Saint Bernard Newfoundland Mix: Saint Bernewfie Breed Information

The Saint Bernard Newfoundland mix is a loving, family-friendly designer dog. But this guy isn’t just any old designer dog, he’s unofficially called the “Saint Bernewfie” and is quite adorable. And trust us when we say that this guy is a big deal, in more ways than one. He isn’t the most common Saint Bernard mix, but he is becoming increasingly popular with dog lovers and families across the world.

So, whether you are thinking about welcoming one of these guys into your life, or you are just wondering who the new guy next door is, you’ve come to the right place. The Saint Bernewfie is an excellent choice for those families who cannot choose between either breed when comparing them. Or they are great for those who fancy a unique canine mix.

He is calm, funny, loving with his family, and slightly suspicious of strangers. He loves to goof around with his family, but he is also a gentle giant who makes a fantastic sibling to young children. As he is a big dog, he needs a lot of room, and he also needs a family that can spend a lot of their time with him. There’s much more to this guy than his cuddly appearances, so let’s take a closer look.

Parent Breeds

Just like any mixed dog, it’s essential to understand what both of his parents are like. To do this, you need to learn about their breed origins, what you can expect from their personality, and their size at maturity, to name just a few things.

Saint Bernard

The American Kennel Club, in 2020, has ranked the Saint Bernard as the 48^th most popular breed in America. If it wasn’t for his larger-than-life-size and his drooly jowls, he would probably be much more popular. He measures between 26 and 30 inches, and he weighs between 120 to 180 pounds.

He is a giant-sized dog breed. The Saint Bernard is described as playful, charming, and inquisitive, and he is one of many gentle giants. He is known for his love of children, which is why he was chosen to be the nanny in Peter Pan.

The Saint Bernard hails from Switzerland, and he is one of four Swiss dog breeds. He is by far the largest, and the most well-known. Hospice monks in the Swiss Alps bred big dogs to search for, and rescue lost travelers in the treacherous conditions. But, contrary to popular belief, Saint Bernards did not carry liquor around their necks – this is a myth. Other popular Saint Bernard mixes include the Saint Berdoodle, and the Saint Berhusky.

Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is slightly more common, and he has been ranked as the 40^th most popular breed in America. Again, if it wasn’t for his large size, he would probably be much more common too. He is described as a sweet, patient, and devoted pooch. The Newfie’s most constant trait is that he is kind and has an affinity for children.

What the Saint Bernard is to the Alps, this guy is to the icy waters of Newfoundland. He has partially webbed feet, and he is strong and capable in the water. He has been known to save men from drowning, and he was the fisherman’s chosen canine colleague. Hauling fishnets to the shore by day and babysitting the kids at night, this guy is a fantastic addition to most families.

He measures between 26 and 28 inches tall and weighs slightly smaller than the Saint Bernard, somewhere between 100 and 150 pounds. This means that this guy is also a giant dog and needs plenty of room in a family home.

Saint Bernewfie

As a mixed breed, the Saint Bernewfie is a mixed breed, so it is not 100% certain as to which parent he will take after most. Like all hybrid breeds, before you fully commit to them, you need to do your research and make sure that you love both parents. This means that no matter which way the Saint Bernewfie turns out, you’ll be happy whatever the outcome.

Temperament

Thankfully, because his parents are very similar in their personality, you can be sure that a Saint Bernewfie will be sweet and loving. The Newfie is often described as sickly sweet (in a good way, obviously), and his Swiss parent is just as kind. This means that you are in for some of the best snuggles that you’ve ever had.

He’ll love nothing more than to spend all day with his family, and without company, he can become quite a sulky guy. This means that he needs to be adopted by a family that can spend most of their time with him. Not a family that are all out working long hours. But, if you have plenty of time, you’ll have the best buddy for life.

He is a sensitive dog who, despite his immense size, can be very sensitive to change in his environment or when he receives a telling-off. This is another reason why he is not suited to a family that travels a lot. He is also likely to suffer from separation anxiety. For this reason, we suggest that you get a crate for him, which we’ll discuss in the training section.

