9 Things You Need to Know about the Newfoundland St Bernard Mix

You might have heard about the Newfoundland dog or seen videos of fluffy St Bernards doing cute things. And if you thought, “I need to have these dogs,” then you’re in for a treat. You can get both of these large dog breeds in one.

The St Bernewfie is a mixed breed that takes all the adorable qualities of the Newfoundland and St Bernard and loads them into a big fluffy package. They may appear intimidating, but these gentle giants will have a hold on your heart before you can even sign the adoption papers.

If you have room in your loving home and your heart for this bear-lookalike dog breed, you should look into getting a St Bernewfie. Get ready to dive into what the St Bernewfie breed is all about.

Photo from Pxfuel

1. Parent Breeds

To understand a mixed dog, you must learn its parent breeds. Your pup’s personality, size, health conditions, and dietary needs can be inherited from whichever breed they come from. Here are the two large breeds that are the parents of the Newfoundland St Bernard mix dog. 

St Bernard

St Bernard, ranked 48th most popular breed in America by The American Kennel Club in 2020, is a larger-than-life drooly boy. Bernies are enormous, weighing between 120 to 180 lbs. However, they’re true gentle giants despite their huge size. Their personalities are playful, curious, charming, and friendly.

Photo by Alan Levine on Pxhere

This sweet dog originally comes from Switzerland and is the largest and most well-known Swiss dog breed. Hospice monks bred them in the Swiss Alps to help search for and rescue lost travelers in dangerous conditions. St Bernards are also very good with children and are sometimes called nanny dogs. 

Newfoundland Dogs

Another large breed, the Newfoundland, is number 40 on the list of most popular breeds in America. This gentle giant also gets along excellently with young children due to their kind nature and is one of the most beautiful dog breeds out there.

The Newfoundland breed looks pretty intimidating considering its large size, weighing between 100 and 150 lbs. However, just like St Bernard, Newfoundlands are sweet, devoted, and patient pups and make great family dogs. They are even good with small children.

Newfies have partially webbed feet as they were bred to rescue people from drowning. Even their coats are waterproof and made to withstand cold temperatures. They were popular among fishermen, who used them to haul fishnets to the shore daily and babysit their kids while they were out for a night catch.

Photo from Pxhere

Breed Overview – Newfoundland St Bernard Mix

The St Bernewfie is a mix between a St Bernard and a Newfoundland. However, it’s never 100% certain which traits they will take from which parent. So it’s important to like both parent breeds before opting for a St Bernewfie mix. 

If you like the St Bernard and Newfoundland and find they fit in well with your family and environment, then no matter how the St Bernewfie turns out, you’ll be happy. Here are some of the possibilities regarding the St Bernewfie mix.

2. Size and Appearance

Coming from two giant dog breeds, it’s no surprise that the St Bernewfie is a big boy too. As an adult, they usually weigh between 110 and 165 lbs. They have big, square heads and adorable big eyes that make you melt. Add on their goofy smiles, and you’ll be just a puddle on the ground.

They inherited the drool from their parent breeds, so be prepared for everything around you to be wet. It’s just part of their charm. If they inherit their paws from their Newfie parent, they could have webbed feet or huge paws if they get them from St Bernard.

Their coat is very fluffy and needs to be groomed well. They also have a double coat, just like their parent breeds, and shedding is a part of owning one of these beauties.

In terms of color, they’ll usually have a coat mixed with their parents’ colors. The most common combinations include black, brown, white, and black and white. The browny-white color of St Bernard is quite rare in St Bernewfies and usually comes with a higher price tag.

Photo from Pxhere

3. Temperament

St Bernard and Newfoundland have a few things in common, and one of those is their personalities. Both of these breeds are kind, sweet, and loving animals. The St Bernewfie has nothing short of love to give. In fact, they may have twice as much.

St Bernewfies are family dogs. They adore children and are very sweet with them. Even if you have a toddler pulling on their fur, they won’t get worked up. They’ll usually ignore it; if it hurts, just walk away. They love the company of their owners and tend to get a little sulky if left alone for too long.

These pups may be big, but they’re very sensitive and are afraid of change. They also don’t like being told off, so training them with positive reinforcement will work much better. They can suffer from separation anxiety, so if you’re someone who isn’t home much, then neither of these three breeds of dogs will be well suited for you.

They don’t make the best guard dogs. However, they are protective and bark at strangers or tell you someone is in your yard. Of course, the sheer size of a St Bernewfie should scare away any potential criminal. They’re also protective of children and will usually follow them around to ensure they don’t fall or get hurt, especially if a baby is learning to walk.

Photo by varjag on Pixabay

4. Training

The St Bernewfie is bright, but with intelligence usually comes a stubborn streak. Training can be a little harder due to their hardheadedness. As mentioned above, positive reinforcement training is the best way to work with this breed. You just need to find out what motivates them, whether a treat or a toy and use it to your advantage.

Early socialization is also essential for them to get along with other dogs, animals, and strangers and not get startled by sounds or sights. And as sensitive as they are, you need to reprimand them when they step out of line. A firm no should do the trick to avoid having a sulky pup on your hands.

5. Exercise

This breed needs around 45 minutes of exercise a day. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be intense as, due to their size, they might not want to go on long, challenging walks or runs. This means hiking with a St Bernewfie is out of the question. Instead, take them on a long but leisurely walk. You can stroll to the park or grab something at the shop and bring your pup.

