Saint Berdoodle Lifespan & What To Expect: How Long Do St. Berdoodles Live?

If you’re considering a Saint Berdoodle as a family pet, you may be wondering what the lifespan of these fun-loving dogs typically is. While there are no definitive answers, understanding the average Saint Berdoodle lifespan can help give you an idea of what to expect. There are also a number of factors, like nutrition and genetics, that will affect how long your beloved pup will live. In this article, we explore the average Saint Berdoodle lifespan as well as what you can do to maximize your pup’s years with you.

Table of Contents

• Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: How Long Do St Berdoodles Live?
• How Size Can Affect St Berdoodle Lifespan
• How Their Generation Can Play A Role
• Life Stages Of A Saint Berdoodle
• Signs Of Aging To Look Out For
• Common Health Problems Of Saint Berdoodles
• How To Extend Your Saint Berdoodle’s Lifespan
• Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: Frequently Asked Questions
• Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: Final Thoughts

Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: How Long Do St Berdoodles Live?

The Saint Berdoodle is a loving, gentle hybrid cross between the Saint Bernard and Poodle. As you can imagine, these Doods are on the larger end of the scale thanks to their St Bernard heritage. They’re fluffy, intelligent, low-shedding, and overall just extremely adorable large dogs that love nothing more than spending time with their humans. 

If you’re considering expanding your family with this precious Dood, or already have one of them at home, you might be wondering – how long do St Berdoodles live? To answer this question, we must first gain a better understanding of their heritage.

The average Poodle lifespan ranges between 12 and 15 years, whereas Saint Bernards have an average life expectancy of just 8 to 10 years. Based on that information, we can estimate the Saint Berdoodle lifespan to range between 10 to 12 years on average. As you can tell, the Poodle genes really do make a difference here, as they add quite a few good years to Saint Berdoodle lifespan. 

What’s more, hybrid breeds like the Saint Berdoodle also benefit from hybrid vigor, which indicates that crossbreeds are generally healthier than their purebred parents. Hybrid breeds tend to inherit superior genes from their purebred parents, and they’re less likely to inherit breed-specific health issues that are prevalent in their purebred parents.  

How Size Can Affect St Berdoodle Lifespan

Size can play a significant role in determining the lifespan of a Saint Berdoodle. Generally, smaller dogs tend to have slightly longer lifespans than larger dogs. While there are some exceptions to this rule, it is generally true that larger breeds will age faster and may not be able to live as long as their smaller counterparts. Therefore, you should take the size of your Saint Berdoodle into consideration when estimating how many years you can expect your pup to live.

Standard Saint Berdoodle Lifespan

The average standard Saint Berdoodle lifespan is between 10 and 11 years. As they are slightly larger than their miniature counterparts, they tend to age faster, which manifests in slightly shorter lifespans. Nonetheless, with proper nutrition, exercise, and regular veterinary care, your standard Saint Berdoodle can enjoy a life enriched with love and companionship for around a decade. All of which we’ll discuss later on in this guide. 

Mini St Berdoodle Lifespan

Mini Saint Berdoodles, however, benefit from slightly longer life expectancy compared to their standard-sized counterparts. The average Mini Saint Berdoodle life expectancy is around 11 to 12 years, and even more if you’re lucky. As a general rule of thumb, the smaller your dog, the longer they’ll likely live. Of course, the key here is to provide your pup for all of their needs throughout their lifetime to extend their lifespan. 

How Their Generation Can Play A Role

When talking about Saint Berdoodle lifespan, we cannot forget one key element – their generation. Doodle generations tell us how a litter of puppies were bred. Although not 100% accurate and predictable, this information does give us a rough estimate about the puppies’ genetics, including their traits, characteristics, potential for shedding, and even life expectancy. Let’s take a closer look:

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% Saint Bernard*	% Poodle*
F1 Saint Berdoodle (first-generation)	Saint Bernard	Poodle	50%	50%
F1B Saint Berdoodle (first-generation backcross)	F1 Saint Berdoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F1BB Saint Berdoodle (first-generation backcross backcross)	F1B Saint Berdoodle	Poodle	12.5%	87.5%
F2 Saint Berdoodle (second-generation)	F1 Saint Berdoodle	F1 Saint Berdoodle	50%	50%
F2B Saint Berdoodle (second-generation backcross)	F1 Saint Berdoodle	F1B Saint Berdoodle	37.5%	62.5%
F2B Saint Berdoodle (alternate cross)	F2 Saint Berdoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F3 / Multigen Saint Berdoodle	F1B Saint Berdoodle or higher	F1B Saint Berdoodle or higher	Varies	Varies

*These are generic calculations only – genetics are rarely mathematically accurate.

