Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard
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Background
Breed	Working
Country of origin	Italy/Switzerland
Status	Common
Coat type	Long
Lifespan	8-10 years
Litter size	6-8 puppies

St. Bernards are very large breeds of working dogs, originally bred for rescue.

Appearance[]

The St. Bernard is famous for its long white, red, and black colored fur. Some saints have a short coat, while others have a long one. Their eyes are typically brown, but may come in an icy blue pigment too. Its tail is long and placed by its legs due to its weight. They can be 25 1/2-35 1/2 inches tall, and weigh 264 lbs.!

Behavior[]

Saints are very strong and loyal dogs.

Behavior:
Exercise:	A daily walk
Tolerance with other pets/people:	VERY great with children
Food:	Requires a large amount daily
Grooming:	Probably twice weekly
Space:	Will do okay in an apartment if it is intensely exercised, might need a small yard
Common health problems:	Hip dysplasia, heart problems, bloating, tumors
Lifespan:	8-10 years
Temper:	Very gentle, brave, and loyal
Recognition:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR, DRA, NAPR
Rarity:	Semi-common

These dogs are known for their gentleness and tolerance towards children and people. Other good qualities include patience, obedience, loyalty, eagerness, and intelligence. Saints are known to be very easy to train. Their size is viewed as a deterrence to intruders, which makes them great watchdogs. Saint Bernards seem to have a sixth sense that warns them of impending doom such as avalanches and storms. They are known to drool intensely, snore, and wheeze.

History[]

Saints are an old dog, with its origin dating back to 980 A.D. The first saints were short-haired and were bred for rescue for people who were lost or in distress in the hazardous Alpine Pass between Italy and Switzerland. They were most popular in the 17th century for this use. The dog's nose was able to smell people under many feet of snow, making them very effective. When the victim was rescued, the dog would lick and lie down with them to maintain their body heat. They would then go alert officials of the found lost person.

In popular media[]

The movie series, Beethoven, is about a St. who causes catastrophe.
Wind Chill is a St. Bernard figurine in the action figure series Rescue Heroes.