Us Siegfried Fan't Asstridshiem "Siegfried"

It is believed that the Saint Bernard descends from Roman mastiffs brought to Switzerland during the Roman Empire. Further developed by monks to locate travellers lost in the Swiss Alps, the dog is named for the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard.  Since the 1600s, Saint Bernards have rescued over 2,500 people. Today, Saint Bernards are still bred at the Hospice - largely as a tourist attraction.

This sad-faced giant measures at least  27 1/2 inches at the shoulder and may weigh up to 200 lbs. His thick coat is either short or medium-long in white with red markings or red with white markings. His head, neck, chest, feet, and tip of the tail are marked with white. His heavy jowls are prone to drooling. The Saint Bernard is friendly, gentle, and calm. A huge couch potato of a dog, his laid-back temperament borders on lazy. He gets along well with children and other household pets. An effective watchdog, he is too mellow to be a real guard dog. The Saint Bernard likes to be around people. This is a large dog with a good appetite who needs plenty of space. He should live in a larger home with a good-sized, fenced backyard. Although not inclined to vigorous activity, he nevertheless should receive daily walks to keep in shape. Obedience training is essential for puppies as they will soon grow into massive dogs whose size and strength will be hard to control.