Ellie Blackburn and Alice Edmonds starred as the Bulldogs overcame a slow start and inaccuracy in front of goal to post a 4.11 (35) to 3.2 (20) victory in Ballarat on Sunday.
It was the Dogs' first triumph at their second home.
More importantly, it put them a win and percentage clear of ninth-placed Gold Coast with two rounds left to play in the home-and-away campaign.
The result ends St Kilda's finals hopes and there could be further pain in the fallout, with Nicola Xenos' sling tackle on Kirtsy Lamb certain to be reviewed.
Xenos conceded a free kick in the third-quarter incident but was not reported on the spot.
Bulldogs captain Blackburn (24 disposals, six tackles) and in-form ruck Edmonds (38 hit-outs, nine tackles) were everywhere, with Deanna Berry (14 disposals) also influential.
St Kilda got the first two goals through Caitlin Greiser and Georgia Patrikios in a fast-paced opening few minutes but added just one more for the match.
Alice Burke was left sore after being crunched by Edmonds in a second-quarter marking contest, having fearlessly gone back with the flight of the ball on the wing.
The collision gave her father and Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke a few nervous moments, but the tough Saints defender got back to her feet and played out the match.
Celine Moody needed two cracks at it but put the Bulldogs in front for the first time soon after the main break, ending their run of eight behinds with her first goal.
The scoring was all one-way in the final term as a fortuitous Elisabeth Georgostathis goal and another major to Keely Coyne put the result beyond doubt.
Hannah Priest (13 disposals) and Patrikios (11) fought hard against the tide for St Kilda, who made a positive start to the season but have now lost six straight games.
The Bulldogs can sew up a finals spot with victory away to West Coast in round nine, while the Saints host expansion side Port Adelaide.
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