The emblematic dog of the Swiss Confederation, the Saint Bernard, owes its worldwide fame to Barry, the legendary rescuer of the Great St Bernard Pass. Behind this good-natured giant with the gentle gaze lies a rich history, somewhere between legend, emerging cynological science and very real rescue work.

The Great St Bernard Hospice, cradle of the rescue dog

The hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass was founded as early as the 11th century. In the 18th century, the monks acquired large mountain-type dogs, initially tasked with guarding and defence — documents from 1695 and 1707 already attest to their presence. Quite naturally, these dogs then took on a second mission: rescuing people lost in the snow and fog on this pass, which reaches 2,469 metres.

The legend of Barry

Among these dogs, Barry remains surrounded by a famous legend: "He saved 40 people, and the 41st was fatal to him", a motto engraved on the stele erected in his honour at the Asnières-sur-Seine pet cemetery. According to the same legend, one night a soldier of Napoleon, lost in a storm, mistook him for a wolf and, in a panic, killed him.

The reality behind the myth

Barry had genuine rescue qualities, but the story of his life was somewhat romanticised. In reality, he died at the age of 14 in Bern, where he had spent his last two years. His taxidermied body is preserved and displayed at the Natural History Museum of Bern, Switzerland.

Barry at the Natural History Museum of Bern

Barry has been on display there since 1815. His taxidermy was altered a century later: in poor condition, it also showed a posture considered too humble for the image of the courageous hero visitors expected. Taxidermist Georg Ruprecht fully reconstructed Barry in 1923, according to the standards of the time — prouder and closer to the Saint Bernard we know today, with fur that remains authentic. Until 2014, Barry stood in the museum's entrance hall; on the 200th anniversary of his death, the museum dedicated a permanent exhibition to him.

The official birth of the breed

The Swiss stud book was opened in February 1884. The first dog registered in this national record was the Saint Bernard Léon; the following 28 entries were also Saint Bernards. The Swiss Saint Bernard Club was founded in Basel on 15 March 1884. At an international cynology congress on 2 June 1887, the Saint Bernard was officially recognised as a breed of Swiss origin and its standard was declared mandatory. Since then, the Saint Bernard has been considered Switzerland's national dog, and the legendary Barry the ancestor of the rescue dog.

Physical characteristics

  • Height: about 70 to 90 cm at the withers for males, slightly less for females
  • Weight: 64 to 120 kg depending on the individual — one of the heaviest breeds in the world
  • Coat: two recognised varieties, short-haired (smooth) and long-haired (rough)
  • Colour: white with red to reddish-brown patches (or the reverse), symmetrical facial markings, often a dark mask
  • Build: massive head, pronounced dewlap, powerful bone structure built for mountain work

Temperament

The Saint Bernard is a good-natured giant: calm, patient and deeply attached to its family, including children. Not prone to aggression, it nonetheless remains a deterrent guard dog through sheer stature alone. Its abundant drooling, caused by its loose lips and dewlap, is very much part of the breed's character.

Roles and disciplines

  • Historic rescue dog: original role at the Great St Bernard Pass, detecting people buried in snow
  • Family companion: by far its dominant use today
  • Draft and pulling dog: its physical strength makes it a good candidate for supervised weight-pulling
  • Show dog: an emblematic breed at dog shows, particularly in Switzerland

Health and lifespan

Life expectancy of only 8 to 10 years, short as with most giant breeds. Points of attention:

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia, common given the size
  • Gastric torsion (bloat), due to a deep chest
  • Heart conditions, notably dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Heat sensitivity, linked to coat thickness and body mass

Arnold Fatio, an essential reference

How could one end this Swiss cynological journey without a thought for Arnold Fatio, that great trainer and visionary? His work, a true bible for understanding the dog, remains a reference to recommend to any young enthusiast setting out on the canine adventure.

Also available in English: harness or collar: which to choose depending on use, the clicker and other positive reinforcement tools and ticks and parasites: protecting the active dog all year round. More translations are added over time.