Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-12-05
ST. BERNARD DOGS.
THEY BEAR THE MARKS or GEN.
TuRlEs or GOOD BREEDING.
Their Geneaiogy Dates Back More Than
300 Years TIVE Varieties. the Rough
and the smooth C.ai ess--rheIr Leading
Characteristies.

aud the smooth csaiea--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 reappcar
with human aid such person would not be-
wondered at for having an affection for dogs.
Or, II a person were waylaid or assaulted by
a tramp on robber, and "A great four footed
projectile should bound past him and knock
the miscreant over as eifeetuaily a. asnnon
ball would, that person ought cert ,nly 70
appreciate his dumb defender. Coinpara-
lively few people are indebted to dogs for 70
valuable services, though 1t was only the
other day that the newspapers reported the
timely rescue of a nfau whose dog had brought
help 10 him a. he lay benu,n,sd in the snow
near Long island City. But let a man who
doesn't care for dogs, that s, dogs in gem
eral; one who owes them no good will, and
place fine specimen Of the III Bernard be-
fore him, and he cannot help admiring him.
The ut. Bernard seems conscious Of his
noble ancestry, and he 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 q good dog conscience, are 10 be
found Ia 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. Bernanls. Their genealogy
dates hack to isi2 A. D., when Friar Bernard
de Mention, accompanied by his dog, estab-
lished the hospiee on the Alps which the ST.
Bernard dogs have since made famous by their
exploits III resculng SNOW bound travellers
The breed seems to be most nearly allied to
the pure bloodhound. resembling the latter
in fiue 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 tho
more preferred, while the latter IL result of
crossing with the mastiffs or smooth coated
dog Mt some time
A PET AND COMPANION
Judging from the demand in this city the
st. Bernard, unlike most breeds. is always In
fashion as pet and companion These dogs
arr especially liked by ladies, such ladies' as
do not fancy the other extreme in dogs and
50 fondle pugs and spaniels A st. Bernard
should measure from ~ to ~ inches in height
at the shoulder, and weigh from lao 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
o. 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.
semblng the vestnents of the monks. Other
! points are as important as color. The head
must be broad, with a high occipital bone,
also long and well 'dished" in profile at the
eye. This should be grave and bold, with
the integument drawn away from the inner
corner showing the red -haw." Large feet,
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 q
reporter that hs had abandoned breeding
every kind of dog but the St Bernards.
They arr the only kind that are always in
demand and always in fashion, he said. II
viii not breed amy but the rough coats,
either. Others may like the smooth, but |
do not don't think their temper is 50 re-
liable.
'.Delicatei Well, they want good care,
but | seldom lose pup, The trouble il 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 dngt They combine the
good nature and intelligence of the one with
the alertneeSs and spirit of the other. | have
one IT them that caught a negro with hi.
hands full Of game chickens in my henroosi
one night. He knocked the man over and
| held him like yis., and IL | had not called
stop would have killed him. made ths
darkey put the chickens ON the roost and
then kicked him out There was no uss in
putting him in prison and letting his famil.
| starveH
There are numbers Of prize ST. Bernard
in and near New York, many of them ownes
by the various kennel companies. who keel
them for breeding.-Sew York Tribune