Breed of the Week: The Saint Bernard



http://www.pluspets.net/saint-bernard-wonderful-pet/

     Everyone has probably heard of the big dog named Beethoven. He is the large, cute, clumsy, and lovable dog on the big screen; but, it may surprise you that this dog was not bred to be a movie star.  According to http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/Breeds/st-bernard.html, the Saint Bernard is originally descended from ancient Roman Molassion war dogs and guided the soldiers on their invasion of the Alps.  Over time these dogs were crossed with the Swiss dog and walla! The Saint Bernard was created.  But, still not to be a movie star.  These dogs were used to haul heavy carts, herd and guard. One of the most important jobs of the Saint Bernard was to rescue people on the dangerous pass connecting Switzerland to Italy.  It even gets its name from the refuge on the mountain called the Hospice of the Great Saint Bernard Pass.  Saint Bernards have a wonderful sense of smell and could smell people stuck under many feet of snow.  These dogs are very talented and have saved many lives.  In the 19th century these dogs were shipped to countries in Europe and to the United States and that is when it became a family dog and eventually a movie star.
   These dogs are gigantic and can weigh anywhere from 110 to 200 pounds! They are very muscular, making them a very strong dog.  They have large heads with shorter and wider muzzles.  They usually have a big black nose and dark brown eyes. They have droopy ears, big paws, and a large thick tail.  They can have either a long or short coat that comes in variety of colors including white with, tan, red, mahogany, brindle, black or a mixture of these colors.
    The Saint Bernard makes a great family dog.  They are wonderful with children and are very gentle.  They do well with other pets and usually just ignore cats.  These dogs can be harder to train due to them being more independent so it is important to start training early because you don't want such a big dog forming bad habits.  Although they can be hard to train, housetraining usually is fast and easy which definitely is a plus.  These dogs are very loyal and will become protective of their families. They love being part of the family and will want to be included in all of the activities and to be close to you. These dogs do need both physical and mental exercise to keep them healthy and from getting bored, although they don't always want to exercise.  In order to make it fun for them it is important to include yourself in their exercise by either walking them or playing with them.  These dogs do shed a lot and do drool but you can minimize some of the shedding by brushing them often. The Saint Bernard is also sensitive to the heat, but do okay in the cold so it is important to be careful when they are out in the hot sun to make sure they don't get overheated.  Saint Bernards are fun, lovable, and even movie stars and will make a great addition to any family that will love a gigantic dog with a gigantic heart.

Info from:
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/saint-bernard.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/saintbernard.htm
http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/Breeds/st-bernard.html