Monks and a team of St. Bernards rescue a lost traveler in the Swiss Alps, circa 1955. Monks and a team of St. Bernard's rescue a lost traveler in the Swiss Alps, circa 1955.

Photo by George Pickow/Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A Brief History of the St. Bernard Rescue Dog

The canine's evolution from hospice hound to household companion

  • By Jess Blumberg
  • Smithsonian.com, January 01, 2008

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    Long before Beethoven drooled on the big screen, St. Bernard dogs were famous for an entirely different reason: saving lives. Since the early 18th century, monks living in the snowy, dangerous St. Bernard Pass—a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland—kept the canines to help them on their rescue missions after bad snowstorms. Over a span of nearly 200 years, about 2,000 people, from lost children to Napoleon's soldiers, were rescued because of the heroic dogs' uncanny sense of direction and resistance to cold. Since then, and through much crossbreeding, the canines have become the domestic St. Bernard dogs commonly seen in households today.

    Hospice Hounds
    At a little more than 8,000 feet above sea level sits the Great St. Bernard Pass, a 49-mile route in the Western Alps. The pass is only snow free for a couple of months during the summer and has been a treacherous route for many travelers throughout history. In order to help struggling trekkers, an Augustine monk named St. Bernard de Menthon founded a hospice and monastery around the year 1050.

    Sometime between 1660 and 1670, the monks at Great St. Bernard Hospice acquired their first St. Bernards—descendants of the mastiff style Asiatic dogs brought over by the Romans—to serve as their watchdogs and companions. (The earliest depiction of the breed was in two paintings done by well-known Italian artist Salvatore Rosa in 1695.) Compared to St. Bernards today, these dogs were smaller in size, had shorter reddish brown and white fur and a longer tail.

    At the turn of the century, servants called marroniers were assigned to accompany travelers between the hospice and Bourg-Saint-Pierre, a municipality on the Swiss side. By 1750, marroniers were routinely accompanied by the dogs, whose broad chests helped to clear paths for travelers. The marroniers soon discovered the dogs' tremendous sense of smell and ability to discover people buried deep in the snow, and sent them out in packs of two or three alone to seek lost or injured travelers.

    Life-Saving Work
    The canines made rescue excursions on the St. Bernard Pass for the next 150 years. Often the dogs would find buried travelers, dig through the snow and lie on top of the injured to provide warmth. Meanwhile, the other dog would return to the hospice to alert the monks of the stranded pilgrim. The system became so organized that when Napoleon and his 250,000 soldiers crossed through the pass between 1790 and 1810, not one soldier lost his life. The soldiers' chronicles tell of how many lives were saved by the dogs in what the army called "the White Death."

    Although in legend casks of liquor were strapped around the dogs' collars to warm up travelers, no historical records exist that document this practice. But another legend was very real: famous St. Bernard, Barry, who lived in the monastery from 1800-1812, saved the lives of more than 40 people. In 1815, Barry's body was put on exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Berne, Switzerland, where it remains today.

    Between 1816 and 1818, the winter snowstorms at St. Bernard Pass were particularly severe, and many dogs died in avalanches while doing rescue work. As a result, the St. Bernard breed living at the hospice came close to extinction. However, the breed was replenished two years later with similar animals from nearby valleys.

    All in all, the St. Bernard rescue dogs were credited with saving the lives of more than 2,000 people until the last documented recovery in 1897 when a 12-year-old boy was found nearly frozen in a crevice and awakened by a dog.

    Long before Beethoven drooled on the big screen, St. Bernard dogs were famous for an entirely different reason: saving lives. Since the early 18th century, monks living in the snowy, dangerous St. Bernard Pass—a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland—kept the canines to help them on their rescue missions after bad snowstorms. Over a span of nearly 200 years, about 2,000 people, from lost children to Napoleon's soldiers, were rescued because of the heroic dogs' uncanny sense of direction and resistance to cold. Since then, and through much crossbreeding, the canines have become the domestic St. Bernard dogs commonly seen in households today.

    Hospice Hounds
    At a little more than 8,000 feet above sea level sits the Great St. Bernard Pass, a 49-mile route in the Western Alps. The pass is only snow free for a couple of months during the summer and has been a treacherous route for many travelers throughout history. In order to help struggling trekkers, an Augustine monk named St. Bernard de Menthon founded a hospice and monastery around the year 1050.

