St. Bernard: characteristics, description of the breed, content, testimonials. In which mountains are the St. Bernards

A big fluffy dog - it's this phrase that comes to people's heads when they talk about the St. Bernard breed. Characteristics of the animal is amazing, because, despite the huge size, the dog does not hold friendliness. It is freely planted in homes where small children and puppies or cats live.

In which mountains are the St. Bernards

The largest breed of dogs is bred in the mountains of Switzerland, if more precisely - in the Alps. The history of the origin of these dogs is quite interesting. The breed received its name in honor of the monastery of St. Bernard, just located in the Alps.

In this institution lived the peasants, known for the fact that they easily managed to tame wild dogs of enormous size. Such animals were very appreciated, because all their appearance said that they are well adapted to life in the highlands. But at the same time the pets were distinguished by the desire to constantly serve a person and atypical friendliness.

The question of which mountains the St. Bernards are taken in quickly ceased to be relevant, as the dogs showed one more remarkable characteristic - the ability to help people.

In that area, terrible weather and constant snow avalanches were not a rare occurrence. In this regard, in trouble constantly hit travelers and other people, whose path passed through the mountains.

Then the St. Bernard, whose characteristic did not cease to amaze, opened with yet another side. Dogs possessed powerful paws and thick wool, which allowed them to feel relatively comfortable in severe climatic conditions. Thanks to this, the dogs willingly rescued people who were unlucky to get into a snow storm. The structure of the body and developed sense of smell helped the dogs to search for travelers who fell under the snow and quickly dig them out.

The St. Bernards have developed intuition and high performance. Against the background of all of the above, it is not surprising that the breed was quickly noticed by European breeders. Thanks to their painstaking work, the St. Bernards received a modern look.

How the dogs looked before

At the moment, St. Bernard is a companion dog. It is fostered for the soul and is perceived as a member of the family. In view of this, the dog looks massive and heavy, with thick paws, and a little awkward due to its heavy weight.

But earlier the St. Bernards were a little smaller, thinner and more mobile, because their main purpose was to help people in trouble in the mountains. Only thanks to the work of professionals the dogs got a modern look.

The most famous St. Bernard

In 1800, St. Bernard was born, the character of which surprised the whole world. The heroism of this dog is still on hearing and is passed on from generation to generation. For 12 years of his life a dog named Barry saved the lives of 40 people. The most famous case occurred when the dog carried a small boy to the nearest hospital for very deep snow for 5 kilometers.

In honor of Barry in Paris, a monument is erected. This is a favorite sight of the indigenous people and tourists.

Big St. Bernard is one of the favorite characters of books and films about animals. For example, "Beethoven" is one of the great films that tell about the adventures of the average family and their pet - dogs of this breed.

What is different about St. Bernard from the Moscow watchdog

The Moscow watchdog is a breed of dogs, which is often confused with the St. Bernards. But we assure you, these are absolutely different animals. So, what is the difference between St. Bernard and the Moscow watchdog:

• The Moscow watchdog is a breed that was obtained when they crossed St. Bernard with a Caucasian sheepdog. That is, it is a descendant of a big dog.
• The Moscow watchdog was brought out specifically for the purpose of serving in security institutions, and St. Bernard is today a kind, friendly and unwieldy companion dog.
• The Moscow watchdog has a more tight body and a short coat, which is connected with its purpose.

These breeds are derived for different purposes, which is the reason for the difference in their manners and appearance. St. Bernard, whose characterization is more loyal, is in no way associated with kindness and friendliness, so it's hard to believe that the Moscow watchdog is much more aggressive. In any case, the temperament of any dog depends on education. Each dog will honestly and faithfully serve the owner, who loves, educates and respects it.

Intellectual abilities

The adult St. Bernard looks slightly awkward, which is why among many people the opinion has been formed that this breed has a small mind. In fact, these dogs are human assistants by their very nature. You need to have a developed intuition, a broad outlook, a high intellect and an excellent ability to learn, in order to look for the affected people and provide them with first aid.

A key feature of this breed is the ability to navigate in the surrounding space. Puppies of St. Bernard have an innate talent. In combination with devotion to man and the desire to learn this quality can be developed to achieve incredible results.

Nature of the breed

Puppies of St. Bernard are very popular among breeders. But some people, especially those with children, are afraid of acquiring this breed because of its impressive size. But the fears are completely vain. St. Bernard is a friendly and good-natured dog, also very lazy at home. It is worth noting the following qualities of the dog:

• Ability to get along with children and other pets.
• The desire to please the owners in every way.
• A temperamental temperament.
• Relative calm. St. Bernard barks only for a really good reason.
• Slowness.
• Developed sense of smell.
• Constant need for attention of the owners. The abandoned St. Bernards are becoming unhappy.

This breed is like no other suitable for family life. St. Bernard will quickly make friends with all the householders and will forever take a place in your heart.

