The history of the origin of St. Bernard, the external appearance of the dog, the nature of the animal and its health, care and nuances of training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. How many rocks on the planet, as many countries, cities, regions, islands. In France - the dogs of Saint Hubert, in Italy - the dogs of Saint Rocca. Today we will be transported to the border of Switzerland and Italy, to the monastery of St. Bernard and our story will be about one of the most famous dogs in the world. She not only has a good disposition, but also saves human lives. It is only sad that such good-natured creatures do not live very long.
The history of the origin of the St. Bernard breed
The Saint Bernard Pass is the oldest and once the only route connecting Central Europe with Rome. It was the Roman emperor Augustus who ordered the pavement of a road through this passage. He also built here the temple of Jupiter - the patron saint of travelers and founded a small shelter with him. A thousand years passed, the temple of Jupiter collapsed. In the 10th century, when Europe was already Christian, a gang of Saracen robbers settled on its ruins. They robbed and killed peaceful travelers and ministers of Christ.
In the XI century, local residents, under the leadership of the bishop from Aosta - Bernard de Menton, expelled the villains from there. In 1050, the archdeacon founded a monastery here with a shelter. There are no keyholes in the doors of the building, since they must always be open here. Saint Bernard bequeathed to the brothers of the monastery to give shelter to anyone who needs it, as if Christ himself crosses the threshold of the monastery.
They say that at first, this shelter was more like a hut, but Bernard's parents, Baron and Baroness de Menton, having visited it, donated a significant part of their fortune for the further construction of this building. Archdeacon Bernard de Menton died at the age of eighty-five, and a hundred years later was canonized as Saint Bernard. The shelter, the pass, and after many centuries the dog, whose main vocation was to save human lives, was named after him.
In these places, St. Bernards are the main attraction. And as soon as these dogs were not called at first: Barry Hound, Swiss diver, but then, it was decided to call them St. Bernards, because these dogs for all inhabitants of the Earth became the embodiment of kindness - maybe the very kindness that was in St. Bernard.
Some unearthly energy emanates from the St. Bernards. Nobody knows how they originated, where they came from and how they appeared in this monastery. I must say that the first representatives of the species were completely different from the modern ones, and, in general, to none of the then existing dog breeds - as if they really came down from the sky. In the 18th century, here, in the monastery of St. Bernard, a short-haired monastic, or as it is also called "shelter" type of St. Bernard, developed.
The indigenous representatives of the breed cannot be surprised by the harsh weather, but in 1830 there was a very severe winter here and then, from cold and hunger, almost all individuals died. Soon, it was decided to add Newfoundland blood to the surviving dogs in order to somehow support the variety. Two males were brought here, which were crossed with local females. In principle, in this way, the species was preserved.
Now, to see a female St. Bernard in the monastery, and even with puppies, is almost impossible. Usually pets are brought here only for the summer, and even then, mostly males. Such an event is rare because living conditions are difficult here: mountain blizzard, sudden temperature changes, fog and rain, as well as severe winters. The age of the monks who serve in the monastery of St. Bernard should not exceed thirty years, and they are selected, first of all, for the strength of their physical health. The demonic nature of the surrounding world and the warm space of the temple create dissonance perceptible for visitors.
Rudolph Thoman is the President of the Barry Foundation, an extraordinary person for whom the robot has become a real calling. Almost ten years ago, the abbot of the monastery of St. Bernard announced that the St. Bernard nursery, which had existed for four hundred years, would be closed. Keeping dogs was very expensive and the monks had literally nothing to feed the dogs. At the beginning of 2005, a charity foundation was organized by the Swiss club of St. Bernards, which was named "Barry". The main task of the foundation is to preserve the wonderful breed.
Today the monastery of St. Bernard is a real living museum. Here you can see photographs of one of the most famous St. Bernards of the Pass - Barrie. That legendary dog was not very tall, by today's standards, his head was not quite pedigree, and his weight was only forty-five kilograms.
Probably, there is no person who would love large dogs and have never heard of the famous St. Bernard. A plaque on Barry's monument, at the dog cemetery in Paris, reads: "He saved forty people … But he was killed trying to save the forty-first." It is said that a French soldier caught in an avalanche mistook Barry for a wolf and mortally wounded him with a bayonet, but the legend of his death is not true. After twelve years of service, Barry was taken to a Bernese monk, where he lived peacefully for the rest of his life and died peacefully at the age of fourteen. Many stories and books have been written about him, and even several films have been shot.