Some big dog toys are also essential for a St Bernewfie to get their energy out. Teaching them to play fetch can work wonders on days you can’t go for a walk. If you have a swimming pool, this breed enjoys water just like their parent breeds. Luckily swimming is also a great way for them to release energy.

Photo by CarlosAndresCruz on Pixabay

St Bernewfies are intelligent and need mental stimulation. Puzzle games and interactive toys are a great way to keep them active throughout the day. There are even puzzle feeders which work great for stimulation and ensuring they don’t inhale their food.

6. Health Conditions

The St Bernewfie is relatively healthy and has an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years. However, like all mixed dog breeds, they can inherit problems from either side. Here are some of the most common health problems a St Bernewfie can inherit.

Cardiac Issues

Both St Bernards and Newfoundlands are susceptible to heart issues, which means the St Bernewfie has a higher risk of inheriting cardiac diseases if both parents have them. Some of these include arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia

Again, both parent breeds are susceptible to joint issues, which means the St Bernewfie has a higher risk of inheriting dysplasias. This happens when the bone doesn’t form well in the socket, which causes the bones to grind, leading to pain.

Cystinuria

This one comes from the Newfoundland parent. Cystinuria is when the body cannot filter out the cystine in the urine, so stones form and cause issues, including pain and possibly a rupture of the ureter or urethra.

Photo from Pxfuel

Gastric Torsion

This is also known as bloat and can be life-threatening in big dogs. It usually happens when there’s too much gas in the dog’s stomach, and it starts to twist. This can occur when dogs eat too quickly or too much in one sitting or exercise right after eating. 

If you notice vomiting (especially white foam), lethargy, and a distended stomach in your pup, you must rush them to the vet ASAP.

7. Diet and Nutrition

The St Bernewfie is a big dog, which means they have a big appetite. They need approximately 4 cups of kibble every day. You’re pretty much set if you can find a good quality kibble that gives them a balanced diet and has all the nutrients they need.

They can be susceptible to bloat, though, which is life-threatening. So, feed your St Bernewfie their food across two or three separate sittings. Also, never feed them before or after exercise.

8. Grooming

The St Bernewfie’s lush thick coat needs daily grooming. The saint bernard Newfoundland mix is a shedder, so number one on your list should be a de-shedding tool and then a slicker brush. This will decrease hair loss daily and leave your furniture and clothes semi-decent.

These large dogs should only be bathed every three months or so. They have a water-resistant thick double coat, so ensure you use a concentrated shampoo to get through all that fur and leave your pup clean and fresh.

Photo from Pxfuel

Finally, their ears can get infected easily, so invest in an ear cleaning kit, as you will have to clean them daily.

9. Where to Get a St Bernewfie

For the most part, you will be able to find a St Bernewfie at a breeder specializing in breeding Newfoundlands and St Bernards. You might also be lucky enough to find a rescue dog at a shelter. 

Of course, it depends on where you want to adopt, so here are some of the options.

Breeders

A Saint Bernewfie dog can set you back around $800 or more when buying from a breeder. They are a relatively rare breed, so you’ll have to research thoroughly to find a reputable breeder. Never use a backyard breeder or puppy mill. If something sounds too good to be true, it’s usually a backyard breeder, and you might end up with a pup with serious issues.

Reputable breeders will usually have a very professional website. Reading reviews is also a great way to discern the public view of this breeder. Also, ensure you meet the pups before settling on the breeder to see their environment. They still have to be around their littermates in a clean environment. Enquire about vaccinations as well.

Photo from Pxfuel

Rescue Organisations

Unfortunately, This pup is difficult to find in shelters because it’s a rare breed. Usually, if they end up in a shelter, they’re adopted very quickly. The best thing you can do is speak to your local rescue centers and let them know you’re looking for a St Bernewfie. Perhaps you can arrange with them to let you know if one comes in.

If you want to rescue your pup, speaking to a dedicated breed organization can help. Places like the Newfoundland Club of America and the Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation also care for mixed breeds, so you might be in luck there.

Frequently Asked Questions | St Bernewfie

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this Newfoundland and St Bernard mix.

What Is a St Bernard and Newfoundland Mix Called?

They’re called St Bernewfies, an adorable amalgamation of Newfoundland’s nickname, Newfie, and St Bernard.

What Is the Lifespan of a St Bernard Newfoundland Mix?

With good care, a quality diet, and vet checkups, the St Bernewfie can live between 8 and 10 years.

Are St Bernard Newfoundland Mixes Good With Families?

Yes, they get along well with adults and children due to their kind disposition and calm personality. They even sometimes play nanny if they’re feeling protective.

Is the St Bernewfie Bigger Than a Newfoundland or St Bernard?

No, they’re usually smaller compared to their parent breeds. A Newfoundland male can reach 180 lbs at maturity, while a St Bernard male usually weighs around the same in adulthood. St Bernewfie males usually only reach 160 lbs.

you might enjoy reading my articles on the pitbull corgi mix dog and the shih tzu mix pug.

Photo by vlaaitje on Pixabay

Final Thoughts on the St Bernewfie

The St Bernewfie can be an excellent addition to your family. Their kind temperaments and playful nature make for an adorable companion who will go on a walk with you or just lounge on the couch while you watch a movie.

They are sweet with children and can be protective. Overall, a St Bernewfie is everything fantastic about Newfoundland and St Bernard mixed into one big package. So if you were wondering whether adding one of these adorable pups to your home is a good idea, hopefully, this post has helped you decide. 

Otherwise, you can learn about some other big fluffy dog breeds here.