The process of training

To train dogs it is necessary to begin at an early age, while their weight is still relatively small. St. Bernard quickly gets bored with the learning process, so you'll have to be cunning in order to interest the dog. Since the dog is very loyal to the owners, you can go for such tricks:

• St. Bernard will always try to please you. Therefore, praise is the best reward for a dog.
• The dog is very upset if you are unhappy or angry with it. Therefore, be as loyal as possible during the training.
• Show the St. Bernard that training can take place in an exciting form.

If you are responsibly and lovingly come to the training, St. Bernard will obey you in everything.

Remember that an unreached dog of this breed can cause fear among others. St. Bernard can jump on people, and his weight usually reaches 90 kg, which will be a nuisance to your guests and family members.

But a well-trained dog with excellent manners and benevolence will become the favorite of all the surrounding people.

How to care for a St. Bernard

Although St. Bernard also has large sizes and long wool, caring for it is quite simple. It includes such items:

• Comb your hair once or twice a week. On it, there are no tangles, so this process will not be difficult or time-consuming.
• Do not often bathe the dog, especially with the use of shampoo. This can lead to flushing of the protective fat from the skin.
• Twice a year the dog sheds. Only at this time her six requires more frequent combing.

This and all the rules of care for St. Bernard. Separately, it is worth dwelling on the nutrition of the dog.

Feeding the dog

St. Bernard, whose description is quite voluminous, needs a natural diet. Its main principles are as follows:

• It is important to give the dog cereals for breakfast, and meat products - for dinner.
• During the summer heat it is not recommended to feed the dog with porridge, but the pregnant St. Bernard girl should still get a full-fledged diet.
• Kids need to be fed 6 times a day. In the diet of puppies must necessarily include dairy or sour-milk products.
• In 3 months of puppies it is necessary to translate into four meals a day, in 5 - to three meals a day, and in 7 kids already eat as adult dogs.
• Ask the breeder who sold you the dog, what foods can supplement his diet.
• Do not neglect the vitamins for dogs. Periodically they are worth giving to the St. Bernards.
• If you do not have time to prepare food for the dog, give preference only to expensive fodder. It is better to ask the breeder which food can be given to the St. Bernards.

The nutrition of the dog plays a big role in its harmonious development. An unbalanced diet can lead to many pathologies.

Illnesses of St. Bernard

Despite the huge size of the dog, the dog is prone to many diseases. The most famous of them are:

• Diseases of bones.
• Infection with helminths.
• Puffiness of the extremities.
• Problems with the lymphatic system.
• Problems with the lungs and the heart.
• Eye diseases.
• Convulsions.
• Problems with digestion.

To avoid these problems, you need to carefully monitor the food and the regime of the day St. Bernard. Proper care and compliance with all the rules of the menu will help prevent the development of almost all pathologies. It is also important to periodically drive a dog to a veterinarian to find out all sorts of violations in advance and quickly remove them.

Walks with St. Bernard

The breed of St. Bernard, the price of which is quite high, rarely gets along with comfort in an ordinary apartment. Think about whether you are willing to give money if you can not provide the dog regular walks.

A dog needs to walk every day. It is important to take care that the dog receives enough loads. But it's also not necessary to overload the St. Bernard. It is enough to give him a walk and let him jog a little. Also, dogs adore moving games with their masters.

St. Bernard and the apartment

St. Bernard, whose price is not less than 10 thousand rubles, also requires monetary costs when keeping. As for the space, of course, this breed is more suitable for a country house. In the apartment you can keep St. Bernard only if you are able to provide the dog with a sufficient amount of time in the open air.

But we can not help saying that even in a house with a small amount of space, this breed shows maximum tolerance and respect for family members. The dog will never claim the whole territory of the apartment, let alone take it away from the owners.

St. Bernard will thank you if you give him a balcony with heated floor. In the winter season, he will be very comfortable in the warmth and fresh air.

In advance, consider how you will bathe St. Bernard. The dog takes up a lot of space, so the usual bathtub will not work for him. Much better, if the apartment will have a spacious shower.

Reviews of the breed

The breed of St. Bernard is very popular. Reviews of her overflowing community of fans of these dogs and in each of them you can find something that will make you love this dog with all your heart. The owners of the St. Bernards talk about such advantages of their pets:

• Very easily get along with all family members.
• Madly love children and small animals, protect them when necessary.
• Ready to spend time with the owners all day long.
• Very compliant. If the owner can not for some reason give time to the dog, she will patiently wait for her turn.
• Well tolerate any procedures and trips to the doctor.
• Very calm, humbly take to walking on a leash and wearing a muzzle.
• They eat everything that the owner offers them.

In general, this pet is ideal for the family. If you need a dog for yourself, St. Bernard will be your faithful friend and devoted companion for many years. By the way, pets live 12-15 years, and in females usually born from 2 to 12 puppies.