St. Bernard (dog breed)

Big, sweet-natured and slow to anger, the Saint is a sound family dog for homes with cold winters; heat is its enemy, and a humid summer needs air conditioning. Owners budget for drool, eyelid problems and joints: in one large American study almost 15% had hip dysplasia. Plan for 8 to 10 years, and train hard against pulling while the dog is young, because a 70 kg adult that lunges is beyond most people's grip.