Short-Haired and Long-Haired Saints

All drawings by Richard Strebel (ca. 1896)

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'.
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 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.

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The Saint Bernard Pass >
The Origins of the Dogs >
The Dogs from the Hospice >
Short- and Long-Haired Saints >
Their Rescue and Life-Saving Work >
The Beginning of Purebred Saints >
The Legendary Barry >
Bibliography, Acknowledgement, Dedication & Copyright Notice >

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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