The St. Bernard dogs are thought to have originated from crosses of Asian Molosser dogs (Canis molossus) that were introduced to Switzerland by the Romans with local dogs. Augustine Monks bred these dogs primarily in the main pass between Switzerland and Italy; later named the Great St. Bernard Pass. Documentation of their use as rescue dogs in the Alps dates to the late 1600s. In 1830, outcrossing to Newfoundland dogs was done to increase breed vigor because of extensive inbreeding. This resulted in the first of the longhair subtype of the breed which turned out not to be desirable as the long hair trapped snow and ice. The breed was formally named in 1880. The original breed standard was developed in 1884 but some differences persisted in type between Swiss and English dogs. AKC recognition occurred in 1885. The English wrote a separate standard in 1887. The St. Bernard Club of America follows the original Swiss standard.
Breeding for Function
St. Bernard's were primarily used for draft, clearing trails in snow, guarding, and for herding. In the Swiss Alps, they became invaluable to the Monks, particularly at the Hospice St. Bernard de Menthon in the St. Bernard pass. Their live-saving role helped travelers safely traverse the treacherous mountain passes, and they provided search and rescue. They used their excellent tracking skills to find those lost in avalanches for example. No records were kept on how many lives were saved, but estimates run in the thousands.
Physical Characteristics
Height at Withers: ideal height for female 25.5" (65 cm), male 27.5" (70 cm).
Weight: 110-200 lb (50-91 kg).
Coat: The coat is very dense, and the hairs lie smoothly down; hairs are strong but not coarse, short, and the tail hair is longer near the body than at the tip. Colors include red with white markings, white with red markings, and brindle with white. Red may be a browny-yellow without fault. There is a specified pattern of markings. Dark mask and ears are favored. There is a longhaired and shorthaired variety. The autosomal recessive longhaired variety is actually a medium length coat. Hair is slightly wavy, though face and ears have a short straight coat.
Longevity: 8-9 years
Points of Conformation: A powerful figure, this breed is noted for the imposing stature and massive head with an intelligent expression. The wide skull is characterized by strong cheek bones, marked stop, and a furrow runs over the midline of the skull, including the muzzle, wrinkles are present over the forehead, and the muzzle is square, with well-developed flews on both upper and lower lips. Usually the palate is pigmented black. The nose and lips are also black. Ears are high set and triangular in shape, floppy, with a broad base. The front margin of the pinna sits against the head. Eyes are dark brown ,medium-sized and moderately deep set. The lower lids normally form a triangle and rest in an everted position. The neck is strong, of medium length and the dewlap is well developed. The thorax is of moderate depth and ribs are well sprung. The topline is level, though it gently curves down to the tail in the croup. The tail is heavy and long, straight to slightly curved. Limbs are straight, heavily boned and muscled. Dewclaws are undesirable and may be removed. Feet are large and broad, with good knuckling up of the toes.
Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits
Reported breed characteristics include: Docile, placid temperament, strong on a leash, not suitable for apartment living due to size. Slow to mature physically. Most are excellent with children and eager to please, but need to have early obedience training due to their size. Some can be aggressive. Low shedding tendency except during spring and fall when they blow the coat. They possess a moderate drooling tendency. Not a watchdog, but they will alarm bark. Will defend a family member if directly threatened. Good with other dogs, especially lacking inter-male aggression due to their history of work in male dog rescue teams.
No comments:
Post a Comment