The Siberian Husky Saint Bernard mix, or Saint Berhusky, is an unusual dog mix that combines many desirable traits from both parent breeds.
Saint Berhuskies are very well-balanced in terms of personality and easy to be around. They aren’t as much work as a Siberian Husky but are also more intelligent than your average Sainty Bernard, although they are likely to be more stubborn as well.
This is only the beginning of the breakdown of this mix, so stay tuned to learn all about the Saint Berhusky.
Contents
Quick Overview
- Other Names: Saint Berhusky
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
- Average Height: 22 to 25 inches
- Average Weight: 65 to 90 lbs
- Coat appearance: Medium to long thick double coat, lots of color variation
- Activity Level: 1 hour per day minimum
- Grooming Frequency: Frequent grooming is required thanks to the thick double coat
- Typical Temperament: Quite energetic and social, but difficult to train
- Daily Food Consumption: Moderate to high
- New Owner Friendly: Fairly suited for new owners, but some aspects can be hard to adjust to
- Suitable to live with children? Good with children but does require training to set boundaries
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Usually fine, but can benefit from being socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with cats? Must be socialized from an early age due to moderate prey drive
Appearance
Saint Berhuskies can inherit the looks of the husky or Saint Bernard more strongly, which can lead to quite a lot of variation in their appearance.
Most of the time, Saint Berhuskies are much larger than typical huskies, with more brown in their coats. They’ll typically have several Spitz features like pointed ears and a curly tail, and their face is narrower and more wolf-like than a Saint Bernards.
The overall head and body size are much larger than a husky’s, and their other physical features, like the paws and legs, will be larger. Many different coat colors are possible, and the coat will always be thick, double-coated, and medium to long in length.
It’s also very common for the eyes of the Saint Berhusky to be blue or multi-colored, like the husky.
I’ve included as many examples as possible in this article so you can get a better idea of what to expect. Let’s also look at the parent breeds so we can see what features the Saint Berhusky is likely to inherit.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features. These include erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
Huskies come in many different colors and patterns, including all white, red and white, Agouti, and many more.
Their piercing eyes can also come in various colors, from blue to brown and everything in between.
The overall build of the husky is very slender, allowing them to be capable of incredible feats of endurance.
Huskies have a working background as sled dogs, used to pull light loads over incredibly long distances and rugged terrain. Their slender frame helps them achieve this, and they require a lot of daily exercise and mental stimulation to be fulfilled because of their working background.
Saint Bernard Appearance & Background
Saint Bernards originated in the Alps in the 11th century, where they were used to aid in mountain rescue for travelers who were heading to Rome. A monk named Bernard of Menthon established the hospice where Saint Bernards were bred to aid in rescue missions.
The Saint Bernard was thought to be bred from the ancient Molloser breed, like many other European dogs such as the Mastiff.
Saint Bernards have also been used to protect livestock and for guarding duties throughout the years and are one of the largest dog breeds on the planet.
Saint Bernards are well known for being great with children and families and maturing at quite a slow rate despite their large size. They are pretty eager to please, which makes them relatively easy to train, although they aren’t the most intelligent breed.
They have thick coats to help them withstand harsh weather conditions and thrive with a job to fulfill.
Average Size
Saint Berhuskies are pretty large dogs, thanks to the addition of the Saint Bernard, and reach impressive sizes of 22 to 25 inches in height and 60 to 90 lbs in weight.
There are exceptions to this, depending on which genes they inherit, but you can expect them to be larger than huskies and smaller than Saint Bernards on average.
Coat Appearance
The coat of the Saint Berhusky is always medium to long and double coated, but the color and pattern variation is where things become difficult to predict.
A double coat is split into two layers: a dense, wooly undercoat that provides insulation and an overcoat of long guard hairs that protects the fur and skin below from debris and moisture.
Brown, black, and white is a common color combination, but in theory, almost any color combination is possible; it all depends on the parents and their genes.
Grooming Guide
Grooming is essential for any dog with a double coat, and given how long and thick the coat of the Saint Berhusky is, keeping it in good condition is a vital part of owning this dog.
A few times per week, you should groom their coat fully. This involves a couple of steps and should be done alongside quick daily brushes:
- The grooming process starts with a slicker brush, which is designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
- After that, use a dematter comb, which gently removes stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
- A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and get rid of any remaining loose hairs.
- Lastly, a general grooming comb is used to get rid of any loose hairs or matter areas.
You can find a full rundown of this process here.
During the coat-blowing season, you may have to groom a Saint Berhusky multiple times daily to help them shed their undercoat.