His sensitivity and sweetness, along with his naturally protective nature, is what makes him such a great canine partner for children. Of course, you always need to supervise kids with dogs, but you can be assured he is super gentle and sweet with them. The only concern that you will have with young children is his sheer size.

His protective nature means that he will bark when there are strangers around, making an excellent watchdog come alarm bell. He isn’t overly protective, so he doesn’t make the best guard dog. But thankfully, with his sheer size and vocal voice, not many people would dare mess with him anyway. So, you’re safe with the Saint Bernewfie around for sure!

Size & Appearance

The Saint Bernewfie, with his two giant breed parents, is a giant breed himself. At maturity, he will weigh anywhere between 110 and 165 pounds. He will measure between 26 and 29 inches tall, from paw to shoulder. Saint Bernewfie’s have a big square, meaty head, and big eyes, and a goofy smile to match. He has droopy jowls, and you need to learn to love the doggy dribble.

His paws are huge, as is everything else about him. When it comes to his paws, if he takes after his Newfie parent, he may inherit webbed feet. If he takes after his Saint Bernard parent, his muzzle will be flatter. Or, if he takes after his Newfie parent, it will be thinner and longer. Either way, this giant breed is gorgeous.

Coat & Colors

The Saint Bernewfie’s coat is lush and fluffy, just like both of his parents. He has a double coat that sheds moderately throughout the year and heavily during the shedding season. We’ll tell you what to do with this coat in the grooming section.

His coat will usually be a mixture of colors like his parents, compared to the block-color option like his Newfie parent. The most common color combinations are black and white, and black, brown, and white. The more unusual colors, or the color of the Saint Bernard parent, are more desirable and usually come with a higher price tag.

Exercise & Living Conditions

The Saint Bernewfie needs around 45 minutes of exercise every day. Thanks to his size, his exercise doesn’t need to be intense, and it is unlikely that he will want to take on a long and challenging mountain walk with you. Instead, long and leisurely walks around the block are his favorite pastime. Because of his size, you’ll want to make sure he has plenty of really big dog toys to play with and get rid of some energy.

Thanks to his Newfie parent’s skill in the water, he’ll also be partial to a swim in the local doggy lake. And, don’t be scared by his immense size. This guy will love a regular trip to the local doggy park. As children, he is very aware of his enormous size and will play gently with other dogs. And it’s essential to keep his socialization skills topped up.

Being an intelligent and needy pooch, this guy needs stimulation throughout the day as well. He is not as intense as some other dogs, compared to a Pitbull. But a few game sessions throughout the day will keep this guy happy and stimulated. Brain games and training sessions will keep his smart mind ticking.

Because he is a big guy, he needs a large family home with space to waddle his big butt around. He will plop himself on your sofa, or wherever you happen to be. Because he is an outdoorsy type, he would prefer access to a home with his own rear garden. He’s not likely to jump fences, but it’s best to secure your yard as he will bark at passersby.

Training

The Saint Bernewfie is a smart canine, but he is also a stubborn one. This makes training him slightly tricky in that he can have good days as well as bad days. You just need to know how to work with him. Finding out what motivates him is the best way to train him (and FYI, it’s likely to be food!). And be sure to learn about the positive reinforcement training method for the best success.

Remember we said that this guy can be a bit sensitive? Despite this, you do need to keep him in check. A firm no and clear instructions are needed if he starts to act out of line. He can become a problematic dog to handle if you don’t train him properly, so please start from an early age. Thankfully, he is not a complex dog to train, you just need to be consistent with it.

Early socialization is vital, and be sure to mix him with a variety of dogs, humans, sights, and sounds. And because he is likely to suffer from separation anxiety, we also advise crate training this guy as soon as you get him home. You’ll need to look for an XXL crate, but once he has realized it is his safe place, he’ll use it all the time.

