It's not just puppy love
By Miranda Greer

Sue Johnson gives a big cuddle to one
of the 19 St Bernard puppies

WHEN it comes to big dogs, you don’t get much bigger than the St Bernard.

With their big, brown `come and pat me’ eyes and drooping jowls and ears, this gentle giant of the canine world is hard to resist. And even harder to resist as a puppy.

Chevallum residents Sue and Allan Johnson are St Bernard breeders and can attest to the attraction of the pups - especially when there are 19 of them.

The Johnsons’ three female St Bernards gave birth to 19 puppies between them over three days in June.

"We were very, very busy," Sue said. "We only have litters every two to three years, so to have 19 at once was just amazing. Nineteen puppies all at once is not only hard work, but it also equates to a lot of vet bills."

It took less than nine weeks to sell all of the puppies, with one moving to Perth and another staying locally in Palmwoods. The puppies sell for between $650 and $850.

Sue said Chevallum pups have also gone to homes in Ireland and New Zealand.

"Not many stay in the local area, but we’ve got one staying in Palmwoods this time which will be nice," she said.

The popularity of the breed increased when the movie Beethoven - which starred a St Bernard - was released a few years ago.

"The movie brought the breed into the spotlight, but people have always loved the St Bernard," Allan said. "There’s a certain mystique surrounding them. There’s just nothing like them."

The Johnsons’ dogs are top quality and won two first prize awards at the Brisbane Exhibition in August.

"We try very hard to breed good characteristics into our dogs," Sue said.

"I’m actually a show judge myself, and Allan is president of the Queensland St Bernard Association, so we know what to look for in a dog."

She said the dogs were easy to look after, and made a perfect family pet.

"They don’t require much grooming, only 15 to 30 minutes a week, and they are gently, friendly and very easy to live with," she said.