Looking for a marvelous mutt to add to your family? Mixed breed dogs can make excellent pets and the Saint Berhusky — a cross between the Siberian husky and Saint Bernard — is no exception!
We’ll share everything you need to know about these unique designer doggos below so that you can determine whether these dogs are a good fit for your family.
What Is A Saint Berhusky?
As mentioned, a Saint Berhusky is a marvelous mixed-breed mutt created by breeding a Saint Bernard with a Siberian husky.
These designer hybrid dogs don’t have a particularly well-documented history, but it’s safe to say that this unique cross has risen in popularity due to the Saint Berhusky’s dashing good looks and well-rounded personality.
While most people love life with their Saint Berhusky, it’s important to evaluate each dog on an individual basis to ensure that they’re a good fit for your lifestyle.
And, as the individual traits of mixed breed dogs can be difficult to predict, it’s a good idea to meet a few huskies and Saint Bernards (including, if possible, the exact parents of the puppy you have your eye on) to gain a better understanding of your new best buddy.
Understanding the Parent Breeds
Whenever you consider a mixed breed pooch, you’ll want to have a firm understanding of the parent breeds’ personalities and characteristics. These can serve as important windows into your puppy’s potential personality.
We’ll give you the basic run down on the Siberian husky and Saint Bernard below.
Siberian Husky
Siberian huskies are handsome pups, who are some of the most beautiful dog breeds in the world.
This is undoubtedly part of the reason they consistently rank in the top 20 most popular dogs in the U.S., according to the AKC. But there’s a lot more to these dogs than their brilliant blue eyes.
Huskies are known for their mischievous, playful personalities and they’re often described as being somewhat comical or clownish. These medium-sized sled dogs prefer colder climates and usually weigh between 35 and 65 pounds.
Huskies aren’t necessarily the ideal breed for first-time owners due to their strong-willed personalities. They can be a bit challenging to train (they’d rather just run around like goofballs), and if they don’t have a proper outlet for their boundless energy, these snow pups can become destructive.
That being said, Huskies are affectionate, fun-loving, and good natured companions — as long as their unique needs are met. And for better or worse, these beautiful buddies are bound to make your life quite an adventure.
Saint Bernard
The other half of the Saint Berhusky’s genepool comes from the sweet Saint Bernard.
They’re not as popular as huskies in the U.S. (they are currently the 48th most popular breed), but that’s largely due to their immense size. They are one of the larger dog breeds around, with a size that exceeds the comfort level of many pup parents. These gentle giants weigh anywhere from 120 to 180 pounds and are infamous for being pretty “high impact” and not knowing their own size.
Additionally, these dogs have a reputation for maturing slowly and acting as large puppies for several years. This creates some canine management challenges, and it means that owners need to be patient while caring for a 100-pound-plus “puppy.”
These dogs need lots of room to spread out and aren’t the best dogs for apartment life. They’re also a poor choice for pet parents who like to keep things clean, as Saint Bernards often drool and shed heavily. These intelligent dogs are fairly easy to train, though they can have a stubborn streak.
Despite their shortcomings, these loving dogs make excellent family companions, and they’re supremely loving, affectionate pups. Saint Bernards are usually happy to curl up on the couch with their loved ones and enjoy the easy life (though they’ll likely take up half of the couch in the process).
Saint Berhusky Traits and Characteristics
Since the Saint Berhusky is a mixed-breed mutt, it can be difficult to accurately predict an individual doggo’s phyiscal characteristics and personality.
There’s no guarantee, for example, that a Saint Berhusky will have traits perfectly split between the husky and Saint Bernard parents — you may find one that favors one parent or the other.
With that in mind, here are some general guidelines of what to expect from a Saint Berhusky so that you can determine whether or not these pups are a good fit for your family.
- Size and Shape: Saint Berhuskies are medium to large dogs usually weighing between 70 and 90 pounds. They’re typically 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder, though mixed breed pups can easily fall outside of this range. These doggos usually take on a husky reminiscent frame but with greater bulk and more fur.
- Temperament: Most Saint Berhuskies will make excellent family companions with their sweet disposition and thirst for adventure. Additionally, these pups are usually pretty sociable around strangers and other dogs. While these big buddies can be fairly easy going, they can have a stubborn streak due to their intelligence and occasionally free-spirited personality. That being said, these pups love to hang around their humans and make great family dogs for their patience with children (caution is still warranted around toddlers and young children as big dogs can cause accidental injuries).
- Coat and Colors: These pups will have a thick double-coat, which is likely to find its way all over your house. Saint Berhuskies tend to have tricolor brown, black, and white coats like their Saint Bernard parent, though the markings may be more similar to that of the husky. You just might see the distinct husky blue eyes in your puppy, though the warm, brown eyes of the Saint Bernard are also a possibility.
- Intelligence: Fortunately, the Saint Berhusky is naturally pretty smart, and they have an impressive aptitude to learn all kinds of tricks (though sadly, the whole carrying brandy to save people in blizzards thing is a myth). That being said, these pups can be a challenge to train due to their sometimes free-spirited nature. They might not be the best pick for first time dog owners as they’ll need consistent, firm training, especially with their large size.
