Gentle Giants: A Complete Guide to SAINT BERNARDS

You've likely seen the image of the Saint Bernard, a huge, lovely dog breed who saves people stuck in snowstorms while wearing a big barrel of brandy around their neck, but this breed is much more than just pop culture references. Despite their larger size, Saint Bernard's are one of the dog breeds known for being devoted, loving and gentle. Hey everyone, welcome to Dog Joy. In today's video we're taking a deep dive into everything you need to know about the great Saint Bernard. Stay tuned to the end to learn all about their incredible history and the life-saving work they've become famous for. History. Saint Bernard dogs were known for something very different long before Beethoven appeared on the big screen, and that is saving lives. Monks living in the icy, treacherous Saint Bernard Pass, a specific route through the snowy mountains between Italy and Switzerland, have kept the dogs since the early 18th century to help them in their rescue missions after heavy snowstorms. Approximately 2,000 people were rescued over the course of nearly 200 years, ranging from missing kids to soldiers, thanks to these brave canines' remarkable sense of direction and their resistance to cold. For 150 years, these dogs completed dangerous rescue missions on the Saint Bernard Pass. They would often find trapped travellers, dig through the snow and keep the injured people warm. They would return to the monks of the trapped travellers and lead a team back to their locations. Between 1790 and 1810, when Napoleon and 250,000 of his soldiers crossed through the pass, not a single soldier died from what they called the White Death. That is because they were saved by Saint Bernard rescue dogs. Barry was the most famous of these rescue dogs, a Saint Bernard who served at the hospice, a shelter for pilgrims travelling over the Swiss Alps to Rome. It was recorded that Barry helped save some 40 lives between the years 1800 and 1814. Heinrich Schumacher, an innkeeper, began breeding the dogs in 1855. Schumacher kept a stud book, supplied dogs to the hospice, and exported them to England, Russia and the United States. Many people began indiscriminately breeding the Saint Bernards with other breeds such as English Mastiffs, resulting in what they look like today. But during that time, the dog breed remained unnamed. They were variously known as Alpine Mastiffs, Hospice Dogs, Mountain Dogs, Swiss Alpine Dogs and Saint Bernard Mastiffs. As a tribute, several Swiss named them Barry Dogs. The Swiss Kennel Club recognised the name Saint Bernard in 1880. Since then, the dogs have evolved into the domestic Saint Bernard dogs found in homes all over the world today. Later on, there was a resurgence of fame when the movie Beethoven hit the big screens in the early 1990s. The world once again fell in love with this giant dog because of this hilarious comedy. It later went on to make seven sequel films. You may recall the part where Beethoven shakes and sends a large amount of slobber and drool all over the room. It's quite a funny scene. If you haven't seen the original film, we highly recommend it. Size and Appearance The Saint Bernard is among the world's largest dogs, not just in height, that is about 30 inches at the shoulder, but also in terms of weight. Males can weigh between 140 to 180 pounds, while females weigh between 120 and 140 pounds. A Saint Bernard's regal bearing begins with their huge round head rising from a deep chest, and their big square muzzle raised slightly to sniff the air. Their cheeks and ears hang loose, which are short and floppy. Their dark eyes are deep-set and gentle, and because their eyes and cheeks are black, brown or red, some appear to be wearing masks. The white on their tails, forepaws, bellies and chest extends up to their muzzles, and it extends in a long line between the eyes. Their coat colour varies from white and brindle or white and red. Temperament and Characteristics They are a fantastic choice for families with older children, other dogs and even friendly cats because of their protective personality and gentle, quiet attitude with a dash of energy. They'll get along with younger kids as well, but they'll require extra supervision to ensure that they respect the dog's boundaries. Saint Bernard's aren't always aware just how huge they are, which can end up causing trouble. To ensure that no one is knocked over during playtime or in-home fun, both humans and dogs must be trained and aware of how to handle a big dog. When left alone, most Saint Bernard's aren't too destructive, especially if they've been properly trained, but they don't appreciate being left alone or left outside for lengthy periods of time. This is when they'll start barking more, chewing on objects and doing behaviours you don't want them to do. You may consider crate training from a young age, just in case there's a situation where you may need to leave