The Saint Bernard is one of the largest breeds of dog. They are so gentle however that they do make excellent pets. They are highly intelligent and their ability at search and rescue is astounding. They need good exercise, every day, however they can live happily in an apartment. They are slow moving dogs with a lot of patience and show nothing but devotion to their family. They need a strong pack leader as they need to know their place in the pack in order to be happy.
Appearance
The Saint Bernard is a huge and very strong dog. They are very muscular and have short, wide muzzle. The taller the dog is (so long as the weight is in proportion), the more prized and valuable the dog is considered. They have broad noses with open nostrils that are always black and they have medium sized eyes, usually dark coloured. They also have medium sized ears that are set high on their head. They have muscular legs and arched toes. Tails are broad and hang low towards the ground when the dog is relaxed. Coats can either be rough or smooth, with the rough coated version have longer hair with feathering on the legs and thighs. Rough or smooth, the coats are always very thick. Colours can be tan, red, mahogany, brindle or black, or indeed any combination of those. Their faces and ears however are almost always black.
Temperament
Saint Bernards truly are big friendly giants. They love children are extremely tolerant and loving towards them. They are so large however that they need a strong owner or pack leader from the beginning, as an unruly and disobedient Saint Bernard that jumps up at humans can be difficult and dangerous to manage. They are very intelligent and keen to learn and please their owners. Socialising from a young age with children and other animals is preferable, and due to their size they should always be kept on a lead in public. They make excellent watch dogs, and will put of trespassers simply due to their size, if nothing else. They are very loyal and devoted to their families. Training is relatively simple as they pick up commands easily and enjoy the challenge. They seem to have something like a sixth sense as they have been known to realize danger from storms and avalanches well ahead of time.
Working and Tasks
Saint Bernards are most well known for their search and rescue capabilities. In the 17th century they began being used to save people when buried under the snow caused by avalanches as they can smell humans under several feet of snow. Thousands of lives have been saved by Saint Bernards. They would work in pack, and when the body had been found, one dog would head back to alert the search team, whilst the others would lie with the victim and try to keep them warm. They have been known to predict storms and avalanches, possibly because they are able to hear lower frequency sounds that humans cannot. They make good search and rescue dogs, watch dogs, guard dogs, and their size makes them good at carting too.