A Saintly Breed

In AD 1050, the Archdeacon Bernard de Menthon founded a hospice in a Jungfrau region mountain pass in Switzerland, bringing with him a breed of large, furry dogs of Gallic origin. In addition to providing shelter for passing merchants, Bernard and the monks working under him would venture into blizzards in search of stranded travelers in Switzerland. Though it is uncertain whether the dogs accompanied the monks on their rescue missions—early accounts relate that dogs were used to run an exercise wheel that turned a cooking spit—by the time of Bernard’s canonization, dogs bearing his name had become famous, and regularly patrolled the Swiss pass.

Gifted with a fine sense of smell, a thick coat, an amiable manner, and a neck made to tie a barrel of brandy to, the St. Bernards made a name for themselves by saving over 2000 lives throughout centuries. In the 1810s, a dog named Barry saved 40 lost travelers. Today, few St. Bernards still work as rescue dogs—smaller, lighter breeds less liable to sink in the snow have taken their place. The St. Bernard is now a popular household pet, as well as the star of popular films like Cujo and the Beethoven movies, but it will always have dignity as the Alpine fixture it once was.