Saint Bernard
Alpine hospice monks bred it to find travellers lost in snow, and it did, for centuries. The brandy barrel was invented by a Victorian painter and never existed.
Overview
The Saint Bernard was bred by monks at the hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass to find travellers lost in snow, and the breed has a documented record of doing it: Barry, working in the early 1800s, is credited with over forty rescues.
The brandy barrel is a Victorian painter's invention and was never used. Modern Saints are considerably larger than the working dogs were.
Temperament
Gentle, patient and famously tolerant. Saint Bernards are excellent with children, calm with strangers, and they are among the mildest of the giant breeds.
They are slow to mature and clumsy for two or three years, which in a dog this size is a management issue. They drool copiously, particularly the shorthaired variety. They are sensitive and want to be with their families.
Care and grooming
Both coat types need brushing two or three times a week and daily during the heavy moults. They shed enormously.
Hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, dilated cardiomyopathy, entropion and bone cancer all occur at significant rates. Degenerative myelopathy has a DNA test. Eight to ten years is the honest expectation.
Living and exercise
Forty five minutes to an hour a day of moderate exercise as an adult, and strictly limited while growing.
They overheat badly and need cool in summer. Everything about owning one is expensive, from food to medication to the vehicle, and the lifespan is the thing to go in knowing.
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