Golden Saint

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 9-13 years
One of the biggest crossbreeds in the dog world, the Golden Saint is a giant cross between a Golden Retriever and a Saint Bernard. Due to their size, these pups are prone to joint and bone problems, but they are otherwise healthy. With proper care, such as a good, healthy diet, regular exercise, and routine vet visits, you can cut the risk of health issues considerably for your Golden Saint. Some of the more prominent health issues for a Golden Saint include the following.

Joint dysplasia is a condition which is either a birth defect or a size occurrence. When the Golden Saint grows, her joints can become malformed, sliding in and out of the socket. This can be subtle or severe, but if left untreated, this condition could result in painful arthritis or a permanent limp. Surgery is a guarantee to fix this health issue.

Cataract are an age-related condition which occurs when a cloudy lens settles over the pupil, expanding outward to encompass the entire eye. It occurs in one eye first, but can affect both eyes over time. When cataracts are at their worst, your Golden Saint will lose their vision. This condition can be surgically improved, and lifelong vitamins could help stave off eye problems.

Other health problems your Golden Saint might encounter are hypothyroidism, other eye issues aside from cataracts, skin allergies, heart disease, and epilepsy. The Golden Saint has an average lifespan of 9-13 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

Where the Saint Bernard is known for being a gentle giant with a stubborn streak, the Golden Retriever is known for being an affectionate pup with a protective nature. The Golden Saint these parent breeds create inherits the best traits, along with a few flaws. She is kind, compassionate, caring, and loyal, but also protective, alert, attentive, and cautious. She can be moody and sensitive occasionally, but that just means you should maintain a positive tone and attitude when talking to her.

Because of their giant size, the Golden Saint needs plenty of space to move around and play. Somewhere with a big backyard is ideal. Apartments are only a good idea when these big dogs are puppies, but not so much when they begin growing. If you plan on keeping her in a smaller home, make sure she has lots of room to roam, sleep, and play. A fenced-in yard is a definite plus, but if that’s something you don’t have, opt for 3 long walks and plenty of bonding play time with outdoor toys on a daily basis.

When it comes to exercise, the Golden Saint is happy with the usual outdoor activities, like playing fetch or romping with other dogs at a dog park. She can be a bit clumsy and awkward around smaller dogs, but she plays well with pups roughly her size. Male Golden Saints can have territory issues with dogs of their size, but this can be easily trained out of them.

The Golden Saint has amazing intelligence and strength, but she is never aggressive so her natural strength and size are only a problem when she’s overexcited or feeling extra bouncy and playful. The Golden Saint is super-easy to train. She has a bit of a stubborn streak, but her eagerness to please her loved ones overrides that stubbornness. Be positive, patient, and repetitive. She will learn your commands in no time. Reward her with meaty, wholesome treats and positive, sweet praise when she complies with your instructions.

Grooming

Both the Saint Bernard and Golden Retriever are known for their double coats with shaggy, lengthy hair. Their coats are dense for protection in extreme heat or cold, as well as water-repellent. The Golden Saint has a combination of the parent breed’s coats. Her hair usually grows quickly, so a monthly trim would be a great idea. You should also brush her daily to decrease the risk of mats and tangles. Dreadlocks are not a good look for a Golden Saint.

Because of their large size, Golden Saints might not fit in the average bathtub. You have a couple of options though. If the weather is nice outside, use a kiddie pool, a hose, and gentle dog shampoo to bathe your Golden Saint. Alternatively, take her to a professional groomer for a bath, brush, toenail trim, and ear cleaning. Brush her teeth 3-4 times per week.

Diet

This is where owning a Golden Saint may get expensive. These pups need lots of food to keep their bodies and minds healthy. Divide 6 cups of high-quality dry kibble into two meals a day. If your Golden Saint is on the larger side (above ~210 pounds), and fairly active, ask your vet if you should ramp up her dog food to 7 cups per day. Avoid feeding her table scraps. This results in begging, food aggression, and bad behavior later on.
 

Find A Golden Saint Breeder

Golden Saint Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Golden Saint

Cost

Be sure to check the local shelters before you look for a Golden Saint breeder. A shelter adoption fee would be around $250, depending on the health and age of the Golden Saint. Plus, you would be giving a beautiful, sweet dog another chance at finding a happy, healthy, loving home.

If you opt for a breeder, a Golden Saint puppy will set you back around $700. You also have to factor in costs of toys, food, vaccinations, and regular vet visits. Never skimp on taking your Golden Saint for a vet check-up at least twice a year.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Golden Saint scores a 1.5 on the Paws ‘N’ Pups integration scale. They are ideal family pets because of their gentle nature and adaptability. They are great with children and other pets. Be sure you teach any kids that will be around how to act with a dog of this size. No hair pulling, tail pulling, or “pony” rides. She should be treated with kindness and respect.

 

Golden Retriever

Saint Bernard

Bernese Mountain Dog

Newfoundland