Golden Saint Basics
With a name like this, it’s hard not to be a good boy! Meet Golden Saint, a designer dog that brings together two well-loved purebreds together. This breed was developed by crossing the Golden Retriever and Saint Bernard. If you are looking for a dog that really lives up to the name “gentle giant”, you will love this mixed breed pooch. Loyal, gentle, intelligent, and obedient, the Golden Saint is a perfect companion or working dog.
Of course, it’s easy to see how his beautiful personality and gorgeous looks make him appealing to most prospective dog owners. Thankfully, this versatile and tempered canine will do well in various settings and family situations. Ideally, his new owners would have time to give him the exercise his big frame requires and live in a home where Golden Saint could comfortably strut around. He does well in families with or without children, as well as with singles looking for a loyal companion.
Golden Saint dogs are known as true gentle giants, whose friendly and loving nature charms even the pickiest owners.
Origin
While it’s indisputable that designer dog breeds are becoming more popular with each day, there is still a lot we don’t know about these hybrid dogs. As a product of two different purebred dogs, they were considered mutts until not long ago, but now this crossbreeding is intentional. As for the Golden Saint, it is only a guess that this breed was created in the United States, sometime in the last two decades- same as all other designer dogs.
However, if you scrape the surface and take a look at the origin and rich history of Golden Saint parents, it’ll be easy to learn more about them. The Golden Retriever was first bred as a hunting dog in 18th century Scotland but has since become one of America’s most popular pets. The giant St. Bernard is equally as old and popular- this breed marks its beginning in 17th century Switzerland.
Pedigree
Golden Saint puppies don’t have a pedigree. As a designer dog breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club or any of its international canine organization counterparts. This makes it impossible for breeders to offer pedigree papers with their hybrid puppies. However, in its essence, pedigree is just a documented family tree of a purebred dog. It serves to prove and guarantee a dog’s good breeding. And if you get your Golden Saint puppy from a reliable source, you can get those reassurances either way. Paper or no paper!
A reputable breeder will have an official pedigree for the parents of the puppies. You will be able to get insight into your new pet’s ancestry and maybe get a clearer picture of what to expect, appearance and behavior wise when they grow up. To boot, there are certain organizations that register designer dog breeds, so it might even be possible to obtain a non-standard pedigree from one of these clubs.
Food/Diet
All animals rely on the nutrients they get from their diet to keep them fit and healthy. For dogs, who are omnivores, their meal plan should include a well-balanced ratio of protein, carbs and other essential vitamins and minerals. The easiest way to make sure your Golden Saint is getting all of those important nutrients in their bowl is to opt for high-quality dry dog food. Kibble is optimally formulated to offer everything a dog needs to thrive, whether it’s in their puppyhood, senior years, or period of adulthood. Additionally, you should pay attention that the kibble matches your dog’s activity level or any special health requirements they might have.
As a giant dog breed, Golden Saint will need much larger quantities of food to stay satiated and to have its needs met. However, it doesn’t mean you should overfeed them. Stick to the recommended serving sizes printed on the kibble bag or consult a veterinary nutritionist for advice. Obesity is a serious issue, and even the slightest weight gain in a dog of this size can quickly cause a myriad of health problems, from joint pain to diabetes.
The right diet will stave off health issues for this giant breed dog, from joint pain to diabetes.
Training
Golden Saint is a big people-pleaser and has a tendency to be obedient, as well. As they combine intelligent and bright mind with a sweet temperament, they’re bound to pick up on commands quickly. In general, these giant dogs should be very easy to train, even if you haven’t had much experience with training dogs prior to this.
Of course, it’s not always that you get a perfect pooch “out of the box”, even when it’s a tempered breed like the Golden Saint! Sometimes. Owing to their St. Bernard parent, these pooches can have a bit of a stubborn streak, so it’s important to start training and socialization on time.
Although the Golden Saint is not prone to any specific behavioral issues, you should make sure to pay attention to all of the universal things in your training sessions. This means potty training, learning how to walk on a leash, socialization with children and other animals, as well as teaching independence (to prevent separation anxiety).
Weight
As you probably could have already guessed, this Golden Retriever and Saint Bernard mix is a seriously big pooch. In fact, this designer dog easily falls into the category of the XXL size breeds! Once fully mature, a Golden Saint can weigh between 100 and 220 pounds. The differences between the lowest and highest value are significant, and your puppy’s size will largely depend on which parent they favor more. Naturally, those Golden Saint puppies that take up after the St. Bernard parent will be bigger. But, hey- it only means you’ll have more of them to love, right?
