gates is $100 or £70.

• Bed

You may want your Saint Bernard to be as comfortable as possible so a bed may come in handy. It is ideal to teach your puppy early on that there is a designated place for him to sleep. On average these bed cost about $40 or £38.

• Food/Water Bowls

Food and water bowls are just as important as providing your dog with a crate and bed to sleep in, you have to make sure he has a set of high-quality food and water bowls. The best materials for these are stainless steel because it is easy to clean and doesn’t harbor bacteria. Choose bowls that are heavy so that the dog won’t be able to push or tip it over and make a mess. The average cost for a quality set of stainless steel bowls is about $20 or £18.

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