In the town of Mortigny, there is a building that once belonged to the Swiss army. Later it was redeemed as unnecessary and a museum was opened here called the St. Bernard Museum. The museum contains all the things and objects on which, for some unknown reason, there was an image of these dogs. Under him, a nursery was organized in which the St. Bernards winter, and only in May they are sent to the monastery - for the entire summer period. In this museum, anyone can take pictures with dogs, play and chat with an animal.
St. Bernard rescuer, in order to find a person and save his life, managed to overcome the highest snowdrifts and difficult obstacles. A dog who found a traveler in the snow had to lick him in the face in order to immediately demonstrate his good intentions. In the monastery of St. Bernard, they say that this is how every monk who devoted his life to serving God should give himself up to the suffering.
Times have changed and in the modern world, with the help of a helicopter, it is much easier to save a person in the mountains. But the St. Bernards did not remain idle, now they treat people, and especially those with mental disorders. Monks say that today these dogs help people find common ground with each other.
There is a myth about a barrel of rum hanging around the neck of the St. Bernard. It turns out there was no barrel or rum. Firstly, it is strictly forbidden to give alcoholic drinks to frozen people - this can lead to cardiac arrest. Secondly, the smell of alcohol instantly knocks out the flair of rescue dogs. And thirdly, the barrel was never attached to the dog's neck, because with such a load it would not have been able to pave its way in deep snow. On the backs of the dogs, only a chest with provisions for the victim was placed. It contained only bread, cheese and milk, but warming drinks were given to the rescued only after a few days, and even then, not rum at all, but herbal tinctures.
Description of the appearance of the dog St. Bernard
St. Bernard is a large dog with a majestic appearance, strong constitution and calm, kind disposition. The average height of males at the withers is from 70 cm to 90 cm, and of females from 65 cm to 80 cm. The weight range ranges from 50-90 kg (according to the international canine standard, the weight of a dog must be at least 70 kg).
- Head massive. The skull is strong, wide in profile. The cheekbones are high and well developed. The brows are pronounced. Above the eyes, the skin of the forehead forms folds. The stop is clearly arched.
- Muzzle short, blunt wedge-shaped. The flews are strongly developed, drooping. The lips are fleshy, with a black border. Scissor bite. The jaws are strong, with a full dentition.
- Nose. The nose is large, slightly upturned, black. The nostrils are wide open.
- Eyes the St. Bernard is medium in size, dark brown or hazel in color, shallow planting. The eyelids are tight. The edges of the eyelid hang down, exposing the conjunctiva.
- Ears hanging, set on high, of medium size. The shape is triangular with a rounded edge. Their front part is adjacent to the cheek.
- Neck strong, of medium length, with a developed dewlap.
- Frame massive, muscular. The topline is straight, the withers are well developed. The back is massive, strong, the waist is wide. The chest is deep, with pronounced ribs. The bottom line is smooth, slightly pulled up to the groin.
- Tail St. Bernard broad at the base, long and strong.
- Front limbs - set wide, straight. The elbows are close to the body. The brushes are massive, straight. The pasterns are straight. The hind ones are parallel to each other. The thighs are strong and well muscled. The legs are long. The hocks are strong. The brushes are straight.
- Paws rounded, wide, with tightly spaced toes and dense pads.
- Coat dense, soft and shiny, with a strongly developed undercoat. The guard hair is straight, except for the hips and tail, where it curls slightly. Feathering on the forelegs, the pants are moderately developed. On the muzzle and ears, the hair is short.
- Color the main color is white, with red or reddish-brown spots, or a cloak covering the back and torso. It is desirable to have a symmetrical chocolate brown mask on the head. The presence of white markings on the chest, end of the tail and muzzle is mandatory, with the transition of a narrow white line to the feet. Also required are white "gloves" on the paws and a white "collar".
Features of the character of St. Bernard
These dogs transform people into small children. They are like a "laugh" from childhood that gets into your mouth and makes you laugh continuously for no reason. Maybe the mysterious attraction of the St. Bernards lies precisely in the fact that next to them adults turn into carefree children who trust the whole world. And what can we say about puppies - little St. Bernards are simply accumulations of positive energy and generators of wonderful mood.