Temperament/Behavior
No one can deny that this designer dog looks absolutely stunning, with its gorgeous coat and impressive stature. But his personality is even more beautiful- and that’s saying a lot. Golden Saint has one of the best personalities in the world of designer dogs. Owing to its parental breeds, this hybrid dog has a tempered, sweet personality that will charm even the most demanding owners.
Golden Saint is loyal, affectionate, and docile- they do well with older children and other pets if socialized on time. Their size might make them look scary to some, but, in reality, there’s nothing you need to be afraid of with these gentle giants. They’re not aggressive at all, and they have a friendly personality and a big heart. If you are looking for a sweet dog that will show you how incredible a dog’s love and devotion can be, you’ll find a perfect match in a Golden Saint.
Common Health Problems
One of the frequently mentioned reasons for the development of designer dog breeds is their supposedly improved resilience. There is a common belief that crossbreeding eliminates a huge chunk of common hereditary issues that often affect purebred dogs. While some might argue that genetics is far more complex than this, with careful and responsible crossbreeding, the results have been promising. In the case of the Golden Saint, there are a few health concerns, but far fewer than you’d expect with purebred dogs.
Some of the hereditary issues that could affect these designer dogs, owing to their parents’ breeds, are: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis (rare congenital heart defect) and eye issues such as retinal dysplasia or cherry eye.
As a dog of imposing stature, the Golden Saint is at high risk of developing osteoarthritis with age. To prevent this, or at least significantly postpone it, you should provide plenty of exercise, high-quality diet and introduce supplements and vitamins, too.
Life Expectancy
Even though the Golden Saint is considered to be a healthy pooch in general, they still belong to the category of giant dogs. As such, their lifespan is somewhat shorter than you’d expect with their petite fellows.
While there’s not enough data on this new designer dog breed for us to know their life expectancy with certainty, a lot can be concluded from their parents’ lifespan. On average, a Golden Saint should live anywhere between 9 and 13 years.
Exercise Requirements
As a designer dog breeds that traces its roots to two working and sporting dog breeds, the Golden Saint is definitely not a couch potato. Of course, while they do have a lot of energy in them, due to their impressive size, these pooches are not the most athletic ones out there, so exercising them shouldn’t be an issue. Long daily walks or playing fetch in a fenced backyard will keep their needs met. Granted, they’ll also need their minds to be engaged, too, so invest in some good puzzle toys that will pique their interest.
On average, you should expect to spend about 45 minutes a day exercising your Golden Saint. This can be quite a commitment to apartment dwellers who don’t have a backyard where their puppy could get their zoomies or play with a ball until they want inside. If you’re not prepared or able to give your new pet the exercise they need, it might be better to look into smaller or lazy dog breeds.
Long daily walks or playing fetch in a fenced backyard will keep their needs met.
Recognized Clubs
The AKC might not give the Golden Saint a status of an official dog breed, but there are plenty of organizations that recognize designer dog breeds. While these clubs might not boast a long and established tradition as the AKC, they are committed to getting designer dog breeds the recognition that they deserve.
Organizations and clubs that recognize the Golden Saint include Dog Registry of America and American Canine Hybrid Club.
Coat
Both of the parental breeds of this designer dog have distinct coats. The Golden Retriever boasts golden silky waves that earned it its name and Saint Bernard has the iconic white, brown, and white coat. When it comes to their offspring, this combination usually leads to dense, thick fur that can be water-repellent, as well. The hair is medium to long, and shouldn’t shed excessively.
Unlike some long-haired dogs, the Golden Saint is not a high-maintenance pooch when it comes to its grooming needs. Brushing them a few times a week, and giving them a bath once every few weeks will keep them spick and span.
These dogs come in various colors, from brown and cream to brindle and pied.
Puppies
Even when they’re still just babies, Golden Saint puppies will weigh roughly as much as a small breed adult pooch. They’re extremely adorable and silly, with their “bull in a china shop” behavior. Their puppyhood is the ideal time to start them with training and socialization, as it will ensure they grow up to be well-behaved, tempered dogs.
Golden Saint dogs are known as true gentle giants, whose friendly and loving nature charms even the pickiest owners. They are big-hearted, people-pleasing dogs who are easy to train and adapt well to various living situations. Ideally, these large dogs would live in a house with a fenced backyard. They are ideal pets for families with older children or active singles who want a devoted four-legged companion.
Photo credit: By Dreadie/Shutterstock
