The Development of the Longhaired Saint Bernard
In 1830, the monks began experimenting with breeding their Saint Bernards with other large, longhaired breeds, including Newfoundlands and Leonbergers. The reason for these crosses was largely practical. Many of the dogs had died during particularly harsh winters, and the monks believed that a longer coat might provide better protection against the extreme cold.
Unfortunately, the long coat did not work as they had hoped. During long journeys through deep snow, ice would collect on the dogs’ hair, adding considerable weight and making movement difficult. Because of this, longhaired Saint Bernards proved unsuitable for the demanding rescue work in the mountains.
The monks eventually returned to using primarily shorthaired dogs for rescue missions and began giving away many of their longhaired puppies. These puppies were adopted by Swiss breeders, who continued breeding them with their own dogs. As a result, both longhaired and shorthaired puppies continued to be produced.
Through careful and selective breeding by dedicated Swiss fanciers, the Saint Bernard eventually returned to the original hospice type. The primary difference between the two varieties was the length of their coats.
