Saint Bernard

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Animals & Nature

Saint Bernard

breed of dog

Written by Caroline Coile

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2024 • Article History

Saint Bernard

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Category: Animals & Nature

Also spelled:: St. Bernard

Also called:: Saint Bernard dog

Related Topics:: working dog

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Saint Bernard, working dog credited with saving the lives of more than 2,000 people in 300 years of service as a pathfinder and rescue dog at the hospice founded by St. Bernard of Aosta (also called St. Bernard of Menthon) in the Great St. Bernard Pass in the southwestern Pennine Alps. Probably descended from mastifflike dogs that were introduced from Asia to Europe by the ancient Romans, the Saint Bernard appears to have been brought to the hospice in the late 17th century. The most famous of the hospice dogs was Barry, who reportedly saved more than 40 people before ...(100 of 735 words)

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