Who was Barry the St. Bernard anyway?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barry worked as a mountain rescue dog and looked a little lighter than the modern breed of St. Bernard you would recognize today.

The St. Bernard hospice is a hostel for travellers located in the Great St. Bernard Pass (Switzerland) only a few hundred metres from the border of Italy. In the early 1800’s facing the tough elements of weather, terrain, avalanche and altitude, mountaineers sometimes became lost or injured and Barry’s kind were used to locate them. He lived from 1800 – 1812 and when it comes to notoriety, Barry der Menschenretter is about as famous as they get… reportedly saving 40 human lives during his lifetime. He was a gentle natured dog that used his phenomenal sense of smell and surefootedness to rescue humans in the alps.

The monks residing at St Bernards crossed Barry’s kind with Newfoundlands later that century which resulted in a more ‘jowly’ appearance. The modern breed as we know it today is not so suited to the kind of life Barry led and possesses far less stamina. However St. Bernards are still known for their desire to please and their famous cousin Barry did at least have a book and a movie made about him.

Leah & Angela O’Meara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)