Getting to Know the St Bernard

The St. Bernard also known as Alpine Mastiff, Bernhardiner, Noble Steeds, Barry Dogs, Saint Dogs, or just plain Saint originated from the Swiss Valley specifically in the St. Bernard Pass part of the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy. According to history, this breed was trained by Hospice monks to locate lost travelers during winter season. Aside from being rescue dogs, they also served as watch and companion dogs for the monks. Four St. Bernard is enough to make one rescue team. Whenever they found a traveler or a body, three of them keep the person warm while the other one returns home to get more help.

It is for this deed that they have saved a lot of travelers. In fact, Barry the most famous St. Bernard was erected a monument at his honor at the Cemetery of Dogs in France and his body was preserved in the Natural History Museum of Bern, Switzerland as a tribute for saving about 40 to 100 people. The St. Bernard was considered as a large dog breed weighing somewhere between 160 to 240 pounds or 73 to 110 kilograms, although there was one which reached a weight of 357 pounds or 163 kilograms. This dog was named Benedictine which was recorded as the largest and heaviest dog in the world.

The Saints reaches up to 35 and a half inches or 90 centimeters. Its fur has two types: short and smooth coat and long and rough coat. Their body is usually white with golden or dark brown patches on its back and head. The St. Bernard despite its huge size which can serve as deterrent to intruders has a very gentle personality and can mingle well with children which make it a great candidate as a family and watch dog rolled into one. It is also very loyal to its owner however proper dog training when it is still a pup is advisable to avoid any behavioral problems associated with large canine breeds.

Due to its large body health problems such as bone leg deterioration is apparent if they are not provided with the nutrition just right for them. Other diseases common with this breed is hip or elbow dysplasia, eye disorders, heart disease, seizures, epilepsy, and bone cancer which is hereditary to them. So if you are planning to adopt a St. Bernard, make sure you have that extra large space in your family and extra large allocation of your budget to keep it healthy and happy. If you would remember Beethoven in the movie of the same title you would recall its very homely nature and its good relationship with the children.

Actually the St. Bernard has a very obedient and intelligent character so it could go along with any member of the family. Today many people would associate the breed with casks filled with alcoholic drink tied around their necks. St. Bernard Hospice's monks deny it stating that the idea originated from old paintings. But some state that the dogs really did carry casks because alcohol was used to warm the lost travelers they rescued. Whether they carry alcohol or not their image as rescue dogs would remain to be their greatest help to mankind.