These are powerful dogs, but they don’t look as exaggerated as they are today.
Ch. Duke of Surrey
Ch. Florentius
These are not entirely different from the St. Bernards that played Beethoven:
It should be noted that the original St. Bernards were short-haired dogs. The long-hairs were developed from crossing with Newfoundlands (or so the story goes). St. Bernards are related to the tricolored Swiss Mountain dogs, and Ch. Florentius looks a lot like a Greater Swiss Mountain dog, except for his coloration.
The German city of Rottweil has had a close history with Switzerland. It was actually part of the Swiss Confederation from 1463 to 1803, and the black-and-tan herding dogs from that region are derived from these tricolored Swiss dogs. The Rottweiler is more closely related to the St. Bernard than it is to the other breeds of German molosser, the Great Dane (Deutsche Dogge or “German mastiff”) and the boxer.
Thanks for this. . . I grew up with St. Bernards whom all came from one breeder. They were ‘short hair,’ ‘dry mouth’ Saints, but whenever I tell others this I get rolled eyes. In disbelief, folks always refer to Beethoven and don’t seem to believe that these dogs exist in any other form. I’ll be referring any nonbelievers here from now on.
Well I wish mine was a dry mouth, but he is a Beethoven loyal dog.