Dog

Il San Bernardo: Origin | Breeds | Characteristics| Fun Facts Health

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Published on 30th March 2021

Contents hide

4 Breeding and health

5 Supply

6 Care

Features

The Saint Bernard has a heart as big as his size. The kindness and love for children make it a perfect family dog in spite of its size, capable of making even those with children happy. He is a calm and balanced dog that rarely loses his temper. He is at the same time a sensitive dog who needs to have close contact with the humans around him. A life in a kennel would therefore be the cause of enormous suffering for him. The Saint Bernard is an excellent watchdog: always close to his master, responsible, attentive and protective, but not aggressive despite his size. On the other hand, who would like to clash with an adult Saint Bernard?

However, we must not underestimate how this strength can have repercussions in life together: in its being cuddly and lively it could endanger a small child. Constant training is required to keep his exaggerated strength in check. The Saint Bernard is also known for his stubbornness, but if raised with care, consistency and affection he will turn into a faithful life partner

Appearance

With a height at the withers that can reach up to 90 cm for males and a weight that can reach 80 kg, the Saint Bernard belongs to one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Females also amaze with a withers up to 80 cm. The large head and massive neck give the dog an imposing appearance, which can be a little intimidating, at least until he shows himself for the cuddly he is.

Today the Saint Bernard can have both long and short hair, similar to that of the ancestors of the breed. The coat in its long variant is smooth, thick and of medium length. Slight waves are allowed. This is also the most popular and popular variant. The color of the hair is white with reddish or brownish shades. White patches on the chest, legs, nose, throat and tip of the tail are preferable according to the standard. The white neck and a symmetrical black mask complete the image of the ideal Saint Bernard.

History

The history of San Bernardo is linked to the Hospice in the passage of Colle San Bernardo: legend has it that this was founded in 980 by the Augustinian monk Bernardo of Mentone. Mont Joux, the name of the then Colle San Bernardo, had become in those years one of the most important commercial and pilgrimage hubs in the Alps. From the 17th century onwards, the monks raised large dogs for protection and rescue. However, Saint Bernards are best known as avalanche dogs and have saved many lives over the years. The Saint Bernard gained worldwide notoriety with Barry, the dog who lived in the hospice from 1800 to 1812 and who saved 40 humans from avalanches.

Barry is said to have woken up a young boy in the snow by licking him and put him on his back to take him to the Hospice.

Less known than Barry is the history of the breed: while some experts find the ancestors of the Saint Bernard in the Roman Molosser, descended with Caesar’s legionaries in the Alps 2000 years ago, others believe that there is a relationship with the great dog of the Alps, known also as a shepherd dog. Still others claim that the Saint Bernard derives from the Asian Tibetan dog. All these theories have one sure point in common, namely that the Saint Bernard is closely linked to other dogues.

A further point concerns the fact that the past Saint Bernard, known as an avalanche dog, has only few similarities to the modern one. Neither size nor color match the Saint Bernard we know today. Furthermore, the size and long hair currently make this breed unsuitable for the function of avalanche dog and today it has been replaced by others. The short-haired Saint Bernard acquired its size and long hair as characteristics, presumably in the mid-19th century, when it began to be crossed with the Newfoundlands. Over time owning an avalanche dog has become a luxury, in fact the monks have begun to sell it or give it to high offices. Today it is the national dog of Switzerland, excellent for the family, or for the guard.

Breeding and health

Until 2005 this legendary breed was bred in the Hospice of Colle San Bernardo. Today the breeding is carried on by the Augustinians, following the lineage of Barry. Furthermore, starting from the 19th century, many admirers of the breed began to create San Bernardo farms, still inspired by the short-haired type of the Hospice.

Heinrich Schumacher, butcher and innkeeper from Hollingen, near Bern, was the initiator of the current St. Bernard breeding. In 1867 his two short-haired dogs Sultan and Favorite won the gold medal at the international exhibition in Paris. From then on, more and more professionals began to breed the long-haired type, prompting Schumacher to abandon his kennel. Those interested in adopting a St. Bernard dog and visitors to exhibitions prefer the modern type with a black face, thus contributing to the gradual disappearance of the short-haired St. Bernard of the Hospice. The Swiss standard, followed by all breeders who belong to the FCI St. Bernard club, however, indicates that both short-haired and long-haired types can be bred.

Thanks to the exchange of knowledge between the various San Bernardo clubs that belong to the FCI, it was possible to obtain robust and healthy specimens, very resistant to diseases. Although some hereditary diseases remain, such as hip dysplasia, which all large breed dogs suffer from, most of the diseases have fortunately been eliminated. The life expectancy of the Saint Bernard is around 10 years. For the St. Bernard, however, eye problems, salivary cysts, diabetes, stomach torsion and bone cancer can be found above all. To avoid the onset of these diseases, those interested in a Saint Bernard puppy should only contact serious breeders, who will be able to certify the health of the animals. The price for a puppy with all the documentation is around € 1000, taking into account all the checks, evaluations and vaccines with the costs associated with them.

Supply

Buying a purebred and healthy dog does not mean that you can stop having any kind of precautions. Therefore it is the owner’s responsibility to raise the puppy so that as an adult it remains healthy. The choice of food plays a fundamental role. This depends on some fundamental factors, such as age, health, weight and physical activity. For this reason it is not possible to give precise advice on the type of diet. To be sure, a specific feeding plan must be drawn up together with the breeder or veterinarian. Generally the

Care

It goes without saying that such a large dog can only be kept in a house with an adjacent garden, close to his family. Saint Bernards certainly cannot be kept in an apartment in the city. This breed also tends to lose a lot of saliva, so it will be necessary to get used to seeing traces of it on sofas, armchairs and clothes. Climbing stairs too often or a floor that is too smooth should be avoided to avoid muscle or joint problems. This should be remembered especially in the first phase of growth and in old age.

The Saint Bernard’s need for movement is quite moderate considering the size. The

Unlike training, care needs some extra attention: it should be brushed regularly, because of the

For animal lovers who have a lot of space, time and money (keeping a dog of this type is not cheap at all), the Saint Bernard is a safe, faithful and friendly companion, who will surprise his owner with his sensitivity and availability.