    Sometime between 1660 and 1670, the monks at Great St. Bernard Hospice acquired their first St. Bernards—descendants of the mastiff style Asiatic dogs brought over by the Romans—to serve as their watchdogs and companions. (The earliest depiction of the breed was in two paintings done by well-known Italian artist Salvatore Rosa in 1695.) Compared to St. Bernards today, these dogs were smaller in size, had shorter reddish brown and white fur and a longer tail.

    At the turn of the century, servants called marroniers were assigned to accompany travelers between the hospice and Bourg-Saint-Pierre, a municipality on the Swiss side. By 1750, marroniers were routinely accompanied by the dogs, whose broad chests helped to clear paths for travelers. The marroniers soon discovered the dogs' tremendous sense of smell and ability to discover people buried deep in the snow, and sent them out in packs of two or three alone to seek lost or injured travelers.

    Life-Saving Work
    The canines made rescue excursions on the St. Bernard Pass for the next 150 years. Often the dogs would find buried travelers, dig through the snow and lie on top of the injured to provide warmth. Meanwhile, the other dog would return to the hospice to alert the monks of the stranded pilgrim. The system became so organized that when Napoleon and his 250,000 soldiers crossed through the pass between 1790 and 1810, not one soldier lost his life. The soldiers' chronicles tell of how many lives were saved by the dogs in what the army called "the White Death."

    Although in legend casks of liquor were strapped around the dogs' collars to warm up travelers, no historical records exist that document this practice. But another legend was very real: famous St. Bernard, Barry, who lived in the monastery from 1800-1812, saved the lives of more than 40 people. In 1815, Barry's body was put on exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Berne, Switzerland, where it remains today.

    Between 1816 and 1818, the winter snowstorms at St. Bernard Pass were particularly severe, and many dogs died in avalanches while doing rescue work. As a result, the St. Bernard breed living at the hospice came close to extinction. However, the breed was replenished two years later with similar animals from nearby valleys.

    All in all, the St. Bernard rescue dogs were credited with saving the lives of more than 2,000 people until the last documented recovery in 1897 when a 12-year-old boy was found nearly frozen in a crevice and awakened by a dog.

    Breeding Bernards
    Beginning in 1830, the monks started breeding the dogs with Newfoundlands, thinking that the longer hair of the breed would better protect the dogs in the cold. But the idea backfired as ice formed on the dogs' hairs. Because the dogs were no longer as effective in their rescues, the monks gave them away to people in the surrounding Swiss valleys.

    In 1855, innkeeper Heinrich Schumacher began breeding the dogs. Schumacher used a studbook, supplied the hospice with dogs and also exported dogs to England, Russia and the United States. Many people began breeding the dogs indiscriminately, like with English Mastiffs, which resulted in their common appearance today. During this time, the dog breed was still without a name. Many called them Hospice Dogs, Alpine Mastiffs, Mountain Dogs, Swiss Alpine Dogs and St. Bernard Mastiffs. Many Swiss called them Barry Dogs as a tribute. In 1880, the Swiss Kennel Club officially recognized the name as St. Bernard.

    Until September 2004, 18 St. Bernard dogs still belonged to the hospice. That year, the Barry Foundation was formed to establish kennels in Martingy, a village down the mountain from the pass. Today, an average of 20 St. Bernard puppies are born every year at the foundation. As for rescue efforts on the pass, monks now rely on helicopters.


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    Comments

    .........a very endearing, interesting article....thankyou.

    Posted by ruth e. lakes on December 28,2007 | 09:34AM

    A wonderfully informative article about those loveable 4-footed creatures that risked "their lives" so that those unfortunate humans who fell, oftentimes 'thru the cracks' shall live ~ they should be 'enshrined'......

    Posted by Claire Muskus on December 28,2007 | 12:55PM

    Good article. Brief but very informative. Thanks!

    Posted by Floyd Cox on December 29,2007 | 10:45AM

    We live here in north central Maine near Moosehead Lake. And our St. Bernard, JayJay, is enjoying one of her favorite seasons,winter. She doesn`t like the weather to be extremely cold, but this winter we`.ve had an unusual amount of snow and this has suited her just fine. Saints are great family companions---they just don`t know they are so big !

    Posted by Joan W. Bair on January 1,2008 | 01:36PM

    In my later years, I'm reverent to the service of many animals to man -- particularly horses and dogs. The report that there is an ongoing activity to honor and continue the St. Bernard breed in a Swiss village is a rare bright spot in a current world of chaos and tension! Thanks a bunch!!!

