St. Bernard Coloring Pages

A gentle giant who worked hard in the Alps! St. Bernard!

St. Bernard is a very big dog from the Swiss Alps. You might know them as the model for "Joseph" in the famous anime "Heidi, Girl of the Alps."

What kind of job did they do?

A long time ago, deep in the snowy mountains of the Alps, there were rest stops for travelers called "hospices." St. Bernard worked hard as a "rescue dog" at these hospices to save people trapped in the snow! With their big bodies, strong power to walk in deep snow, and smart minds to spot danger, they saved many lives.

Features of their big body!

St. Bernard is one of the biggest dogs of all. They can weigh 50 to 90 kilograms! That is about as heavy as two or three kids in elementary school. They are tall, too. Males are about 70 to 90 centimeters tall, and females are about 65 to 80 centimeters tall.

• Face: They have a big face with a few wrinkles and floppy ears. They look very kind and gentle.
• Coat: They can have two types of fur: "short-haired" or "long-haired." Both types have thick fur to stay warm in the cold.
• Color: Their fur is usually white with large reddish-brown or brown patches.

What is their personality like?

Even though they are so big, St. Bernard is very calm, gentle, and patient. They love their family and are very sweet with kids, too. Some people even call them baby-sitters! They are also smart enough to think and act on their own.

The secret of the little barrel on their neck!

Have you ever seen a picture or photo of a St. Bernard with a small barrel around its neck? People say that when they found someone in the snow, the person would drink the brandy inside the barrel to warm up.

They do not like the heat!

Because their home is the cold mountains of Switzerland, St. Bernard does not like hot or humid weather at all. In the summer, it is important to keep them in a cool, air-conditioned room.

How to Choose Your Colors

When you color your St. Bernard coloring page, try to show off its gentle and strong body! It is fun to think of colors that look great against the snowy Alps.

• Basic body color: Use white as your base. Try using a pure white color just like real snow.
• Patch pattern colors: Choose a warm brown like red-brown, orange-brown, or dark brown. If you color the patches so they stand out clearly against the white, it will look just like a real St. Bernard!
• Dark parts on the head: The spots around the eyes and ears are often dark brown or blackish colors. Making these spots darker gives the face a nice, sharp look.
• Nose and lips: Color the nose black. It looks great if you use a little pink or reddish color around the mouth and lips.
• Barrel on the neck: Let's color the barrel! Make the barrel brown like real wood, and color the strap dark brown or black. This makes the rescue dog's famous symbol pop!

Let's Make the Fur Look Soft and Fluffy!

A St. Bernard is a fluffy dog with lots of thick fur. When you color, think about which way the fur grows to make it look soft and 3D!

• If you use colored pencils: Layer lots of short little strokes to show the fluffy fur. Try coloring gently in the direction the fur grows.
• If you use crayons: Change how hard you press as you layer colors to make the fur look 3D. Instead of leaving the white parts totally blank, add a tiny bit of light gray or cream to make it look even more real!

How to Make Your Dog Look 3D: Think About "Shadows" and "Lights"!

Because a St. Bernard has such a big body, it is easy to see bright light and dark shadows. Coloring the shadow parts a little darker adds great depth to your picture!

• Places with shadows:
  • Wrinkles and loose skin on the face
  • Behind the floppy ears
  • Curves on the legs and body
  • Under the tummy and under the chin
• Shadows on white fur: For shadows on white fur, use light gray or a pale bluish color. This creates a pretty shadow that looks like light reflecting off the snow!

Try Creative Backgrounds!

Since the St. Bernard is a dog from the Alps, it is super fun to draw a cool background for it!

• For a snowy scene: Keep the snow white and color the sky light blue. If you color distant mountains dark blue or purple, it really feels like a cold, snowy place!
• For an indoor scene: St. Bernards love being with their families! You can draw a cozy rug in a warm room or add a nice view outside the window.

A Little Tip to Enjoy Your Coloring Page!

If you want to color a St. Bernard with rainbow patches, that is totally OK too! Use your imagination to create your very own one-of-a-kind St. Bernard!