SAINT BERNARD HISTORY
The Saint Bernard hails from the Great Saint Bernard Pass, a treacherous mountain route high in the Swiss Alps.
In the 10th century, a monk named Bernard De Menthon founded a Hospice in the Pass to benefit all passing travellers.
Each morning the monks from the Hospice searched the pass for lost travellers. The monks took along dogs known as Thalhunds or "Dogs of the Valley far below". Noticing how the dogs easily located people buried deep in snow, they quickly became part of the rescue work of the Hospice.
Next they were called Alpine Mastiffs, a name that remained until 1856 when Sir Edward Landseer coined the name Saint Bernard and immortalized the dogs in many famous paintings.
As the Monks became involved with rescue work, the dogs underwent training as well. They learned to locate, awaken and revive snowbound victims, move them without injury and summon help from the Hospice.
The dogs were trained in teams of four with each dog serving a specific purpose. After the dogs had located a victim and removed the snow surrounding him, two Saints would lay with the person to keep him warm. The third Saint licked his face for stimulation and to keep him conscious.
It was the fourth Saint Bernard on the team that we all remember. This dog was trained to return to the Hospice for help. On arrival a monk would fasten the now-famous little cask around the dog's neck. Contrary to legend the casks did not contain brandy, but were filled with a pint and a half of "marc", a beverage the monks distilled from grapeskins. This dog lead the monks to the victim.
No other breed of dog is so steeped in romantic legend as the Saint Bernard. Its instinct for rescue work is still regarded as one of nature's great mysteries. The Saint has a well deserved reputation: In their long existence, these Gentle Giants saved over 3000 lives in the Saint Bernard Pass.
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