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Choosing an ideal dog breed: St. Bernard
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Personal photo of a St. Bernard
Today, I chose to profile the St. Bernard. These are very large, intelligent dogs who are not prone to aggression. They can, however, be very effective watch dogs, due to their intimidating size. Males commonly weigh anywhere between 160-260 lbs; sometimes much more. I found a helpful link at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bernard_(dog), for more information about the St. Bernard.
The St. Bernard is known for his loyalty and his eagerness to please his owners. Even so, as with most very large breeds, obedience training and a firm hand, as early as possible, is recommended. And an assertive master is a must. An unruly adult St. Bernard can be difficult for even a strong, fully grown man to handle.
The classic St. Bernard, widely used in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries for dangerous avalanche rescues in the Alps, were nearly forced into extiction between 1816-1818, due to especially severe weather, which killed many of them during their rescue attempts. The modern breed, crossed with Newfoundlands in the latter part of the 1800's, proved to be less suitable for avalanche rescue, since they inherited longer hair which tended to freeze and weigh the dogs down.
Today, these dogs are most often used as family pets, and make excellent watch dogs due to their enormous size. But, unlike his mellow relative the Newfoundland, the St. Bernard is not as inclined to be lazy. They require quite a lot of exercise, and their higher energy level necessitates firm, consitent discipline.
It is also important to properly socialize this breed, from a very young age, with children and other animals. As I mentioned, they are not prone to aggression, as are many dogs bred for protection, but these dogs can tend to have trouble recognizing their own strength, and without appropriate socialization, a St. Bernard may not realize when his play becomes too rough.
Similar to the Newfoundland, however, is the St. Bernard's susceptibility to many health issues related to his size. Most common of these maladies are: hip and elbow dysplacia, along with osteosarcoma; a hereditary bone cancer. Their eyes are also prone to the disorders entropion or ectropion, which cause the eyelids to turn in or out. St. bernards are also often affected by epilepsy, eczema, and a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy.
Since I was unable to find a single negative comment about these dogs concerning any behavioral problems, which are normally included in my research, I would have to say that these dogs, when properly trained and socialized, are an excellent choice for just about any large breed lover. They certainly don't come much larger.
Thank you for reading, and if you liked this article, please look for some of my previous installments, profiling Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds, among others. Or, drop in for my next feature of Choosing an ideal dog breed, when I will examine the Red-and-White Irish Setter. Thanks again for stopping by!
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