Saint Bernard Dog (Detailed Introduction)

　　The Saint Bernard dog (saint bernard), also known as the Bernese dog, originated from Denmark and also has a long history in Switzerland. But by the mid-19th century, their numbers had dwindled almost to the brink of extinction. The Saint Bernard is a large dog breed, with a height reaching nearly 90CM and weight up to 100 kilograms. Known as the “gentle giant,” they have strong adaptability and great vitality. As the protagonist of this introduction, they are famous for guarding travelers crossing the dangerous Alps.
　　1. History
　　The Saint Bernard dog is named after the St. Bernard Hospice in the Alps. The Bernese dog is a short-haired breed. To prevent inbreeding, Scottish dogs were introduced, resulting in the creation of a long-haired variety. As early as 1810, England imported some dogs from the hospice to crossbreed with their Mastiffs; back then, the British called these dogs “sacred dogs.” Around 1828, this dog was known in Germany as the “Alpen dog.” In 1833, writer Daniel Wilson first named this dog the Saint Bernard, but it was not until 1965 that the name clearly appeared, and in 1980, the name was officially designated for this breed.
　　2. Role
　　In 980 AD, the Saint Bernard dog became famous for guarding travelers crossing the dangerous Alpine mountain paths. Unfortunately, early records cannot verify this. By the 18th century, monks at the hospice raised Saint Bernards as guides in dangerous mountains to find lost people and revive them, known as dogs with Christ-like dedication. A Saint Bernard named “Barry” once saved the lives of 40 people, accomplishing the greatest feat, and died in 1814.
　　Before 1830, all Saint Bernards were short-haired. Initially, people believed long-haired Saint Bernards could better withstand the hospice’s severe cold, but unfortunately, ice would freeze on their fur, making them unsuitable for rescue. After discovering this, monks gifted long-haired Saint Bernards to friends and kept only the short-haired ones.
　　Observant people will notice Saint Bernards wearing a brandy barrel around their neck. Why is that? Because a Saint Bernard once revived a mountaineer trapped by an avalanche in the Alps with brandy from the barrel on its neck. The climber had lost all his friends in the avalanche, including his newlywed wife. He had broken legs and was prepared to die in the snow. Two Saint Bernards found him, passing through snow impassable to humans, encouraging him to keep living. The warm brandy gave the young climber heat and courage to survive. With limited technology at the time, rescuers couldn’t reach him through the snow. So the monks sent those two Saint Bernards daily with brandy and sausage until the snow slowly melted and rescuers safely saved him. Today, the Saint Bernard with the brandy barrel has become a symbol of Switzerland. Though this may be a beautiful legend, it does not diminish the Saint Bernard’s enduring legacy of saving lives in the Alps throughout history.