About Golden Saints

Overview

Temperament

With some of the kid-friendliest dog breeds as parents, it’s no surprise that a Golden Saint wins over everyone with their sweet nature and friendly personality. These dogs are known for being gentle giants and tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets.

As long as they have been properly socialized, they also tend to be open and friendly with strangers. After all, they love getting attention and making new friends. Their temperament also tends to make them a great fit for roles as emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs.

Adaptability

A Golden Saint is a moderately adaptable dog breed. Although they can adapt to apartments if they get enough daily exercise and attention, their size can be a challenge for smaller living areas. Because of this, they are best suited to larger homes with yards that have enough room for them to move around comfortably.

These dogs do relatively well with moderate and cool temperatures. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to heat. They also bond closely with their families and do not like to spend a lot of time alone. If they are not given enough exercise or mental stimulation, they can become destructive.

Health

Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Saint can include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, cherry eye, retinal dysplasia, and a rare congenital heart defect called subvalvular aortic stenosis. These dogs can also be prone to weight gain if they are overfed and do not get enough exercise; this can lead to arthritis, joint damage and pain, and diabetes as they age.

Good breeding practices make a big difference, so look for the qualities of a great breeder when you are looking for puppies and talking to breeders. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, don’t be afraid to ask about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done.

Owner Experience

Golden Saints are natural people pleasers. They are intelligent dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to receive praise from their owners. They tend to be a great fit for owners of all experience levels. Because a Golden Saint puppy will grow into a large dog, you will want to start leash training as soon as possible.

Grooming

A Golden Saint tends to have a thick, medium-to-long coat that sheds moderately year-round. Brushing a few times a week to remove tangles and loose fur and a bath every few weeks is usually enough to keep this dog’s coat healthy and looking great. In addition to coat care, you will also need to take care of your Golden Saint’s nails, ears, and teeth.

Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Weekly ear checks, and carefully cleaning your dog’s ears as needed, can help prevent ear infections. Daily dental care with dog-friendly toothpaste or an enzyme toothpaste in addition to cleanings at the vet when needed can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life.

Activity Level

A Golden Saint will be energetic as they play and will need daily activity to be happy and healthy. Although they are not couch potato dogs, they usually won’t run you ragged as they tend to sit in a more moderate activity range. Daily walks plus some playtime and some time to run are usually enough for these dogs.

Size

A fully-grown Golden Saint usually stands 30-36 inches tall and weighs 100-220 pounds.

Life Span

Golden Saints have the projected lifespan of most large & giant breed dogs, around 9-13 years.

Did You know?

The Golden Saint is a mix between the Golden Retriever and the Saint Bernard. Truly the definition of a “gentle giant”, the Golden Saint has the size of the Saint Bernard with a wonderful combination of loving and even tempered traits from both the Saint Bernard and the Golden Retriever. Maintaining the looks of both parent breeds, the Golden Saint is a large dog with a strong body, almond shaped eyes, and long, dense fur. Coloring can range from yellow, black, chocolate, white, brindle, speckled, spotted, and merle. Despite his large size, this breed may be well suited for an apartment or smaller home and they make the perfect companion regardless of your level of experience. With a gentle and calm disposition, the Golden Saint lives by his name! He is easy to train, gets along well with everyone, and makes the perfect snuggling companion on long winter nights. Despite the fact that his large size doesn’t make him extremely athletic, the Golden Saint does still require quite a bit of exercise due to both parent breeds being working dogs. Keep in mind that he will also shed quite often, so while he is low maintenance, a lot of brushing will be required. Overall, if you are looking for a large, loyal, easy going, friendly dog who is great with kids the Golden Saint may be the perfect fit for you.

The Golden Saint is also sometimes called a Golden Bernard Retriever.

Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/breed/golden-saint