The Rhodesia Bernard is
a relatively new hybrid, though the two breeds that make the hybrid have long
histories. European dogs like the Great Danes, Mastiffs, Bloodhounds, Pointers,
Greyhounds, Terriers, and more were brought with the Dutch Boers when they settled
in South Africa in the 16th to 18th centuries.
During the 18th century, the Boers figured out that the dogs that
they used for hunting and guarding were not well suited for the extremes of
temperatures that occurred. Seeking a dog that would do well in such
conditions, they bred the European dogs that they brought with a dog that was
common among the Hottentots or Khoikhoi tribes that were close by and who had a
particular ridge of fur along his spine. The dogs that were developed had short
hair and the ridge of the tribal dog. These dogs were good at hunting by sign
and scent and worked as protectors and hunters. These dogs were brought with
the Dutch in the 1800’s when they moved north to escape the rules of the
British, settling in Zimbabwe, which was they called Rhodesia. When there, the
dogs were used to hunt lions. The breed was brought to London in the
1930’s and then to America, where it was admitted to the American Kennel Club
in 1955. The Saint Bernard is believed to be the result of dogs native to the
Alps being crossed with Mastiff like dogs that were brought by the Roman army
during Emperor Augustus’ rule. “Saint Bernard” comes from the breeds founder,
St. Bernard de Menthon as well as the monks that were part of its
establishment. Dogs of the breed were used by the Switzerland Hospice St.
Bernard to help travellers who were going through the treacherous Alpine pass
between Switzerland and Italy. The initial Saint Bernard dogs had short hair
and in the mid 1600’s dogs of the breed were the top choice for rescue work, as
a result of being able to smell a person that has been buried by snow from an
avalanche. It has been said that the Saint Bernard can predict storms and
avalanches as a result of being able to hear sounds of very low frequency.
