Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-04
ST. BERNARD DOGS.
THEY BEAR THE MARKS OF CEN.
TuRlES OF GOOD BREEDING. 8

TURlES OF GOOD BREEDING. 8
Their Genealogy Dates Back Moro Than
! 500 Years-Two Varieties, the Rough
and the Smooth Coated-Their Leading
Characteristics,
Any one who has been lost in snow storm,
rendered insensible by cold, and then been
| awakened by noble brute licking his hands
and face; one who has watched the intelligent
animal plunge through the drifts, to reappear
with human aid-such person would not be
wondered at for having an affection for dogs.
| Or, If person were waylaid or assaulted by
a tramp or robber and a great four footed
! projectile should bound past him and knock
the miscreant over as effectually as ascannon
ball would, that person ought certainly to
| appreciate his dumb defender. Compare
| lively few people are indebted to dogs for so
| valuable services, though it was only the
| other day that the newspapers reported the
| timely rescue of man whose dog had brought
| help to him as he lay benumbed in the snow
near Long Island City But let man who
| doesn't care for dogs that is, dogs in gen.
eral; one who owes them no good will, and
| place fine specimen OF the st. Bernard be-
| fore him, and he cannot help admiring him.
| The st. Bernard seems conscious Of his
noble ancestry, and be bears the marks of
his centuries of good breeding and gallant
deeds on his face. Dignity, affection, good
nature, pride, what might be called the pos
session of a good dog conscience, are to be
found in his countenance. OF course these
may be claimed in some degree for other
| breeds; but this article has only to do with
| the traits of St. Bernards. Their genealogy
dates back to 962 A D., when Friar Bernard
de Mention, accompanied by his dog, estab-
| lished the hospice on the Alps which the st.
| Bernard dogs have since made famous by their
exploits in rescuing snow bound travellers.
| The breed seems to be most nearly allied to
the pure bloodhound, resembling the latter
in fine sense of smell, intelligence, strength
and judicial aspect. Two varieties have
been evolved the rough and smooth coated;
the former the genuine Swiss dog and the
more preferred, while the latter is result of
crossing with the mastiffs or smooth coated
dog at some time.
PET AND COMPANION.
Judging from the demand in this city the
st. Bernard, unlike most breeds, is always in
fashion pet and companion. These dogs
are especially liked by ladies, such ladies as
do not fancy the other extreme in dogs and
so fondle pugs and spaniels. A St Bernard
should measure from % to 80 inches in height
at the shoulder, and weigh from 140 to 100
pounds. Fanciers are extremely particular
| about the markings and always consider the
following points: The color should be gold,
orange or tawny, though brindle is admissible,
at least on the head; the chest, feet and more
or less at the legs should be white; the face
should be blazed with white the tail tipped
with white and the collar or shawl white.
The white shawl and collar are priced as re-
sembling the vestments of the monks. Other
points are as important as color. The head
must be broad, with q high occipital bone,
also long and we'll ''dished" in profile at tbs
eye. This should be grave and bold, with
the integument drawn away from the inner
corner, showing the red ''haw." Large fest,
strong legs with fringe of hair, and double
dew claws are indispensable. A dog that
weighs 100 pounds should measure about
twenty-five inches around the head and forty
at the chest.
A veteran dog fancier and breeder told
reporter that he had abandoned breeding
every kind of dog but the st. Bernards.
''They are the only kind that are always in
demand and always in fashion," he said. II
will not breed any but the rough coats,
either. Others may like the smooth, but 1
do not. 1 don't think their temper is so re-
liable.
Delicate? Well, they want good care,
but 1 seldom lose pup. The trouble is that
people NEW them up in city houses and deny
the dogs air and exercise, which is against
their nature. Do you know, a cross between
the st. Bernard and the Labrador dog makes
a wonderful watch doga They combine the
good nature and intelligence of the one with
the alertness and spirit of the other l have
one of them that caught negro with his
hands full Of game chickens in my Lenroost
one night. He knocked tho man over and
held him like wise, and if l had not called
stop would have killed him. I made the
darkey put the chickens on the roost and
then l kicked him out. There was no use in
putting him in prison and letting his family
starve"
There are numbers Of prize st. Bernards
in and near New York, many of them owned
by the various kennel companies, who keep
them for breeding York Tribune.