Saint Bermastiff

The Saint Bermastiff is a relatively new hybrid, though the two breeds that make the hybrid have long histories. It is believed that the Saint Bernard resulted from crossing dogs that were native to the Alps with Mastiff dogs that were brought by the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Establishing the breed was St. Bernard de Menthon and some monks; the dogs were then used by a Switzerland Hospice to help those who were coming through the Alpine pass between the countries of Switzerland and Italy. The breed became a popular choice for rescue work in the 17^th Century because they had the ability to smell a person who was buried under a lot of snow in an avalanche. Due to their ability to hear low frequency sounds, the dogs have been found to predict storms and avalanches. The Mastiff is a descendant of the Molosser family and it is believed that he was brought to the British Isles on Phoenician trading vessels sometime between 2000 and 1500 B.C. These dogs were isolated on an island and bred to protect the tribes that lived on the Isles over the course of hundreds of years. During the Roman invasion in 55 BC, Mastiffs participated in the resistance against Rome. Julius Caesar was impressed with the size and courage of the breed and he brought them to Rome to battle lions and gladiators. Over the course of the centuries, the Mastiff continued as a protector and guardian, though also participated in bull and bear baiting and pit fighting. The modern Mastiff is a descendant of these dogs as well as the Lyme Hall Mastiffs. The foundation of the Lime Hall Mastiffs and future English Mastiffs was the dog of Sir Peers Legh, who was fatally wounded in a battle on October 23, 1415 in northern France. His Mastiff defended him for hours during the battle and returned home with a litter of puppies. The Mastiff ultimately was selectively bred to minimize the qualities that caused concern, creating a large docile dog that earned recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1885.