    Posted by Donald M. Mong II on January 13,2008 | 03:56PM

    This article I found while searching more information I found to be very disturbing, http://www.aapn.org/stbernard.html Why does this kind of thing keep going on?

    Posted by Debra on January 15,2008 | 04:59PM

    This was one of the most interesting short articles I have read in any magazine. It corrected many erroneous ideas I had about these dogs. The only point that is not emphasized sufficiently in this article is how friendly they are to strangers.

    Posted by John Nasou on January 20,2008 | 10:55AM

    Wonderful story! Thank you for the enlightenment.

    Posted by Joanne Husak on January 22,2008 | 01:14PM

    Brief, precise. Provides information for an entertaining fireplace-family-gathering. Thanks!

    Posted by Francisca Rosene on January 28,2008 | 11:16AM

    I am so happy to hear the full story on the St. Bernard, and on the interesting people instrumental in creating this breed for such a beneficent specific purpose. Would we could all be as focused on kindness in solving problems in the world.

    Posted by Ms. Troy Parker Farr on February 7,2008 | 11:31AM

    I enjoyed this article, it provided wonderful facts about these curageous animals, I call friends.

    Posted by Kathy Holdcroft on February 12,2008 | 01:25AM

    In 2004 I was shipped via SwissAir a St. Bernard born at the monastery. She resembles Barry, lean and healthy. American's breed for their idea of beauty alone and thus many health issues continue through the breed. The new Barry foundation preserves the Saints. I am grateful for your article.

    Posted by Fr Doug Glassman on March 31,2008 | 05:34PM

    This helped me alote with my school, thanx.............

    Posted by stephanie on June 10,2008 | 01:59AM

    I am a St.Bernard owner,and found your article very intertesting.While some people pine to go to warm places in the winter it is my dream to see the swiss alps where my St. Bernard orginaited from. She is like my blood pressure medication.Your article was very informing. An intertesting read.

    Posted by Heather Keir on July 7,2008 | 12:23PM

    this articale was great i have two saints im from ireland so there is not alot of snow could i add that the st bernard is one of the most loveing dogs in the world and just loves to be involoved in every thing you or your famlay dos my saints are a part of my famlay there great towords childern and other dogs they love to be in the house with the famlay and when it comes to playing with them they are a verry smart dog they might out smart you at play time :]

    Posted by michael on August 26,2008 | 06:47AM

    is it true the st bernard dogs carried a barrel of whisky around their necks or is that all heresay in cartoon format apparently alcohol is not good in cases of hypothermia!!!

    Posted by pam on November 23,2008 | 11:36PM

    Dogs throughout human history have been our companions, workmates, protectors and part of the family. Although in this article the St. Bernard breed as a part of the rescue effort on the pass has been replaced by helicopters. Helicoptors cannot be used during severe weather and with the dwindling oil reserves in the far (not so) future St. Bernards may be called again to aid in rescue efforts.

    Posted by Clarice on December 30,2008 | 03:35PM

    I own a ST Bernard dog is name is Brandy I need to know alot about ST Bernards

    Posted by Dylan young on February 24,2009 | 09:54AM

    thanks this helped me alot thanks

    Posted by cant tell on March 1,2009 | 09:25PM

    The author of this artical should be commended for compiling and presenting so many facts about the orgin of this breed and making it so interesting! I wish the author had written my school books, I might have been a lot smarter! Best artical I found online! I was only searching to answer my sons question as to why this breed came to be known fir rescue not really caring myself, but now I do and want others to know! Thank you! Please submit this to Wikipedia!!! You have them beat by far!

    Posted by Ravencry on April 8,2009 | 02:17PM

    I love the dogs especially the st. bernards and it has been great to know about and the the history you've guys found out is great soo thanx very much! AWSOME JOB!

    Posted by julie ochoabeen great what history you've ppl discoverd on July 11,2009 | 11:47AM

    this was very interesting, it helped me with my report on St.Bernard's. This gave well thought out information.
    Thanks for the help!

    Posted by dolly on November 9,2009 | 01:36PM

    When i saw this article it really gave me some insight of what a dogs life is all about ,I mean

    Posted by on November 9,2009 | 03:04PM

    This was a great article. Not only did these dogs go through so much but also saved so many lives. It is really nice to have some insight of the great St. Bernards.

    Posted by wont tell on November 9,2009 | 03:06PM

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