Appearance
The Saint Bernard is a very large and strong dog and was bred originally from Italy and Switzerland. This breed is proportionally tall. The females could stand up to 26.6 to 28.5 inches, while the females could reach 25.5 to 27.5 inches. Their weight could go to 110 to 220 lbs for both male and female. Saint Bernards have an incredibly large head, a wrinkled forehead (which could have a dark mask) and a short muzzle. Its ears are either medium-sized and folded or high set and hang down. They have a very wide nose which causes their dark brown eyes to be widely set. The eyes are usually dark and have naturally tight lids. However, some variant of the breed do have icy blue and nearly white. Since the Saint Bernards were bred as rescue and working dogs, and with equally large paws, their toes are highly arched so that they can walk well in snow and ice. There are two varieties of Saint Bernard: (1) smooth-coated, with very dense, short hair, and (2) rough-coated, with medium-length, straight or slightly wavy hair. The coat is typically red color with white. In some cases, the coat is mahogany brindle with white. Oftentimes, black shading is found on the face and ears. The tail, which appears “bushy” and not forming a flag, is usually long. Its root has a longer and denser hair, gradually becoming shorter towards the tip.
History
Originally thought as descendants of the mastiff-styled dogs, the Saint Bernards were bred during the late 17th century by the monks at a hospice in the Alps between Italy and Switzerland as a cattle, guard, guide, and rescue dogs. The breed’s reputation became popular due to the stories of the numerous lives being saved, especially a dog named Barry who rescued more than 40 people in the early 1800s. Due to the breed’s heroic efforts, around 2,500 lives were saved while helping people pass the Alps. It is even said that a Saint Bernard saved a famous football club from bankruptcy. In modern times, the Saint Bernards are well known as a family companion and a show dog. They have even appeared in TV shows and in films. A number of clubs and organizations, such as the Saint Bernard Club of America and the American Kennel Club, have been established to promote health and welfare support of the breed.
