Saint bernard dog

Saint Bernard Basics Is there any animal that can get away with being so big and so friendly as the Saint Bernard? When it comes to this article, we’re going to talk about one of the most instantly recognizable breeds of dog out there today, if only because it blocks so much sunlight simply by standing around: the Saint Bernard. The Saint Bernard originally made a name for itself as a Swiss rescue dog, and indeed tales of Saint Bernard rescues survive and abound to this very day. This perhaps partially explains the popularity and reputation of Saint Bernards as friendly, unassuming dogs that are only looking to do good things. In many cases, this is exactly what having a Saint Bernard will tell you about the powerful breed. But there’s more to this breed than simply being a powerful rescuer: as you’re about to find out, it can make an excellent family pet that gets along with many of the range of characters you encounter each day. Let’s dig a little deeper and find out what makes the Saint Bernard tick. Is there any animal that can get away with being so big and so friendly as the Saint Bernard? Origin Many of us associate the Swiss with watches, bank accounts, and army knives, but throughout history they have been very admirable pet breeders who have given us very unique and powerful breeds. One of these breeds is the Saint Bernard, whose most defining characteristic is its size. With a large head and overall body, the largest St. Bernard on record supposedly weighed some...

Have you ever wondered why some St. Bernards have long fur, and others have shorter coats? As it turns out, there’s a good reason for the difference. Concerned for the health of their loyal companions during the harsh winter months, monks once crossbred St. Bernards with Newfoundlands to give them longer, thicker coats. Unfortunately, their long coats trapped the ice and snow, making them more miserable than ever. Whether your St. Bernard has a short or long coat, you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank on grooming expenses. The St. Bernard has an oily coat, perfect for keeping out water, so you won’t have to bathe your pup too often. In fact, you With a towering height of 26–30 inches at the shoulders, and weighing in at anywhere from 120 to 180 pounds, St. Bernards are one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Famous for heroic mountain rescues, they are also one of the gentlest breeds, known for their endless patience with children, other dogs, and cats. Because they aren’t prone to aggression, St. Bernards are a fantastic option for parents — and cat parents — who want a large dog. While all dogs have their own unique personalities, it’s quite likely the only real danger a St. Bernard poses is the possibility of knocking your child over with his enthusiastically wagging tail. Your St. Bernard will retain a puppylike demeanor for a long time, but don’t worry about keeping up with a gigantic, hyper dog. St. Bernards are notoriously Related • • • The shape of a ...

Saint Bernard dogs were developed in the Alps in Italy and Switzerland. These giant dogs were initially bred for hospice and search and rescue work near the Great St Bernard Pass alongside the Italian-Swiss border. During the winters between 1816 and 1818, it’s reported that many avalanches killed off a lot of Saint Bernards that were used for breeding. To keep the breed around, the last few Saint Bernards were crossbred with Newfoundland dogs. They were also reported to be bred with Tibetan Mastiffs and Bernese Mountain dogs. Saint Bernards are known to be great watchdogs, and the breed gained fame after being seen in the movie “Beethoven.” They are gentle giants, and their large size and deep bark make them great guard dogs. Saint Bernards were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. Saint Bernards are large, heavy dogs with wide heads, big eyes, and floppy ears. They are powerful, strong, sturdy, and muscular throughout their entire body. They are great at carting, and they have a variety of distinguishable features that sets them apart from other large breeds. The shoulders and back of Saint Bernard dogs are broad and powerful, while the chest is deep and arched. The legs are straight and muscular, and the hindquarters are solid. The head is wide and a bit arched. The muzzle is short, but it doesn’t taper, and the jaws are well-developed. Ears are high set and sit a bit away from the base of the head, and the dark brown eyes are set to the front and have ...

Origins The ancestry of the St. Bernard is easier than that of many breeds due to the excellent records kept from an early date by the monks of the hospice at St. Bernard. It is believed that Mastiff-type dogs entered the region with their Roman masters about a hundred years before the birth of Christ. These Molassers, also referred to as Tibetan dogs, were originally from Asia. The monks probably crossed these dogs with the Great Dane and the Great Pyrenees before the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. After that, the pass wasn’t often used for travel, isolating the monks and their dogs. This isolation ensured that crossbreeding would be rare, thereby preserving the traits of the breed. Later, during medieval times, the pass was again heavily traveled as people on religious pilgrimages crossed the Alps using the Montjoux pass. Around the year of 1000 CE, Bernard of Montjoux was consecrated as Saint Bernard of Montjoux. His primary concern was providing aid to travelers at the pass, so the pass was renamed St Bernard Pass in honor of this saint. Art often chronicles history, and the first record of dogs living at the hospice is a painting from the 1690s depicting two dogs that are obvious ancestors of the St. Bernard. It seems that dogs from the valley were brought up to the hospice as gifts for companionship and protection. When the monks took their dogs out with them as they helped the lost and weary travelers, they soon realized their dogs were great at tracking and be...

More than 8,000 feet above sea level in the year 1050, snowdrifts would blow as high as 40 feet across a crucial passageway in the Alps. This important path, where pilgrims made their way to Rome, was treacherous to cross due to these conditions. That’s when a monk named Bernard of Menthon (later canonized) decided to create a hospice that would aid pilgrims who were journeying to Rome — Hospice of St. Bernard. But rescuing hundreds of tired travelers wasn’t a one-monk job. What happened when these weary journeyers became victims of avalanches, unconscious and trapped below deep drifts of snow? That’s where the mighty Early Roots of the Saint Bernard Saint Bernard-type dogs were present in the region now known as Switzerland since ancient times. The Germanic tribes who inhabited the area and periodically raided the Roman Empire used their canine giants as war dogs. Even the most battle-tested Roman legions were said to quail before these fearsome, four-legged goliaths. The Romans, of course, had their own dog of war: the ferocious Asian Molosser. Breed historians posit that the Saint Bernard’s 1,600-hundred-year march to the A painting by John Emms portraying St. Bernards as rescue dogs with a monk. The Rescue Dogs of Monks Oliver Goldsmith wrote of Switzerland’s monks in the early 1700s: “They have a breed of noble dogs whose extraordinary sagacity often enables them to rescue the traveler. Though the perishing man lie 10 or even 20 feet beneath the snow, the delicacy of ...