Instructions
Research the Saint Bernard breed and its genetics as thoroughly as possible. This is imperative if you want to produce quality puppies. Breeders who lack knowledge or are unethical contribute to the problems of dog overpopulation, poor temperament and heritable diseases. Quality breeders know their breed's lines thoroughly -- not just their own line, but other breeders' lines as well. It's also essential to learn about the development of puppies and their care and socialization needs because even a well-bred puppy will be a poor pet if its developmental needs are not met.
Take your Saint Bernard to the veterinarian for a thorough examination, and let the vet know you plan to breed. The examination should include a test for brucella canis, which causes the disease brucellosis, usually sexually transmitted in dogs. This is a serious disease, which causes abortion in dogs -- and in some cases can be transmitted to people via the dead puppy fetus. Both male and female dogs must be tested for brucellosis before every breeding, even if both tested negative and the last time was very recent.
Contact the Saint Bernard Club in your state to learn the requirements to join, and the health clearances, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHip, that are expected of members. A quality breeder should be a member in good standing of the breed club, both national and state levels. Saints are susceptible to a number of diseases, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye problems and more.
Find a stud, if you have the bitch, or a bitch if you have a stud. This should be researched and documented as carefully as you have done with your dog. Don't take the owner's word for anything, but ask to see the pedigree, veterinary records and other documentation. Champion lines are not those with several champions listed on the pedigree -- almost any dog with a pedigree will have some champions on that pedigree. Champion lines have almost all champions among the dogs listed on the pedigree, especially the closest relatives, like parents and grandparents. Since you are new to breeding Saint Bernards, select a mate for your dog from a highly experienced breeder of quality, champion Saints. This will help in making the right choice of mates as well as helping with the entire breeding process.
Breed the dogs two or three times, with one or two days in between each mating. People vary on the best days of the female's heat cycle to breed, but generally between the ninth and 14th days she will be willing to accept the male. Sometimes the female's owner misses the first day of heat, and so the numbers can be slightly off.
Supervise the breeding closely. The male can frighten or hurt the female if he is much bigger and too rough. Also, the female may hurt the male if she is not ready to mate yet. Additionally, the male will become swollen inside the female, tying them together for up to 30 minutes. The dogs should not be left alone during this time, as the male can be injured by the pair's struggling to get free.
How to Breed a Saint Bernard
The Saint Bernard is an old breed, related to the colossal dogs that crossed the Alps with the Romans. Some of the dogs were taken in by monks, who eventually used the dogs to locate victims of avalanches. A good breeder should also show his dogs in conformation. Dog shows are not just beauty pageants. The conformation ring is solely for the purpose of judging the dogs that best meet the standards of their breed; the dogs that are fit for breeding. Ideally, all others should be neutered. It is a health, temperament and physical standard for the work the dog was bred to do. A Saint Bernard that shows any aggression or other temperament problems will be immediately dismissed and disqualified.