BREED

The Saint Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the molosser breeds. The Molossus were dogs that were kept by the ancient Greek tribe and kingdom of the Molossians, who inhabited the region of Epirus.

Molossians kept two distinct types of dogs, one a hunting dog with a broad muzzle which resembled something in between a Great Dane and a heavily built Saluki, the other a large livestock guardian dog.

Aristotle in his History of Animals wrote "In the Molossian race of dogs, those employed in hunting differ in no respect from other dogs; while those employed in following sheep are larger and more fierce in their attack on wild beasts.

Aristotle’s pupil, Alexander the Great, discovered some giant dogs in Asia that impressed him so much that he sent some home; as the son of a Molossi princess these dogs became associated with his mother's people and it is thought that it was from these dogs that all mastiffs descend.

The Saint Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland. They were originally bred for rescue work by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass on the Italian-Swiss border. The hospice, built by and named after Italian monk Bernard of Menthon, acquired its first dogs between 1660 and 1670.

"Saint Bernard" was not in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called “Alpine Mastiffs”, "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds", or "Barry Dogs" before that time.

The modern Saint Bernard is radically different from the original dogs kept at the Great Saint Bernard Hospice, most notably by being much larger in size and build.

Since the late 1800s, the Saint Bernard breed has been ever refined, using many different large molosser-type breeds, including the Newfoundland, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Dane, English Mastiff and possibly the Tibetan Mastiff and Caucasian Shepherd Dog.

It is suspected that many of these large breeds were used to redevelop each other to combat the threat of their extinction after World War II, which may explain why all of them played a part in the creation of the St. Bernard as it is seen today.

The four Swiss mountain dog breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, are similar in appearance to the St. Bernard and share the same location of origin and history, but are tri-color (black, tan and white) rather than red and white or mahogany brindle and white, as the Saint Bernard is.

The very fast growth rate and the weight of a Saint Bernard can lead to very serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does not get proper food and exercise.

Many dogs are genetically affected by hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) has been shown to be hereditary in the breed. They are susceptible to eye disorders called entropion and ectropion, in which the eyelid turns in or out. The breed is also susceptible to epilepsy and seizures, a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, and eczema.

U.S. and U.K. breed clubs put the average lifespan for a Saint Bernard at 8–10 years.

Known as a classic example of a gentle giant, the Saint Bernard is calm, patient and sweet with adults, and especially children. However Saint Bernards, like all very large dogs, must be well socialized with people and other dogs in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression or territoriality. The biggest threat to small children is being accidentally knocked over by this breed's larger size.

While generally not instinctively protective, a Saint Bernard may bark at strangers, and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders.

The Saint Bernard was bred to be a working companion and to this day the Saint Bernard lives to please its master and is an amiable yet hard worker. Saint Bernards have retained their natural ability for scent work and depending on the skill of the trainer and the talents of the dog, Saint Bernards can participate in tracking events or even become involved in search and rescue work. Their molloser origins give them a natural affinity for guardianship of livestock, and like all mastiffs, they prefer to live in close proximity to their owners.