F1 Saint Berdoodle Life Expectancy

F1 or first-generation Saint Berdoodles have a rough 50-50 mix of both Saint Bernard and Poodle in their genetic makeup. Therefore, we can estimate that the F1 Saint Berdoodle lifespan falls into the average 10 to 12 year estimate. 

By the way, the great thing about F1 Saint Berdoodles is that this generation benefits the most from hybrid vigor. If you remember, hybrid vigor indicates superior health and a smaller chance of genetic conditions. However, with each consecutive generation, the hybrid vigor may start to diminish slightly. 

F1B Saint Berdoodle Lifespan

F1b Saint Berdoodles, a.k.a first-generation backcross St Berdoodles have roughly 25% Saint Bernard and 75% Poodle in their genetic makeup. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, Poodles have a much longer lifespan compared to purebred Saint Bernards – about 12 to 15 years on average. Therefore, it’s very likely that F1b Saint Berdoodles also have a longer life expectancy that’s closer to that of the Poodle. 

F2 St Berdoodle Lifespan

F2 or second-generation Saint Berdoodles also have around 50% Saint Bernard and 50% Poodle in their genetic makeup. Although their genetic makeup is very similar to F1 Doods, they may have a slight disadvantage in regards to their life expectancy. As we mentioned before, hybrid vigor starts to diminish with later generations, so F2 Doods may not get the full benefits of hybrid vigor. 

Nonetheless, it all depends on each puppy’s unique genetic makeup, but also how they were bred. For this reason, it’s vital that you choose an ethical breeder that follows responsible breeding guidelines, and that they extensively health screen their breeding dogs to rule out any potential hereditary illnesses. 

Life Stages Of A Saint Berdoodle

The life expectancy of a Saint Berdoodle can vary based on size, genetics, and lifestyle. However, if you’re a (future) dog owner, that’s not the only thing you should think about beforehand. Understanding the various stages of a Saint Berdoodle’s life can help you be better prepared to care for them as they go through each stage of growth and development. Let’s take a look at the life stages of a Saint Berdoodle, so you can get an idea of what to expect during their lifetime.

Puppyhood

Puppyhood is an important stage in the life of a Saint Berdoodle. During this time, they need plenty of care and attention as they grow and develop. It is also important to make sure that all necessary vaccinations are given before you take your pup out to public places and let them mingle with other dogs and dog owners. 

You should also carefully consider which puppy food formula to feed your pup, as they’re essentially growing babies that need lots and lots of nutrients for their proper development. In fact, there are special formulas for large breed dogs that are designed to support their optimal growth. In addition to that, make sure that your puppy is getting the right amount of food to prevent any potential health issues. Feeding your pup too much can lead to obesity, which in turn paves the way for other health problems, such as heart diseases, diabetes, and joint problems. 

Having said that, don’t forget to take your puppy to regular vet checkups and keep track of their growth and weight gain. This is a great indicator of your puppy’s health, and if they’re growing too fast or too slow, veterinary intervention might be necessary. Typically, Standard Saint Berdoodles reach half their adult weight around 6 months of age, whereas Mini St Berdoodles get there a bit sooner – around the 5 month mark. 

Finally, training and socialization play an important role during puppyhood and should not be neglected. It may seem tedious at times, but teaching your pup all the basics during their early days will help you save a lot of headaches down the line. We recommend you start with potty training, crate training, socialization, and obedience training as soon as you bring your new pup home. Treat them gently and reward positive behavior, and your Saint Berdoodle will learn all that you expect of them. 

Adolescence

Around the time your puppy turns 6 months old, they’ll also reach the adolescence stage of their life. That’s the time when they’ll also reach sexual maturity. Once this happens, you should start thinking about spaying or neutering them. Of course, always consult with your veterinarian to find the best possible solution and timeline for your four-legged pal. 

