Saint Bernard

The St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog that originated from the Swiss and Italian Alps. Originally bred as a rescue dog, they have been made famous by tales of their gargantuan size and Alps rescue mission abilities.

However, just like with other very large dogs, they must be trained to be sociable with strangers and other dogs during their infancy in order to prevent aggressive territorial behavior.

The St. Bernard is a giant dog. The weight of the breed is between 65 and 120 kg (140 and 260 lb) or more, and the approximate height at the withers is 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in).

The coat can be either smooth or rough; the smooth coat being close and flat while the rough is dense, flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The colour is typically a red shade with white, or a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears.

The tail is long and heavy, hanging low.

Eyes are usually brown, but sometimes can be icy blue, and should have naturally tight lids, with haws only slightly visible.

HISTORY

The ancestors of the St. Bernard share a history with the Sennenhunds. The St. Bernard, also called Alpine Mountain Dogs or Alpine Cattle Dogs, are the large farm dogs of the farmers and dairymen of most notably the French Alps, livestock guardians, herding dogs, and draft dogs as well as hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs, and watchdogs. These dogs are thought to be descendants of molosser type dogs brought into the Alps by the ancient Romans, and the St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the Molossoid breeds.