How to List a Saint Bernard for Adoption in the United States
To list a Saint Bernard for adoption in the United States, set clear criteria for the home, charge a fee that covers the dog's vet care, write an honest description of its size, health and behavior, and screen applicants with an application, references and a home visit before signing an adoption contract. Breed rescues set the benchmark: Colorado St. Bernard Rescue, for example, charges generally $500 and requires an in-depth home visit.
A Saint weighs 120 to 180 pounds and lives about 8 to 10 years, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), so a second failed placement is hard on the dog. This guide is for rescuers and owners who want to place a Saint carefully.
Key points
- Ask the dog's breeder and a Saint Bernard rescue first; the breed club expects breeders to help rehome dogs they bred.
- Set criteria around size: indoor living, time at home, vehicle, children and experience.
- Disclose health history honestly, including bloat, hips, eyes and heart.
- Use a written contract with spay or neuter terms, no breeding and a return clause.
Who should you contact before you list a Saint Bernard for adoption?
- The breeder. The Saint Bernard Club of America (SBCA) says breeders should be responsible for the dogs they have bred and willing to find new homes when needed. Check your purchase contract for a return clause.
- A Saint Bernard rescue. The SBCA refers people to the Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation, and regional groups such as Colorado St. Bernard Rescue place dogs in their areas.
- Your vet. Vets can update records, advise on behavior and often know local adopters or trainers.
How do you set adoption criteria for a Saint Bernard?
- Home: indoors with the family, with air conditioning or a cool room in summer. The AKC warns that sudden moves from air conditioning into heat can cause serious distress.
- Time: someone home much of the day; the AKC says Saints left alone for long periods can develop unwanted behaviors.
- Children: Saints are known for patience, but a young dog can knock over a toddler, so match energy to the household.
- Experience: a plan for obedience classes and leash training for a dog that may outweigh its owner.
- Transport and space: a vehicle the dog can get into and room to lie down without blocking the house.
Written criteria make it easier to say no fairly, and they save applicants' time.
How much should a Saint Bernard adoption fee be?
Fees vary by group. Colorado St. Bernard Rescue says its fee is generally $500, while the AKC puts typical shelter fees at $50 to $300. Owners rehoming their own dog often charge less; Adopt a Pet suggests a reasonable dog rehoming fee is often around $50 to $150. A fee helps cover care and shows the adopter has budgeted for a dog.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Spay or neuter | $50 to $300, often more for a giant dog |
| Microchip | $25 to $50 |
| Core vaccines | $75 to $100 for a puppy series |
| Deworming | $14 to $55, plus a fecal test |
What should a Saint Bernard adoption listing include?
- Clear photos and a short video of the dog walking on a leash and greeting a visitor.
- Age, sex, weight in pounds, coat type and whether the dog is spayed or neutered and microchipped.
- Health: bloat history or gastropexy, joint or eye problems such as entropion, heart findings, skin hot spots and any medication.
- Behavior with children, dogs, cats and strangers, and how the dog copes alone and in the car.
- Honest notes on shedding and drool, your criteria, the fee and how to apply.
You can post a Saint Bernard for adoption on PetzLover for free, and adopters can message you through the listing. Look at other Saint Bernards listed for adoption to see how rescues describe their dogs.
How do you screen Saint Bernard adopters?
| Step | What to check |
|---|---|
| Written application | Household, home type, landlord, work hours, past dogs |
| Phone or video call | Whether they understand size, drool, shedding and an 8- to 10-year life expectancy |
| References | A vet for past pets and, if renting, the landlord's written permission |
| Meeting | Everyone in the home meets the dog; current dogs meet on neutral ground |
| Home visit | Where the dog sleeps, cool space, fencing, stairs and flooring |
What should a Saint Bernard adoption contract say?
- Names, addresses, date, fee and the dog's description and microchip number.
- Known health and behavior issues, signed as disclosed.
- Indoor living, vet care, ID on the dog and local licensing.
- A spay or neuter clause with a deadline if not yet done, and no breeding.
- A return clause: the dog comes back to you or the rescue, never to a third party.
Which US rules apply when you place a Saint Bernard?
- Rabies. Most states require dogs to be vaccinated; tell the adopter when the next shot is due.
- Minimum age. Pennsylvania, for example, bans transferring any dog under eight weeks, including adoptions.
- USDA. USDA guidance treats adoptions for a fee as sales, so groups placing dogs sight unseen should check whether they need a license.
- Imports. Dogs brought into the US must meet CDC rules, including being at least six months old.
How do you follow up after the adoption?
Check in after three days, three weeks and three months, the usual milestones for a dog settling in. Offer a trainer's name if leash pulling or jumping appears, and make returns easy and judgment-free. Adopters can read how to adopt a Saint Bernard to see what to expect from you, and breeders can read how to sell Saint Bernard puppies. For families who want a puppy, how to buy a Saint Bernard puppy explains the health tests to ask about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I list a Saint Bernard for adoption safely?
Contact the breeder and a Saint rescue first. If you list the dog yourself, describe it honestly, screen applicants with an application, references and a home visit, and sign a contract with a return clause.
What adoption fee should I charge for a Saint Bernard?
Rescues often charge a few hundred dollars; Colorado St. Bernard Rescue says generally $500. An owner rehoming a pet might charge $50 to $150, the range Adopt a Pet suggests. Say what the fee includes.
Will a Saint Bernard rescue take my dog?
Possibly, but foster space for giant dogs is limited and each group has rules. Contact the Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation or a regional rescue early and share full health and behavior records.
Should I spay or neuter my Saint Bernard before adoption?
Many rescues do so before placement, and it removes the appeal of the dog to people who want to breed. Ask your vet about timing, and about a gastropexy at the same surgery.
What if my Saint Bernard has bitten someone?
Do not advertise the dog to the public. Talk to your vet, a qualified behavior professional and the breeder, and disclose the bite in full to any rescue you contact.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Saint Bernard in the United StatesApply to a Saint Bernard rescue or a local shelter, expect an application, references and a home visit, budget for the fee and a giant dog's food and vet bills, and give your Saint a calm first few weeks.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Saint Bernard Puppy in the United StatesChoose a breeder who shows both parents' hip, elbow, eye and heart results and a DM DNA test, meet the mother, get AKC papers and a written contract, and budget for a 120- to 180-pound dog that lives about 8 to 10 years.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Saint Bernard Puppies in the United StatesHealth-test the parents first, follow your state's age and lemon-law rules, price against regional data, write an honest ad, and screen every buyer for the space, money and training a 120- to 180-pound dog needs.