Spaying or neutering can help reduce the risk of certain medical conditions, as well as reducing the chance of them running away in search of mates. It also helps them calm down, as their hormones won’t be all over the place anymore. This will also curb other unwanted behaviors, such as marking with urine inside the house. 

It’s also during this stage that dogs start to fill out and get rounder, so you’ll see their breed characteristics becoming more pronounced. You should still keep a close eye on how your puppy is growing and developing. However, their growth will now start to gradually slow down as compared to their fast growth spurts in puppyhood. 

Behavior-wise, they may act a bit like teenagers – testing boundaries and often forgetting what they have been taught. It is vital to continue with training and socialization during this period to reinforce good behavior and manners, so that your pup knows how to act around others.

Adulthood

Reaching adulthood is an exciting time for any Saint Berdoodle! Technically, it’s considered that dogs are adults when they reach their full-grown height and weight. For Standard Saint Berdoodles, this usually happens around 18 and 36 months of age, depending on their estimated adult size. As a general rule of thumb, the larger your dog, the longer they’ll grow. In contrast, Mini Saint Berdoodles can reach their full-grown size as early as 12 to 18 months old. 

Nonetheless, even when your pup has reached its full size, they may still act a bit mischievous from time to time. Over time, you’ll notice that they become calmer and more independent. Still, it’s important to set clear boundaries and rules during this time. While they may no longer be as dependent on you, they still need guidance and training to help them make good decisions. At the same time, remember not to take away all of their independence – dogs thrive when given freedom within structure!

At this stage, you can also switch to an adult dog food formula, which will provide all the nutrition they need to stay healthy and energetic. Keep in mind that puppy formulas generally contain more calories and a different set of nutrients. So, make sure that you feed your newly adult Dood the right food based on their age. 

Senior

Golden years are considered to start once a dog turns 10 years old. However, since the Saint Berdoodle lifespan is shorter compared to many other breeds, their senior life stage is considered to start around 7 years of age. 

Once your Saint Berdoodle reaches their senior years, you may notice that their energy levels start to decrease and they become lazier. At the same time, they may develop certain health conditions and show signs of aging, so it is important to take them for regular vet checkups around every 6 months. This way, any health issues can be detected early on.

It is also important to ensure that they are getting enough exercise. You should also adjust their caloric intake accordingly if they don’t exercise as much anymore – something that’s very common in senior dogs. This will help prevent obesity and other health problems stemming from it. Moreover, consider switching to a senior dog food formula tailored to older dogs’ needs. This can provide all the nutrients needed for optimal health in later life.

Signs Of Aging To Look Out For

As your Saint Berdoodle starts to reach their senior years, you may start to notice a few changes in their behavior and physical health.

Mentally, they may seem less interested in activities or be less responsive when called. They may also appear disoriented and forgetful from time to time. What’s more, some dogs may become anxious in certain situations, or fearful of familiar places and people. 

Physically, their coat may become duller, with graying fur or bald patches in some areas. You might also see them slowing down when it comes to walking and jumping. In fact, joint problems are quite common in elderly dogs. They may have difficulty seeing or hearing, and they may develop lumps and bumps under the skin. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for any of these signs of aging so that you can provide the extra love, care and support your pup needs. All of these symptoms are completely normal as dogs get older. However, by keeping a close eye on their behavior and overall wellbeing, you can make their final years as comfortable as possible by your side. 

Common Health Problems Of Saint Berdoodles

Even though Saint Berdoodles are generally healthy dogs, especially considering that they benefit from hybrid vigor, there are still some health problems that are prevalent in these Doods. Some of the most common health problems in Saint Berdoodles include the following:

• Joint problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia
• Eye diseases, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and distichiasis
• Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV)
• Wobbler Syndrome
• Skin problems, including sebaceous adenitis
• Allergies, sensitivities, and food intolerances
• Ear infections

How To Extend Your Saint Berdoodle’s Lifespan

Apart from genetics, there are quite a few things you can do to keep your pup healthy and happy for as long as possible. After all, as their owners, we want to make sure that our four-legged friends live a long and healthy life. Here are some excellent tips on how to give your Saint Berdoodle the best care as they age, and how to extend your Saint Berdoodle’s lifespan. 

