Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard, working dog credited with saving hundreds of lives in centuries of service as a pathfinder and rescue dog. The breed is named after Saint Bernard, 11th-century Catholic archdeacon of the Aosta diocese (northwestern Italy on the border with Switzerland) and a patron saint of hospices at the summits of two Alpine mountain passes, which were later named the Great and Little St. Bernard passes; the passes are located in the Pennine Alps, a segment of the central Alps along the Italian-Swiss border.
Bernard created his famed hospice and hostels to assist lost and troubled travelers (many of them French and German pilgrims on their way to Rome) trekking through the treacherous, snow-packed, avalanche-prone, and bandit-riddled mountains. Monks at the hospice developed the breed in the 16th and 17th centuries, breeding them first as guard dogs and later as rescue dogs. The breed likely descended from mastifflike dogs that were introduced from Asia to Europe by the ancient Romans, who used them (such as the ferocious and now extinct Asian Molossus) in their armies. The most famous of the hospice dogs was Barry, who between 1800 and 1814 reportedly saved some 40 lives, giving rise to the old Swiss nickname for Saint Bernards, the “Barryhund.” Saint Bernards have also been employed as cattle, draft, and guard dogs.
- Also called: Saint
- Area of origin: Southwestern Pennine Alps of Switzerland
- Breed group: Working
- Height at withers: 26–30 inches (66–76 cm)
- Weight: 120–180 pounds (54–82 kg)
- Life span: 8-10 years
- Did you know?: The breed’s role as a “nanny dog” has often been depicted in films, most notably in the Beethoven franchise and in Walt Disney’s animated Peter Pan (1953), in which a Saint named Nana serves as the nursemaid to the Darling children. However, horror novelist Stephen King went against type in casting the normally gentle Saint Bernard as a rabid killer in Cujo, which was adapted into a successful film in 1983.
Contrary to popular belief, Saint Bernards did not carry casks of brandy during their missions to rescue lost travelers. This myth originated from the painting Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler (1820) by 18-year-old British artist Edwin Landseer. The artwork depicts an unconscious avalanche victim with two Saints, one of which has a brandy cask hanging from its collar. The artist’s invention of this playful detail may have been inspired by the fact that monks were familiar with the effect of alcohol on those suffering from hypothermia.
The Saint Bernard is a powerfully built, muscular dog with a massive head and drooping ears. Its coat is red-brown and white or brindle and white and may be either short and dense or medium-long. The long-haired variety of Saint Bernard was produced by crosses with the Newfoundland dog in the early 19th century.
Care and upkeep
The Saint Bernard’s size makes upkeep challenging. It requires ample space inside the house and a large vehicle in which to travel. While the dog often prefers a hard cold surface, it can form callouses easily, so it should have the option of a very soft bed with good support. Owners should have an emergency stretcher or another means in place for moving an incapacitated dog of this size. Everything costs more with a giant breed, including food, drugs, surgeries, boarding, and bedding.
Saints are not a good choice for fastidious housekeepers, because the breed is prone to excessive drool, resulting in saliva on the floor, clothing, furniture, and sometimes even walls. In addition, the hotter the temperature, the more Saints drool. Saints of either coat type are not comfortable in warm weather, and overheating is a real concern for the breed. Air-conditioned living quarters are a necessity. When transporting Saints in warm weather, vehicles must be air-conditioned, and ice packs should be on hand in case the air-conditioning fails.
Although not excessively active, the Saint Bernard still needs about an hour of interactive playing or walking each day. However, exercise does not have to be strenuous and should not occur in warm weather. The breed enjoys games of tug, swimming, nose work, and trick training.
Coat care is minimal, consisting of weekly brushing and occasional bathing. However, daily brushing is recommended during the two shedding seasons (spring and fall). Bathing of the forechest and forelimbs may be needed more often if the dog drools on itself. Many owners have their Saint wear a bib to catch saliva.
The breed is not long-lived, averaging only 8–10 years of age. It is subject to gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate (and often costly) veterinary intervention. Many owners elect to have the stomach surgically attached to the abdominal wall to prevent the condition. Saints are also prone to eyelid problems and to a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. As with all large breeds, Saint puppies should eat a large-breed puppy food that slows the rate of growth, which has been shown to lower the risk of hip dysplasia.
Temperament
Calm and easygoing, the Saint Bernard is a low-energy dog and a slow mover. It learns quickly but tends to respond methodically. The Saint is very affectionate and demonstrative toward family and fairly friendly toward strangers. It is generally good with other household pets, canine or feline, but it may not interact well with unfamiliar dogs. Playtime tends to be short in duration once it reaches adulthood. The Saint is not a great watchdog or protection dog, but its sheer size and deep bark are enough to intimidate most intruders. It does not bark without reason. Although its temperament makes the dog an excellent choice for people of all ages, its size and strength tend to make it too difficult for children or seniors to manage. Low energy level and limited heat tolerance make the dog a poor choice as a hiking or jogging companion except in very cold climates. Saints love the snow.
These are well established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs may differ in behavior and temperament.
