Saint Bernard – Gentle Family Friend

Swiss St. Bernards are among the most well-known dog breeds in Europe and the United States. Known as rescue dogs, the gentle stubborn ones are often depicted with a distinctive brandy keg around their necks. They have been popular as family dogs since the 1990s, not least due to the portrayal of a St. Bernard in the family film A Dog Called Beethoven.

External Features of St. Bernard – Not Quite the St. Bernhard’s Hound of Yore

Early forms of St. Bernard were strong and hardworking – today, representatives of the breed often appear phlegmatic and sluggish due to overbred characteristics. The skin is very loose and hangs down significantly on the face. The drooping eyelids sometimes make adult animals look a bit tired. Ideally, they should appear attentive and impressed with their size and strength.

Size and varieties

• With the short-haired St. Bernard, the strong muscles and the loose skin on the neck are clearly visible. Long-haired St. Bernards appear a bit bulkier.
• Males should not be less than 70 cm at the withers. The normal size reaches up to a height of 90 cm at the withers, larger dogs are also allowed inbreeding. The ideal weight is between 64 and 82 kilograms but is not specified by the FCI.
• Bitches are slightly smaller than males with a minimum height of 65 cm at the withers. They grow up to 80 cm tall and weigh between 54 and 64 kilograms.

The Saint from head to tail: Easily spotted Molosser

• The broad and large skull is slightly arched, with strongly developed eyebrows and a prominent stop. A clearly pronounced forehead furrow can be seen in both the short-haired and the long-haired Saint Bernard. Overall, the length of the head should measure a little more than 1/3 of the height at the withers.
• The muzzle is deep and wide, ending in a broad, black, square-shaped nose. A visible groove forms on the bridge of the nose. It takes up a little more than 1/3 of the total length of the head. The lips are well developed, but should not hang too much over the corners of the mouth.
• A so-called kink on both eyelids is accepted. They don’t lie tightly in adult dogs but hang slightly. The eye color is dark brown to hazel.
• Strongly developed ear cups with a wide base give the rounded floppy ears support. The ear lobes are supple and reach down to the cheeks.
• The strong neck goes into a well-developed withers. Physically, the dogs are imposing giants with broad backs and well-sprung ribs. Barrel-shaped and deep ribs are not desirable. The backline is straight and smoothly merges into the base of the tail, without a sloping croup.
• Muscular shoulder blades lie flat. Forelegs stand straight and have strong bones. The knees are well bent and the thighs appear very strong. They have broad paws in front and behind with well-arched toes.
• On the strong and long tail, a medium-length hairbrush forms in both hair types. It is usually carried hanging down for a long time but erected when excited.

Hair types and typical coloring of the St. Bernhardshund

The topcoat of the short-haired St. Bernard is dense and smooth. Plenty of undercoats grows under the rigid top coat. Pants form on the backs of the hind legs. Long-haired St. Bernhards carry a bushy tail and feathering on the fore and hind legs. On the body, the top hair grows in medium length.

Clearly recognizable by the color

• The base color is always white and the plates should be red. Clear to dark red, brindle reddish-brown, and reddish yellow are acceptable tones. Dark shades stand out on the head.
• White markings should extend across the chest, the tip of the tail, paws, noseband, blaze, and patch on the poll. A white-collar is also desirable but not a must.
• Black masks on the face are tolerated provided the muzzle is white.

Typical fur markings

• Plate markings: Large red spots on the body with the above-mentioned white markings.
• Coat markings: The red area extends over the shoulders like a coat, while the neck remains white.
• Torn Mantle: The mantle plate is not entirely continuous.

The Monk Dog from the Swiss Alps

The ancestors of today’s mountain dogs and St. Bernards lived in Switzerland more than 1000 years ago. After monks established the Great St. Bernard Hospice in the 11th century to provide shelter thousands of feet high for pilgrims crossing the Alps, they crossed Roman Molossers and indigenous Alpine dogs to create a powerful avalanche rescuer capable of the defies tough conditions in the mountains. At first, St. Bernard-like dogs came in many different colors.

A snow rescue veteran

Saint Bernard as it is known today originated in the Swiss St. Bernhard Hospice in the 17th century. Until the beginning of the 21st century, it was only bred there. Thousands of injured travelers have been rescued by dogs of the breed over time. That they carried kegs of alcohol around their necks is a myth that arose from artistic depictions of dogs with kegs.

Barry the rescuer

In addition to the film dog “Beethoven” Barry, the rescuer is a famous representative of the breed. In his brief service at the beginning of the 19th century, the male dog saved the lives of 40 people. According to legend, he was accidentally killed on duty when he was rescuing a soldier who had been buried in snow and was mistaken for a wolf. In fact, he was sent into his well-deserved retirement on a farm.

The Nature of St. Bernard – A Gentle Philanthropist

In the 90s film classic A Dog Named Beethoven, it is shown in a lovable way how much work and loves a St. Bernard means in the house. Beethoven is irresistible and playful as a puppy, as an adult, he becomes a loving drooler. The uncleanliness portrayed in the film is not exaggerated – St. Bernhards drool a lot and do not value order and cleanliness. The quiet giants have many talents but don’t necessarily want to live like classic working dogs.