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Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 37 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.31. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Saint Bernard

In the atlas, the Saint Bernard clusters consistently as Saint Bernard (100% of the 37 dogs here). At the trait loci, SMOC2 runs lower than average (12% here vs 75%); STC2 runs lower than average (26% here vs 74%). Dogs here sit in a relatively sparse region of the atlas, fewer close neighbors than typical.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: Leonberger, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, and Neapolitan Mastiff.

Median lifespan is 9.3 years, about 1.7 years shorter than a typical dog of 66.0 kg, one of the larger gaps in the atlas.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Saint Bernard

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
37Founders
26 from Hayward2016, 10 from Spatola, 1 from Shannon
Genetic diversity
0.31Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 46th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 22.58 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. Leonberger4.95
  2. Rottweiler5.58
  3. Bernese Mountain Dog6.55
  4. Newfoundland7.45
  5. Neapolitan Mastiff8.09
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF142%
HMGA2100%
SMAD280%
LCORL41%
STC226%
ADAMTS1731%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1854%
FGF4·CFA1285%
Coat
RSPO289%
FGF577%
KRT7199%
MC1R74%
Ear set
MSRB3100%
Skull shape
BMP3100%
SMOC213%
Add your Saint Bernard to the Atlas

You can add your Saint Bernard right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data