They say that these dogs can be trained to guard the premises or some area. Due to its excellent mental abilities, the dog really grasps the lessons taught on the fly. But, all attempts to make a guard out of St. Bernard led to the fact that the dog had a nervous breakdown, because he is very kind in nature.
This type of canine is distinguished by patience and humility, calm temperament and poise. St. Bernard quickly becomes attached to the family and owner. He is quick-witted and easy to learn. A loyal, flexible and obedient companion dog will become your loyal friend for years to come.
Saint Bernard breed health
Like many other large dogs, St. Bernards do not have a long life - on average, no more than 10 years. Most of the diseases of the breed are genetically inherent or associated with its improper breeding.
The first type of diseases from which St. Bernard suffers is lesions of the musculoskeletal system. The large weight of the representatives of the breed exerts a huge load on the joints, which results in: dysplasia of the hip joints, destruction of cartilage with the development of osteoarthritis. Among the serious genetic diseases, bone cancer and Wobbler's syndrome should be distinguished, the main symptoms of which are impaired coordination and normal robots of the forelegs.
Eye problems are common in St. Bernards. The most common of these is the volvulus of the eyelid, which is accompanied by purulent discharge and redness. This is a rather sedentary breed. With improper and unbalanced feeding, they experience: bloating, metabolic disorders and, as a result, obesity.
Recommendations for caring for St. Bernard
These dogs need daily careful grooming.
- Wool wash as it gets dirty. Pets love to comb out - they like it. Manipulation during the molting period should be carried out more often, with the help of a slicker.
- Ears systematically wipe with sponges soaked in a special lotion.
- Eyes St. Bernard, due to their specific structure, require daily attention.
- Teeth cleaned regularly with special products.
- Claws cut with a nail cutter or file with a file.
- Feeding these dogs should not exceed the norm, since excess weight is very bad for the health of large breeds. Whatever it is, the pet should receive it at the same time. Ready-made food provides a balance of all nutrients, vitamins and minerals for the body. Natural feeding requires these supplements to be added separately.
- Walking St. Bernard, although they are passive, should be at least twice a day, lasting an hour.
Training about St. Bernard
In the nursery of St. Bernard, these animals are not only raised, but also trained. Talented trainers work here, who teach dogs to different teams. Training lessons are held regularly and consist of a variety of exercises performed by the dog. For their correct implementation, he receives a reward - a delicacy.
The essence of one of the exercises is as follows: a piece of goodies is put in the box, the St. Bernard rotates the drum with its nose, in which there is a depression - there is a latch under it. In order to get food, he needs to pull this latch and pull out the cell with the "reward". In a number of other tasks, you do not need to pull the latch, but press the lever, and the dog should not confuse what to do in a given situation with this or that projectile. There are simulators where you need to press down on the lever with your paw.
On the one hand, St. Bernards are very large dogs, the so-called late growing up, on the other hand, they very quickly, oddly enough, understand what is needed from them and how to do it. An approach to these dogs can be found if one treats them with affection and love.
Interesting facts about St. Bernard
Once upon a time, the road to the St. Bernard Pass in the fall was marked with poles, which in winter slightly peeped out from under the snow. Today the monastery and the pass can be reached very easily, and not only by car. There is also a more convenient way - take the Saint Bernard Express and get to the tiny town of Orsier, and from there take a bus to the heart of these mountains - to the monastery.
The Monastery of Saint Bernard is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. So, about the St. Bernard, we can say that this is a real border dog.
Purchasing a St. Bernard puppy
In order to buy a healthy St. Bernard puppy, you need to find serious breeders. These people conduct a thorough survey of their manufacturers. They take X-rays of dogs to reveal the presence of bone defects, which is so important for large breeds. Sick animals are discarded and not allowed for breeding, which thereby reduces the risk of giving birth to carousing with genetic diseases.
The puppies undergo routine vaccinations and antiparasitic procedures at specialists. Their nutrition and vitamin supplements are age appropriate, which contributes to the correct development of a young body.
When purchasing a St. Bernard, you must remember that these are large dogs and they do not live long. To keep them healthy and vigorous, you need to properly and carefully look after them. Having bought a puppy in such a "establishment", you can always turn to the breeder for practical advice. The price of a puppy will directly depend on your preferences: breeding, participation in exhibitions, a friend for the soul or for work purposes. The cost ranges from $ 400 to $ 1000.
For more information on the Saint Bernard breed, see this video:
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