The
St. Bernard Dog is a very large breed of dog
originally bred for rescue and as a working dog. A full-grown
male can weigh between 160 and 240 lb (72.5 / 110+ kg) and the
approximate height is 27˝ inches to 35˝ inches (70 to 90 cm).
[1]
New England St. Bernard Club
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According to several resources they are one of the largest dog
breeds [2]. There
are two varieties of the breed: the short-haired or
smooth-coat variety and the long-haired or
rough-coat variety.
[3]
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Saint Bernard Quick Facts |
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| Weight: |
160-240+ lb |
| Height: |
27.5-35.5 in |
| Coat: |
Smooth coat or Rough coat |
| Activity level: |
Medium |
| Learning rate: |
Medium |
| Temperament: |
friendly, loyal, loving |
| Guard dog ability: |
Medium |
| Watch-dog ability: |
High |
| Litter size: |
2-14 |
| Life span: |
8-11 years |
Health
The very fast growth rate and the weight of a St. Bernard can
lead to very serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does
not get proper food and exercise. Many dogs are affected by hip
dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) has
been shown to be hereditary in the breed.[4]
St. Bernards are susceptible to eye disorders called
entropion and ectropion. The FCI standard indicates that this is
now a major fault. The breed is also susceptible to epilepsy and
seizures, a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, and
eczema.
The average life span of a St. Bernard is about 8 years, and
some insurance companies will not issue a life insurance beyond
8 years.
History
The ancestors of the St. Bernard are the herding dogs of
Swiss farmers like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, as well as
hunting dogs and watchdogs. Their history has also been
connected with the hospice at the Great St. Bernard Pass. First
reports of the dogs' presence at the pass date to the 17th
century, and they remained loyal companions to the monks there.
The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass was
Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who reportedly saved somewhere
between 40 and 100 lives. There is a monument to Barry in the
Cimetiere des Chiens, and his body was preserved in the Natural
History Museum in Berne.[5]
The classic St. Bernard looked very different from the St.
Bernard of today, because an avalanche killed off many of the
dogs used for breeding.
To further the breed, they crossed the remaining dogs with other
dogs, but in the process lost much of their use as rescue dogs.
The St. Bernard is among the heaviest and largest dog breeds in
the world. The world's heaviest and largest dog in known history
was a Saint Bernard named Benedictine, which weighed 152.5kg
(336 lbs).[6]
Successive studies suggest that Benedictine was in fact 162 kg
(357 lbs).[7]
Naming
The name "St. Bernard" originates from a traveller's hospice
on the often treacherous St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps
between Switzerland and Italy, where the name was passed to the
local dogs. The pass, the lodge, and the dogs are named for
Bernard of Menthon, the 11th century monk who established the
station.[8]
"St. Bernard" was in widespread use until the middle of the
19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds",
"Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before, and in parts of North
America, they're still called "Saints".
In media
St. Bernards are often portrayed, especially in comics,
cartoons and old live action comedies such as Swiss Miss,
with small barrels of brandy worn around their necks. This was
supposedly used to warm the victims that the dogs found.
However, the monks of the St. Bernard Hospice deny that any St.
Bernard has ever carried casks or small barrels around their
necks; they believe that the origin of the image is an early
painting. The monks did keep casks around for photographs by
tourists.[6]
It should also be noted that brandy would kill a person
suffering hypothermia.
One magazine cartoon showed a grown St. Bernard, presumably
female, with several puppies; she and each puppy had a cask
around the neck. The man with the dogs told a visitor, according
to the caption, "Of course, I only breed them for the brandy."
Movies
- In 1977, Wonderful World of Disney played a TV movie
about St. Bernard rescue dogs, Barry of the Great St.
Bernard.Part 2 was made in 1985.
- A St. Bernard is also the title dog of the Beethoven
film series.
- Cujo is a 1983 film, based on the novel by
Stephen King, about a rabid St. Bernard terrorizing a mother
and child trapped in a broken-down car.
- A St. Bernard has a brief appearace near the end of
1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, where it comes to
the aid of James Bond.
Famous St. Bernard
- Bolivar, Donald Duck's pet
- Unnamed St. Bernard whom Stan Laurel tricks of his keg
of brandy in Swiss Miss
- Cujo, a fictional portrayal of a rabid St. Bernard by
Stephen King
- Nanna, from various Peter Pan movies (but originally a
Newfoundland in the text)
- Buck's father, from Jack London's The Call of the Wild
- Gumbo, team mascot for the New Orleans Saints
- Neil, the martini-slurping St. Bernard of George and
Marion Kerby in Topper (TV series)
- Beethoven, the movie Beethoven
- Bamse, a Norwegian dog honoured for exploits during
World War II memorial statue in Montrose Scotland where he
died in 1944
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