Health

The Saint Bernewfie is a relatively healthy dog who will enjoy an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years. This is a reasonably good lifespan for a dog of this size. Like all mixed-breed dogs, he can inherit health problems from either side. Here are the most common in the Saint Bernewfie breed:

Hip and elbow dysplasia: both of his parents suffer from both of these dysplasias, so it is likely that he will be highly susceptible to these. This is where the bone doesn’t form well inside the socket, causing grinding and pain.

Cardiac concerns: again, both of his parents are susceptible to a few heart concerns. The most common is dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Cystinuria: his Newfie parent suffers from this, so there is a chance that he will too. This is where his body cannot filter out the cystine in his urine, and stones begin to form.

Nutrition

The Saint Bernewfie is a giant dog that will need approximately four cups of kibble every day. Look for a high-quality kibble that provides him with a well-balanced diet. Always feed him a large or giant-sized kibble that will give him the nutrition that large dogs need. This is particularly important during his puppy stage because it will control his bone growth.

The Saint Bernewfie is a large dog who is susceptible to suffering from bloat. For this reason, it is essential to feed him his daily allowance across at least two separate sittings. Bloat is a life-threatening condition, and you should never feed your Saint Bernewfie before or after exercise.

Grooming

The Saint Bernewfie has a lush and thick double coat that needs daily grooming. A slicker brush, alongside a deshedding tool, will be the best way to tackle his thick fur. This will stop the hair from accumulating on the floor, and your outfit as well. It’s safe to say that if you don’t like dog hair, the Saint Bernewfie is not for you.

Bathe him once every 12 or weeks or so to keep him smelling fresh and looking his best. Because he has a water-resistant coat, you’ll need to invest in a concentrated shampoo that will penetrate his jacket. His large ears are susceptible to ear infections, so be sure to clean them once a week.

Breeders & Puppy Costs

The price of a Saint Bernewfie will set you back around $800 and up. This is much less compared to his purebred parents. Remember that everything you need to buy for your Saint Bernewfie puppy will (at some point) be an XXL size, which means it can get expensive. If you haven’t got the funds for a giant dog, the Saint Bernewfie isn’t the option for you.

The Saint Bernewfie is a relatively rare breed, so you need to set aside plenty of time for research and travel for a reputable breeder. Start your search online and look for breeders with a professional website. It’s essential to meet the pups and their parents in person and see them interact with their littermates. Always avoid puppy mills because they often sell sick puppies.

Rescue & Shelters

The Saint Bernewfie is a rare dog to buy, and he is also a rare find in rescue centers. And when he does make his way to a rescue center, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be snapped up quick. Speak to your local rescue centers and the staff there, and let them know that you’re interested in a Saint Bernewfie.

The best way to rescue one of these guys is to speak to the dedicated breed organizations because they also care for mixed breeds like the Saint Bernewfie. A great place to start is the Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation and the Newfoundland Club of America, which list dogs by state.

As Family Pets

• The Saint Bernewfie is a sweet and loving dog.
• They enjoy human companionship and love to cuddle.
• Saint Bernewfies crave human company and hate to be left alone.
• The Saint Bernewfie will be particularly fond of children.
• He can love with other pets if socialized well.
• The Saint Bernewfie needs a large family home with access to a yard.
• He needs 45 minutes of exercise every day.
• The Saint Bernewfie is a moderate to heavy shedder.
• Expect daily brushing, especially during shedding seasons.
• He is an intelligent dog who is easy to train,.
• They do have an independent streak, specifically males.
• The Saint Bernewfie makes an excellent watchdog.
• They will bark at everyone that walks onto your property.

Final Thoughts

The Saint Bernewfie is a fantastic family dog who just loves to be with his humans. Nothing pleases this guy more than cuddling up on the sofa with his family in front of the telly or the fire. His only special requests are that his family spends most of their day with him, has plenty of room, and that his thick and lush coat is brushed every day.

As long as you can tick all of his boxes, the beautiful Saint Bernewfie will become your second shadow and your bestest buddy. It might take a while to find him, but it will be worth it when you do.