Proper Diet

A proper, healthy, and balanced diet is essential for any pet, including Saint Berdoodles. By providing your pup with a diet rich in quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates, you can ensure they get the nutrition they need to stay healthy. In addition, including vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can improve your pup’s overall health and help them live longer. A high-quality dog food formula will include all of these micro and macronutrients in balanced ratios, ensuring that your pup gets everything they need from their diet.

That being said, it’s equally important that you feed your Dood the correct amount of food to prevent malnourishment or obesity, and other health problems that are caused from improper feeding. Our guide on this very topic includes many helpful tips on how to figure out how much food your pup needs daily, and we’ve even created a handy dog food calculator to make this process easier for you. 

Be sure to also check out our other guides on canine nutrition, so you can be sure that your Dood gets only the best – just as they deserve. 

Daily Exercise

Daily exercise is essential for a Saint Berdoodle’s health and longevity. Exercise is important for keeping their joints and muscles healthy, as well as preventing obesity, and heart problems. It also helps curb destructive behaviors. Taking your Saint Berdoodle on regular walks or playing active games with them will help keep them fit, healthy and happy. As these pups aren’t the most active out there, they don’t need rigorous exercise. About an hour or two of exercise each day should be more than enough. 

Moreover, mental stimulation is also key in ensuring your Saint Berdoodle stays healthy and happy. They’re intelligent dogs which means they need mental enrichment to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Offering them puzzles, teaching them new commands, taking them to agility classes, or playdates with other dogs all provide great outlets for relieving stress and encouraging learning. Playing interactive games like hide-and-seek can also help increase their problem-solving skills and boost their confidence. In addition to providing these activities, making sure that your Saint Berdoodle feels loved and respected will ensure that they stay content in the long run.

Routine Vet Visits

To extend your Saint Berdoodle’s lifespan, you should take them to the vet regularly. Veterinary check-ups allow early detection and treatment of any health problems that may arise, increasing the chances of successful recovery. Vaccinations are also important to maintain your dog’s health and protect them from infectious diseases.

You should also watch out for changes in behavior or bowel movements that may signal underlying health issues. Signs such as lack of appetite or lethargy can be red flags which should be addressed with your veterinarian right away.

In terms of frequency, there are a few guidelines to follow. Puppies need more frequent veterinary appointments due to vaccinations and keeping track of their growth and development. Senior dogs should also be checked every 6 months for peace of mind and to ensure age-related conditions have not developed. Meanwhile, generally healthy Saint Berdoodles in their prime adult years should be checked by a veterinarian every 12 months. 

Regular Grooming

Lastly, we cannot forget the importance of regular grooming, as it can significantly affect your Saint Berdoodle’s lifespan and overall quality of life. Grooming helps keep the coat healthy and free from mats and built up dirt, which can cause skin irritations, pain, or even lead to severe infections. We recommend you brush your Saint Berdoodle daily, especially if they’ve inherited the fabulous Poodle-inspired curls. If that’s not attainable, try to brush them at least 3 to 4 times a week. 

This is also a great time for you to check for any lumps, bumps, or parasites that may have taken up residence on your dog’s fur. Additionally, regular brushing helps reduce shedding and make sure your home stays clean and free from pet hair.

In addition, you should also have your Saint Berdoodle’s coat trimmed every few months, give or take. You can either take your Dood to a professional groomer, or save some time and money by grooming them at home instead. Around this time, you should also give your Dood a thorough bath. However, some pups may need more frequent bathtime, depending on their lifestyle, activity levels, and skin conditions. Be sure to use a dog shampoo that’s specially designed for our canine friends and their potential concerns. 

Furthermore, don’t forget to trim the hair inside the ears and regularly clean the ears to prevent ear infections that these pups are prone to! Likewise, you should also trim your dog’s nails every week or so to prevent ingrown nails, discomfort, pain, and even joint problems. 

Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Berdoodle Lifespan: Final Thoughts

We hope this article helped provide some insight into the Saint Berdoodle lifespan and how regular care can help them enjoy their life to the fullest. Knowing the basics about your pet’s health and habits, such as grooming and exercise needs, will not only keep them healthy, but also make sure they are comfortable throughout their lifetime.