What is a Mini Saint Berdoodle?

What makes a Saint Berdoodle a Mini?

Its size, and Mini is a breeder's word for it. The Saint Bernard and the Poodle are official breeds and the cross isn't, so nobody officially sets out what a Saint Berdoodle should weigh or draws a line between a Mini and any other kind.

The parent breeds show how wide the range could run. A Saint Bernard stands 26 to 30 inches and weighs 120 to 180 pounds, a Standard Poodle stands over 15 inches and weighs 40 to 70 pounds, and a Miniature Poodle is 10 to 15 inches and 10 to 15 pounds. A Mini sits well toward the Poodle end of that spread, so ask any breeder for the adult weight they have in mind when they use the word.

How are our Mini Saint Berdoodles bred?

A Saint Berdoodle mama is bred to a Poodle papa, the same way we breed our Goldendoodles. That cross back to a Poodle is the B in F1B, and the letters are explained with Goldendoodles as the example in what an F1B is. Because the mama is part Poodle already and the papa is all Poodle, our puppies carry more Poodle than Saint Bernard in their family tree.

We pick every pairing on purpose, and where we have DNA results for a mama and papa, they help us plan the colors a litter may carry. Each puppy's listing links to its mama and its papa, so you can see exactly which dogs it comes from.

How big does a Mini Saint Berdoodle get?

Ours are expected to reach 30 to 35 lbs as grown dogs, going by the puppies on our site now, and each puppy's page narrows that to its own estimate. We work it out from the parents, and our health guarantee page explains how far an estimate of size can go.

Plan on most of the growing being done in the first year. A medium-sized dog usually finishes its puppy growth spurt at about a year old, and your vet can tell you how that applies to your puppy and when to change foods. A Saint Bernard does best on a large-breed food, so ask your vet which kind suits a Mini.

What is the coat like, and do they drool?

The coat can lean either way, because the parents have very different ones. A Saint Bernard can have a short, thick coat or a longer one that's straight to slightly wavy and never curly, while a Poodle's is curly and harsh. A Saint Bernard sheds a fair amount, with a heavier shed twice a year, and a Miniature Poodle hardly sheds at all. Meeting the parents tells you the most, and no breeder can guarantee a puppy that never sheds. No dog breed is free of allergens either, so anyone with allergies should spend time with a grown dog first.

Drool is the other question families ask. Saint Bernards drool a great deal, so much that owners keep a towel handy, and Miniature Poodles hardly drool at all. A Mini Saint Berdoodle could take after either parent, so meet the mama if you can and keep a towel by the door until you know.

What health checks should the parent breeds have?

The cross has no health checklist of its own, so the checks to ask about are each parent breed's. A Saint Bernard used for breeding should have its hips and elbows X-rayed, an eye exam by a veterinary eye specialist, a heart exam by a cardiologist and a DNA test for an inherited spinal cord disease, plus a heart ultrasound once it's four or older.

For a Poodle the list depends on its size. A Miniature should have a yearly eye exam, its kneecaps and hips checked, and a DNA test for an inherited eye disease that can lead to blindness. A Standard should have its hips and eyes checked, a thyroid test and DNA tests for an inherited brain disease in newborn puppies and an inherited bleeding disorder.

A Saint Bernard usually lives 8 to 10 years and a Poodle of any size 10 to 18, and large, deep-chested breeds like the Saint Bernard can develop bloat, a sudden and life-threatening twisting of the stomach. Ask your vet what to watch for in a dog your puppy's size. We are working toward health testing all of our mamas and papas, and the certificates we have are posted on each parent's page, so ask us about the parents of any puppy you're considering.

What is a Mini Saint Berdoodle like to live with?

Affectionate and keen to be included, if the parent breeds are any guide. Saint Bernards are watchful, patient companions with a fondness for children and plenty of love for their family, and a Saint wants to be with its people and can pick up bad habits when it's left alone for long stretches. Poodles are very active and smart.

Exercise needs are moderate on the Saint's side, about one long walk or half an hour of play a day, while Poodles of any size need good exercise every day. For a dog as big as a Saint Bernard, puppy classes are a must. A Mini is smaller, and a class is still the best start for a puppy with a Saint's appetite for the kitchen table. When it's time to choose, read how to pick a puppy before you meet the litter.