Rough Diamond Pets

Original Function: Guarding and rescue work in the Alps.
Modern Function: Family pet and guard dog.
Appearance: Giant size brown and white dogs with long (rough) or short (smooth) coat.
Weight/Height: 65 - 70+cm; 55 - 75kg
Coat Colours/Texture: Base colour is white with brown markings and desirable dark mask. Specific white areas desirable.Top coat of soft fur with shorter dense undercoat. In short hair variety the top coat is harder than in long coats.
Grooming: Long coat variety requires regular grooming, short coat variety requires very little grooming.
Character/Temperament: Temperament should always be friendly, calm and self-confident.  Always loves attention and friendly people.
Compatibility with other animals/cats: Mostly get on well with other dogs but depends on how they are raised, and temperaments of the individuals.  Owner should be firm and authoritative. Saints usually get on well with most smaller animals, so cats, chickens and smaller dogs are usually fine. Undesirable behavior should be corrected.
Compatibility with people/children: Saints are the best dogs for children, if they are raised with children and the children respect the dogs. They are very tolerant and careful with small children.
Indoors/Outdoors: Saints will live where you are as they want to be with people. Inside or outside is all the same to them as long as they are with their owner.
Exercise/Training: Easy to train and very willing to please. Highly intelligent. Very important not to over exercise Saints until at least 18 months old. They do perfectly well in a small garden.
Longevity/Health: Up to 12 years. Hips, elbows, heart, eyes, bloat as in many large breeds. Well-bred Saints should be strong, agile and lean, as they are a mountain working breed.