The Saint Bernard is a mastifflike breed of working dog known for its courageous and determined search-and-rescue work in the Swiss Alps.
The hardy breed was originated by the monks of the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard in the St. Gotthard's Pass to move through snow and rescue trapped people. The hospice was named after St Bernard of Montjoux, the patron saint of skiers.
One St. Bernard dog called Barry, reportedly saved more than 40 people before his death in the early 1800s. Like all St. Bernards on rescue missions, Barry would clear away snow from the victims if it was not too deep, lie on top of the person to warm him, and bark to summon the monks. Once, Barry even pulled a boy off an icy ledge.
In honor of the exploits of this brave dog the monks gave the name Barry to the best of each new litter.
St. Bernards have never carried small casks of brandy around their necks on rescues, as popularly believed. The myth of this quaint symbol was perpetuated by artist Edwin Landseer in his famous 1820 portrait of the breed reviving a traveler.
"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time.
The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basel on March 15, 1884. The breed standard was approved in 1888 and since then, the St. Bernard has been a Swiss national dog.
Bamse (Norwegian for "teddy bear") (1937 – July 22, 1944) was a St. Bernard that became the heroic mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during the Second World War. He was known for breaking up fights amongst his crewmates. He once saved a young lieutenant commander who was being attacked by a man wielding a knife by pushing the assailant into the sea.
Source Comptons Encyclopedia
The hardy breed was originated by the monks of the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard in the St. Gotthard's Pass to move through snow and rescue trapped people. The hospice was named after St Bernard of Montjoux, the patron saint of skiers.
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| St Bernard |
One St. Bernard dog called Barry, reportedly saved more than 40 people before his death in the early 1800s. Like all St. Bernards on rescue missions, Barry would clear away snow from the victims if it was not too deep, lie on top of the person to warm him, and bark to summon the monks. Once, Barry even pulled a boy off an icy ledge.
In honor of the exploits of this brave dog the monks gave the name Barry to the best of each new litter.
St. Bernards have never carried small casks of brandy around their necks on rescues, as popularly believed. The myth of this quaint symbol was perpetuated by artist Edwin Landseer in his famous 1820 portrait of the breed reviving a traveler.
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| St Bernard with the iconic barrel. Wikipedia Commons |
"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time.
The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basel on March 15, 1884. The breed standard was approved in 1888 and since then, the St. Bernard has been a Swiss national dog.
Bamse (Norwegian for "teddy bear") (1937 – July 22, 1944) was a St. Bernard that became the heroic mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during the Second World War. He was known for breaking up fights amongst his crewmates. He once saved a young lieutenant commander who was being attacked by a man wielding a knife by pushing the assailant into the sea.
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| Bamse Wikipedia Commons |
Source Comptons Encyclopedia
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