Bathing
Saint Berhuskies don’t need to be bathed as often as you would think, thanks to their double coat and how it works.
Double coats contain natural oils that keep the coat clean, and frequent bathing can cause damage to this system and dry out the skin and coat.
You should only bathe a Saint Berhusky when their coat is too difficult for them to clean themselves (more on this cat-like behavior shortly).
Is The Siberian Husky Saint Bernard Mix Hypoallergenic?
No dog breed is hypoallergenic, but Saint Berhuskies are not a good choice if you suffer from allergies due to how much they shed year-round.
Temperament
Temperament is one, if not the most important thing to consider with a new dog.
Saint Berhuskies have an incredible and well-balanced temperament thanks to the parent breeds. Let’s see what makes their temperament so ideal…
Friendly
Saint Bernards tend to be more aloof with strangers, but Siberian Huskies are incredibly friendly with strangers, making the Saint Berhusky more open to strangers and less wary of them.
This is beneficial if you plan to socialize lots with your pup.
Moderate Prey Drive
The prey drive in the Saint Berhusky is nicely balanced due to the parent breeds.
Huskies are known for having a very high prey drive, which means they’re prone to chasing after small animals without a second thought.
Saint Bernards are the opposite and have a much lower prey drive, which means the Saint Berhusky is likelier to have a moderate prey drive.
This is beneficial for owners because it means they can be let off the leash more often, assuming recall training is done, and it also means a higher chance of success keeping the Saint Berhusky with other small animals and pets.
Stubborn Tendencies
Siberian Huskies are notorious for being stubborn, and this iconic trait is likely to be found within the Saint Berhusky.
This is especially true when you consider that Saint Bernards are also prone to being stubborn, particularly the males.
If you haven’t had experience with a stubborn breed before, it can make things like obedience training very difficult, as the dog will choose when to listen to you and when to ignore you.
Intelligence
Saint Berhuskies can be quite intelligent but in a unique way.
Huskies are very intelligent, but they also refuse to listen to commands a lot of the time because they are very stubborn.
Saint Bernards are not as intelligent as some other dogs and score relatively low on dog intelligence tests. Due to this, they often require a lot of patience during obedience training.
When you combine these two dogs, you get a pretty intelligent dog that won’t always listen to you.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Saint Berhuskies are prone to separation anxiety as both the parent breeds can suffer from this condition.
They’re a highly social mix and aren’t suited to be left alone for long periods regularly.
Moderately Active
Huskies can be too much work for many people because of how much exercise they need – we’re talking at least 2 hours per day.
Thankfully, the Saint Berhusky is much more manageable as Saint Bernards requires less exercise, more like 30 minutes to an hour each day.
Self Grooming
A beneficial trait likely to get passed down to the Saint Berhusky is the self-grooming nature of the husky.
Huskies are often described as ‘cat-like’ because they will groom their own fur, which is one of the reasons why frequent bathing isn’t necessary for this breed.
Is The Siberian Husky Saint Bernard Mix A Good Family Dog?
Saint Berhuskies are ideal family dogs.
They’re great with children – although they should never be left unsupervised due to their size – and also get along with other animals.
They’re very loyal and great with other people, although don’t be surprised if they alert you to people coming near your house with a loud bark or howl.
They require a decent amount of exercise daily, but they aren’t too demanding for most families. The only thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t leave them alone for long periods regularly, as they can be prone to separation anxiety.
Are They Easy To Train?
Obedience training is the main downfall of the Saint Berhusky because of how stubborn they can be, but this isn’t an issue for many people.
The mix isn’t prone to aggression at all, so it isn’t a requirement that they need to be taught lots of different commands.
It’s more important to teach good manners to prevent pulling on the leash and during interactions with new people, avoiding things like jumping up at them, which can be an issue due to their size.
How Much Do They Cost?
There aren’t many (if any) dedicated Saint Berhusky breeders, but both parent breeds are pretty expensive:
- Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 upfront on average.
- Saint Bernards cost $1,000 to $1,500 upfront on average.
It’s much more likely to find one of these dogs at a shelter, rescue, or an ‘unofficial’ breeder, but if you find a breeder, don’t be surprised if they are priced quite high.
In Summary
Saint Berhuskies are an incredibly well-balanced dog mix.
They are relaxed around other people and strangers, love socializing, and don’t have as high a prey drive as a husky. They also don’t need as much exercise as a husky, which means they’re more well-suited for first-time owners or families.
They are pretty hard to train, though, and don’t respond well to being expected to repeat new tricks or commands. They’re also more suited to lively homes and thrive on companionship rather than being left alone all day.
If you’re interested in learning about more husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