- Training Challenges: Saint Berhuskies are intelligent dogs so they should be able to learn quickly. However, they can be stubborn and need a positive, firm trainer to keep them on the right track. These dogs can also be master escape artists so you’ll want to make sure you have a properly fenced-in yard. These dogs also grow large very quickly, so you’ll have to make sure they understand boundaries before they reach gargantuan proportions.
- Grooming: These fluffy friends should be brushed very regularly (perhaps even every day) to maintain their luscious, thick coats. Unfortunately, the Saint Berhusky is likely to be a heavy shedder especially during “coat blowing” periods. You’ll also need to keep up with doggie basics including monthly baths and regular tooth brushing to keep him looking and smelling his best.
- Exercise Needs: While these pups are typically more laid back than their husky parents, they’ll still need at least an hour of exercise each day to keep their tails wagging. These pups appreciate a large, fenced-in yard to stretch out and explore. You’ll find that these big buddies are happy to accompany you on long walks or hikes too.
- Health: These pups are pretty healthy, though they do have shorter lifespans — a pretty common occurrence among large doggos. However, with proper care, these pups can live up to 10 to 12 years. They are susceptible to conditions like hip dysplasia and skin issues, which are common among both parent breeds. You’ll want to make sure your Saint Berhusky gets in for routine vet visits, to ward off any problems early.
Best Families and Owners for a Saintberhusky
Are you ready to welcome a dignified Saint Berhusky into your life? Not so fast! There are a few things to consider before bringing one of these pups home
You need to be sure that one of these incredible doggos will fit in well with your family.
If you don’t, you may end up with a bad Fido fit. And this means you may end up being faced with some difficult — and ultimately heartbreaking — decisions.
But we’re here to help! Just checkout this quick checklist to make sure these pups are right for your lifestyle.
- You’re ready to invest in training. While these pups are fairly trainable, they can have a bit of an independent streak. This tendency paired with their large size means that they’ll need consistent, firm training to grow into canine good citizens.
- You love to exercise. Saint Berhuskies don’t need quite as much exercise as their husky parents, though they certainly appreciate stretching out and going on adventures. You’ll need to set aside extra time to take your Saint Berhusky out on an extra long walk on a daily basis, and make sure you keep him physically and mentally engaged.
- You’re a grooming enthusiast. Saint Berhuskies aren’t the tidiest dogs by any stretch of the imagination. These dogs may inherit their Saint Bernard parent’s tendency to drool, and they’ll all be heavy shedders who leave dog hair everywhere they go.
- You have a lively household. These family oriented four-footers may be prone to separation anxiety and do best in homes where someone is around often. Saint Berhuskies want nothing more than to hang out, cuddle, and play with their loved ones.
- You’re looking for a best buddy. These sweet souls are generally regarded as well-balanced doggos with a patient yet playful disposition. For the right family, these dogs make amazing caring canine companions.
Where Can You Find A Saint Berhusky?
Saint Berhusky dogs are relatively new and uncommon, so you may have a tough time finding one of these distinguished doggos. That being said, you can always scour the internet for any leads on these four-legged friends.
You can also ask other Saint Berhusky owners if they knew of any litters, or if you could get in contact with their breeder. While the breeder may not have an active litter, you’ll probably have a better chance of getting a legitimate lead with their guidance.
Don’t forget the importance of selecting a reputable breeder for your future best buddy. You’ll also want to meet your potential puppy’s parents ahead of time to get a sense of what your future pooch might be like. If the characteristics of either parent don’t seem like a good fit for your lifestyle, the puppy might not be the right match for you.
Remember, there’s no guarantee that your puppy will get an even split of characteristics from one parent or the other.
Similar Breeds and Breed Mixes to the Saintberhusky
Not sure if the Saintberhusky is the perfect pooch for you? Here are some other similar breeds and mixed breeds to consider.
- Shepsky: This German shepherd and husky mix is dog-gone adorable and is bound to be a loyal, lively canine companion. These sporty, high energy dogs will need plenty of exercise to keep their tails wagging.
- Great Huskyenees: This husky and great Pryenees mix is an affectionate, active watchdog. These pups need plenty of guidance to help steer their free-spirited personalities.
- Saint Berdoodle: This sweet poodle and Saint Bernard mix make excellent, loving companion dogs. These friendly four-footers want nothing more than to hang out with their families and play long games of fetch.
- Saint Boxer: These sweet, affectionate pups make great family dogs who love to have fun. With a cross between a boxer and a Saint Bernard, you’ll find a permanent playmate in these comedic canines.
- Saint Shepherd: This adorable cross between a German shepherd and Saint Bernard results in a large, intelligent pup that’s eager to please his loved ones. These dogs are up for any adventure so long as they get to be near their humans.
- Bernese Mountain Dog: These beautiful best buddies make amazing canine companions with their good-natured and patient personalities. Bernese mountain dogs love to hang out with the entire family and do particularly well with kids.
- Leonberger: These friendly, gentle giants are highly intelligent and easy to train. The lovely Leonberger enjoys playing and spending time with his family.
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The Saint Berhusky is a sweet, loving pup that is sure to keep you on your toes with his playful personality and distinguished appearance. These canine cuties make amazing canine companions when paired with the right home.
Do you have one of these large love bugs at home? Does he act more like a Saint Bernard or a husky? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!
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