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| Short-Haired
and Long-Haired Saints |
Before embarking on a
discussion of coat-type in Saint Bernard dogs it is necessary to clarify
some terminology. The term 'short-haired' Saint is based on the
translation of the word 'stockhaarig'. While the most common translation
of 'stockhaarig' is short-haired (or 'stockhaar' to smooth coat), the
'Trilingual Pocket Dictionary of Canine Terminology, Wien 1991 defines
'stockhaarig' as 'double-coated'. In German Saint terminology there is
no differentiation between 'kurzhaarig' and 'stockhaarig' and
consequently 'stockhaarig' may be translated into English as
'short-haired'.
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In German Saint terminology
there is no differentiation between 'kurzhaarig' and 'stockhaarig' and
consequently 'stockhaarig' may be translated into English as
'short-haired'. A case can be made that all Saints should properly be
termed as either long-haired or double-coated (or perhaps, rough-coated
versus smooth-coated); and that the term short-haired should be reserved
for breeds like Pinschers and Greyhounds. There is a further
complication to the story. According to Dr. Hans Räber, it was not
uncommon for Saints to be shown as short-haired dogs in their youth and
as long-haired Saints when they were older. Therefore, considerable
caution must be exercised when analyzing old pedigrees and records. In
order to avoid confusion, we will always use 'short-haired' when
translating 'stockhaarig'. |
What was the origin of the
long- haired Saint Bernard dog? Heim and Schumacher believed that the
monks on the Great St. Bernard crossed their dogs with Newfoundlands
because the Newfoundland was crowned with the aura of a life saver. Heim
sets the date of this cross-breeding at 1830 while Schumacher only says
that Barry was "the representative of the old Saint Bernard breed
before Newfoundlands were cross-bred".
Schumacher described the offspring of the crosses as red with white
markings, "with huge heads and until now unmatched size and heavily
built". Prior Delêglise, in a letter to Mrs. v. Tschudi, writes
that "the two |
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Newfoundlands which we have
received from Stuttgart last winter have grown up very nicely,
especially the male, who has taken up his service in the mountains in a
very good manner".
However, the initial cross that resulted in the long-haired Saint may be
more complicated than previously thought. The Newfoundlands previously
mentioned, came from Stuttgard in or about 1830. During that time, Mr.
Essig was involved in experimental crosses between the Newfoundland,
Saint Bernard and Great Pyrenean Mountain Dog. These crosses are
believed to have produced the first Leonbergers.
First mention of the Leonberger Breed was in 1846, approximately
fourteen years after the initial cross reported by Heim and Schumacher.
However, this does not preclude the Leonberger as being central to the
foundation of the long-haired Saint Bernard. Mr. Essig is known to have
used Saint Bernards from the Hospice and in return, sent two Leonbergers
to the Hospice as payment.
The Newfoundland is, no doubt, a direct ancestor to both the long-haired
Saint Bernard and Leonberger. Whether the Leonberger, Newfoundland or a
combination of the two provided the foundation for long-hair, remains a
question. Even though the Leonberger is not mentioned as a breed until
1846, Mr. Essig was in the process of developing the breed, prior to
this date.
To further confuse matters, Max Siber and Siegmund mention breedings
between Saint Bernards and long-haired dogs from the Canton of Valais (a
breed related to the long-haired Pyrenean Mountain Dog). Siegmund
reports that these crosses occasionally resulted in long-haired puppies.
Max Siber mentions these dogs in his short history of the Saint Bernard,
published in the first Swiss Stud Book in 1884. He describes the dogs as
follows: "long-haired shepherd from the Valais" (a breed
related to the long-haired Pyrenean Mountain Dog)... Studer confirms
these reports on "common long-haired dog from the Alps" from
the valleys. Siber categorically denies any cross-breeding with
Newfoundlands, as well as with Leonbergers. He does, however, mention
unsuccessful crosses with Leonbergers attempted in Germany.
Dr. E. Schmid in his essay on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of
the Swiss Saint Bernard Club reports a cross-breeding of Saints and
Newfoundlands in 1856. Schumacher did not mention this specific cross,
making this tale difficult to verify. Stories surrounding the
Newfoundland will remain in doubt. Evidence supporting their accuracy,
does not exist in the archives at the hospice.
Long-haired Saint Bernards were not suited for the duties in the
mountains and were given to patrons in the valleys. In the lowlands, the
fancier long-haired dogs were preferred over the short-haired ones.
Before long the general opinion was that the Saint Bernard Dog had
always been long-haired and was more valuable than the short-haired
version which were believed to have come from Saint Gotthard.
Count v. Rougemont gave a short-haired Saint, who originated from the
Hospice to Mr. Klopfenstein in Neuenegg. Mr. Klopfenstein, in turn, sold
him to Schumacher in 1855. The dog was named Barry I and became an
important stud dog in Schumacher's kennel.
The issues surrounding long vs. short-hair was a topic for heated
debate. Problems arose when the FCI accorded both varieties, (long and
short-haired) the expectation of achieving international conformation
championships (CACIB) and thus, prevented intercrossing of both
varieties. Experience showed that a separation of the two varieties
resulted in loss of proper phenotype. Two separate breeds would have
evolved if long and short-haired Saints had not been allowed to be bred
together. In the early 1980's, the FCI established a list of all
interbreedable varieties. Both long and short-haired Saints were
mentioned as varieties that could be interbred. The CACIB was no longer
reserved for dogs who belonged to the same variety for three or more
generations.
In the United States, the prevailing thought is that short-haired dogs
must be used, at least every second or third generation to maintain
proper type. It is felt that the continuous crossing of long-haired to
long-haired Saint will result in loss of correct phenotype. On the other
hand, some breeder's in Switzerland feel that the exclusive breeding of
short-haired Saints will cause a loss of type and a convergence towards
the old "Küherhunde" (cowherd's dogs).
Breeders in both Switzerland and the United States feel that long-haired
Saints impart increased size. In Switzerland, long-haired Saints are
usually larger, have stronger stops, shorter muzzles and tend to have
more 'loose' skin. Some Swiss believe that this loose skin contributes
to a higher incidence of ectropion in long-haired dogs. Howerver, only
an epidemiological study will verify these claims.
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