MY NAME IS SAINT BERNARD (2007)

AOSTA - THE BREED. Some historians think that the native land of the Saint Bernard is Asia. As a matter of fact they discovered in High Assyria bas-reliefs more than thirty centuries old, representing dogs strikingly similar to the actual short haired Saint Bernard. Wars and trade brought the best specimens of these animals first to Greece, later Rome and finally to us.
AT THE GRAND SAINT BERNARD. The Hospice of the Grand-Saint-Bernard was founded by Bernard de Menthon around 1045-1050 but it isn't until 1660-1670 that the dogs appeared at the Hospice, probably given by some rich families from cantons of Valais or Vaud. So it is an anachronism to represent our patron, Sain Bernard, with one of our present. In 1696 the dogs appear for the first time on a painting representing the Hospice. As for the first written mention of the existence of the dogs at the Hospice, that was in 1708 by the Prior Ballalu.
ALL ALONG THE MIDDLE AGES. The Saint-Bernard dogs used at that time as watch dogs, developed mainly in the cantons of Valais, Vaud and the Bernese Alps, regions where the climate was appropriate and similar to their native land. During centuries we don't find any sign of these dogs. However, around 1350, we see their beautiful head represented in the coat of arms of some noble families. SAVER OF THE BREED.
Towards the middle of the 19th century, the breeding of the Grand-Saint-Bernard undergoes a serius crisis due to a great consanguinity. In 1855 they crossed the Sant-Bernard with the long haired Terre-Neuve, dogs that resembled the most the Saint-Bernard as to their intelligence and strength. They achieved their goal without damaging the breed. On the contrary the dogs were stronger and more resistant. A new strength was given to the Grand-Saint-Bernardo kennel.
FINAL WORD.
Our dogs have the honour to bear the name of the founder of the Hospice, Saint-Bernard of Menthon. They had the merit to be associated with this humanitarian work that benefited thousand of travellers throughout the centuries. Nowadays they give their name to those who dedicate themselves to save other people. It is not strange to hear say of a very generous person: "He's a real Saint-Bernard"! That the image of this dog -and his legend- might induce everybody to develop his best qualities to help the others!

"Grand Saint Bernard chiens, cani, hunde, dogs"
by Marcel Marquis
Edition revue et mise a jour par les chanoines de l'Hospice
Progettazione e realizzazione grafica Agenzia LEVER -Genova-Italy-
Printed in Italy by Tormenta Industrie Grafiche - Genova-
The illustrations in this book are from:
Photo Edition Darbellay - Martigny
Fotohaus Geiger -Films/Waldhaus
Editions Jubin -Vétroz-
Mme. C. Brault- Presidente du Club francais du St. Bernard- F27800 Brionne
Léonard Closuit - Martigny
Perrochet Sa -Lausanne
Photo Preisig - Sion-
Archives de l'Hospice du G.S.Bernard
Photoglob Ag. Zurich