 Saint
Bernard
Description:
The Saint Bernard, often referred to simply
as the Saint and best known as the gentle giant,
has been bred in Switzerland since the 17th century.
This Swiss breed is named after St. Bernard of
Menthon, who lived from 996 to 1081, and who founded
the Hospice at the pass between Italy and Switzerland.
For the past several hundred years, the St. Bernard
dogs have lived at the Hospice and helped the
monks search for and aid lost travelers. The powerful
breed was also used in local villages to pull
carts of food and supplies. By the mid to late
1800s, the breed was internationally recognized
and its popularity began to spread. While the
St. Bernard enjoys a cold, snowy winter, they
are also well-adapted to warmer climates. The
Saint should have daily exercise and plenty of
room.
Height:
Males must measure 28" (71 cm) or
more; females must measure 26" (66 cm) or
more.
Weight: 160
- 200 lbs (71.4 - 71.4 kg) for dogs, 130 - 160
lbs (58 - 58 kg) for bitches
Coat Type: Shorthaired
and longhaired; the original St. Bernard was a
shorthaired dog. The rough coat or longhaired
dog emerged in the early 1800s. Coloring is generally
tan or red markings on tail, back and head, with
white required on underbelly, legs, chest, neck,
tail-tip and muzzle; the mask on the face is desirable
but not required; half-mask or no-mask dogs are
not faulty. The longer coat requires more grooming
than the shorter coat, to avoid matting.
Temperament:
The Saint Bernard is a gentle, loyal dog with
a sweet disposition. Although strong and powerful,
they are generally calm and not overly zealous
at play. Saints are excellent with children, but
as with all giant breeds, should be supervised
at play, and should have their training started
early as a puppy.
Health Problems:
Hip dysplasia, short life-expectancy (seven to
nine years), entropion. Because of its deep chest
cavity, the Saint Bernard is at risk for gastric
torsion (bloat). Epilepsy is highly suspected
to have a genetic component in this breed.
Special Interest: Monks at the Hospice du grand
St. Bernard used the dogs to rescue more than
2500 travelers lost in the snowy Alps.
Myth Debunked:
The Saint Bernard did not carry a brandy flask
around its neck when it went out on rescue work;
this idea came into being when Landseer, the artist,
painted a Saint Bernard with a brandy cask around
its neck. The Saint Bernard is listed in the Guinness
Book of Records as being the heaviest breed in
general (tied with the Mastiff). A Saint Bernard
is also listed for the largest litter, with 23
pups (in a tie with a Great Dane and an American
Foxhound); however the American Foxhound is considered
to hold the record since all 23 of its pups survived.
Classifications:
AKC: Group 3 - Working Dogs
CKC: Group 3 - Working Dogs
KC: Non-Sporting - Working Group
FCI: Group 2
ANKC: Group 6 - Utility
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