Do Saint Bernards shed a lot?

Yes, substantially and fairly consistently through the year, in both the short-haired and long-haired coat types the breed comes in. Regular brushing several times a week helps manage the volume of loose fur around the home, though it does not eliminate shedding, which is a normal trait of the breed.

Is drooling a problem for people with allergies?

It can be, since saliva is one of the main sources of the protein most people react to when they have a dog allergy. Saint Bernards are known for drooling more than many breeds, which is a separate factor from shedding that can worsen symptoms for an allergic person.

Are any large dog breeds considered lower-shedding?

Some, though none are allergen-free. Breeds such as Standard Poodles and certain Poodle crosses shed less loose fur day to day than a double-coated breed like a Saint Bernard, which can help mildly allergic people, though a genuinely allergic person should spend time with an individual dog before committing.

Can grooming make a Saint Bernard manageable for someone with allergies?

Grooming reduces how much loose fur and dander circulates around the home, which helps to a degree, but it does not eliminate the underlying allergens a genuinely allergic person reacts to. For someone with a significant allergy, a heavy-shedding, drool-prone breed this size is unlikely to become fully comfortable to live with through grooming alone.

What breeds are better suited to someone with a dog allergy?

Lower-shedding breeds such as Poodles and various Poodle crosses are more commonly recommended for allergy-conscious households, though no breed is guaranteed allergen-free. Spending time with an individual dog, ideally over more than one visit, remains the most reliable way to judge how your own allergy responds before committing to a breed.

Are Saint Bernards hypoallergenic?

No, Saint Bernards are not hypoallergenic. 'Hypoallergenic dog' is not a scientifically proven category for any breed, since the proteins that trigger most dog allergies come mainly from saliva and skin dander rather than fur, but Saint Bernards specifically also shed a large, dense double coat heavily and consistently, which makes them one of the less suitable choices for anyone managing a genuine dog allergy.

Why 'hypoallergenic dog' does not really exist as a category

Allergic reactions to dogs are triggered mainly by a protein produced in saliva and skin, which spreads through a home on shed fur, dander and even airborne particles as a dog grooms itself and moves around. A low-shedding coat can reduce how much fur-borne allergen circulates through a house, but it does not stop a dog producing the allergen at the source.

Research comparing allergen levels between breeds marketed as hypoallergenic and other breeds has generally found no consistent, measurable difference, which is part of why vets and allergy specialists tend to treat the term as a popular myth rather than an established scientific category.

The Saint Bernard's coat specifically

Saint Bernards carry a dense double coat, either short-haired or long-haired depending on the individual dog, bred originally to withstand harsh alpine winters, and both coat types shed substantially and fairly consistently through the year rather than in one or two short, sharp seasonal bursts. Combined with the breed's very large size, that adds up to a genuinely significant volume of fur and dander around a home.

Drooling is also a notable trait of the breed, and saliva is one of the main sources of the allergen most people react to, which is a second, separate reason the breed tends to be a poor match for anyone with a genuine dog allergy, on top of the shedding itself.

What can help if you keep one despite an allergy

Regular brushing, ideally several times a week given how much this breed sheds, removes loose fur before it spreads through the house rather than after, and wiping down drool with a cloth kept for the purpose reduces how much saliva ends up on furniture and floors where it can dry and become airborne dust over time.

Keeping the dog out of bedrooms, off soft furnishings, and running an air purifier with a proper HEPA filter alongside frequent vacuuming with a machine built to capture fine particles all help reduce the overall allergen load in a home, though none of it removes a genuine allergy entirely.

If you have a genuine dog allergy

Speak to a GP or allergy specialist about the severity of your reaction before committing to any breed, and be realistic that a Saint Bernard's combination of size, heavy year-round shedding and significant drooling makes it one of the harder breeds to manage for someone with a meaningful dog allergy, compared with smaller, lower-shedding, less drool-prone breeds.

Spending extended time with an individual dog before committing, rather than judging from breed reputation alone, is the most reliable way to find out how your own allergy actually responds, since severity genuinely varies from person to person.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles

A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.

£18.99

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Common questions

Do Saint Bernards shed a lot?: Yes, substantially and fairly consistently through the year, in both the short-haired and long-haired coat types the breed comes in. Regular brushing several times a week helps manage the volume of loose fur around the home, though it does not eliminate shedding, which is a normal trait of the breed.
Is drooling a problem for people with allergies?: It can be, since saliva is one of the main sources of the protein most people react to when they have a dog allergy. Saint Bernards are known for drooling more than many breeds, which is a separate factor from shedding that can worsen symptoms for an allergic person.
Are any large dog breeds considered lower-shedding?: Some, though none are allergen-free. Breeds such as Standard Poodles and certain Poodle crosses shed less loose fur day to day than a double-coated breed like a Saint Bernard, which can help mildly allergic people, though a genuinely allergic person should spend time with an individual dog before committing.
Can grooming make a Saint Bernard manageable for someone with allergies?: Grooming reduces how much loose fur and dander circulates around the home, which helps to a degree, but it does not eliminate the underlying allergens a genuinely allergic person reacts to. For someone with a significant allergy, a heavy-shedding, drool-prone breed this size is unlikely to become fully comfortable to live with through grooming alone.
What breeds are better suited to someone with a dog allergy?: Lower-shedding breeds such as Poodles and various Poodle crosses are more commonly recommended for allergy-conscious households, though no breed is guaranteed allergen-free. Spending time with an individual dog, ideally over more than one visit, remains the most reliable way to judge how your own allergy responds before committing to a breed.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.