them alone for a while. Saint Bernard's are friendly dogs that will stay that way with a caring environment and positive reinforcement-based training. Training and Intelligence When it comes to obedience and work intelligence, Saint Bernard's are ranked 123rd out of 138 breeds, but this doesn't imply that they aren't intelligent dogs. The intelligence of this Saint Bernard is shown by its capacity to comprehend human emotions while also assessing potential threats. This is why they make excellent guard dogs. But Saint Bernard's, like other working breeds, are easy to learn. They will only require 15 minutes of training per day to learn the simplest activities and have a quick knowledge of one or two syllable training phrases. When teaching commands to a puppy or adult Saint Bernard like come, stay, sit and so on, call their name first, followed by the single word command. Keep in mind that different training cues from different individuals will only confuse them, therefore everyone in the family should work together. Keep things basic, straightforward and consistent. Exercise and Agility The Saint Bernard has a moderate amount of energy. They aren't recognised for their speed and aren't interested in a speedy race. Instead, imagine these dogs as the ideal afternoon walking buddy who will gently stroll down a sidewalk, pausing to smell the roses. Despite their huge and strong build, Saint Bernard's only need minimal exercise. One lengthy walk or 30 minutes of structured play every day should be enough to keep them happy into mature adulthood. Puppies, on the other hand, must be more carefully exercised. When your puppy is four months old, you should only take them out for 20 minutes twice a day. Taking them for a walk at this age is also about training as it is about exercise. They can be taken on shorter 20-minute walks three or four times each day when they are around one year old. Be a little more careful with them when running or jumping because this could strain their growing joints and bones, which could lead to issues later on in life. Although a large Saint is not as agile as a Basset Hound, they can still excel at agility training. They might be a tad slower but overall they can have great coordination with agility courses. Shedding and grooming. Saint Bernard's do indeed shed and they shed heavily during spring and autumn seasons. While long-haired Saint Bernard's shed more compared to their short-haired counterparts, both coat types will shed throughout the year. Because of their thick coats, Saint Bernard's require a lot of grooming in comparison to other dogs. They will need weekly brushing for basic grooming to avoid knots and tangles. Use a de-shedding tool especially when the weather changes from cold to warm and a Saint Bernard's coat starts to blow. This seasonal shedding can last 10 to 14 days, so it's a good idea to pamper your dog and book an appointment with a groomer to get rid of all that excess fluff. When combing this fluffy dog, be careful not to get brush bristles very close to their eyes, ears or paws. A soft bristle brush, a moist towel or a mitt groomer are some other coat grooming tools that are best when grooming your fluffy dog. Health and lifespan. Saints have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years. Because of their enormous size, their lifespan is notably shorter than other dog breeds. They will age faster and are more vulnerable to certain health issues, especially if you're not cautious about being aware of the breeder's genetics. Make sure to ask some of these questions up front just in case. These health problems can include hip and elbow dysplasia, bloating, Addison's disease, bone cancer, eye problems and immune-mediated thyroiditis. Although not every Saint Bernard will develop any of these problems, being aware and giving them proper care will help both of you. With enough daily exercise, healthy diet and just by making them happy, they will be able to avoid these health issues and surely could spend their life longer with you. When you think of a Saint Bernard, you probably imagine a great day in the snow followed by a cozy night cuddling up by the fire with them. The gentle, caring and peaceful personality of a Saint, along with her enormous size, makes you feel safe, which is precisely what these former search and rescue dogs want you to feel. They are alert but gentle with youngsters, eager to be a part of whatever is happening at home and are overall wonderful family companions. So what are your thoughts about Saint Bernards? Did this video make you want to have one? Perhaps you've had the pleasure of owning one of these gentle giants yourself? Let us know in the comments below. We hope you enjoyed today's video and learned a thing or two along the way. Before you go, please be sure to like, subscribe and share this video with all your friends. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you in the next one.