Saint Berxer

The Saint Berxer is a combination of a purebred Saint Bernard and a purebred Boxer, both part of the Molosser dog group. The Saint Bernard - also known as the Alpine Mastiff, Bernhardiner, and St. Bernhardshund - is best known for its work in alpine rescue and for its imposing size. From the early 18th century, monks living at St.Bernard Pass — a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland — kept these dogs to help them rescue travellers that were trapped in the snow. Their excellent sense of smell helped locate people who were trapped under the snow and the dogs would then lie on them to provide warmth. They used to travel in pairs and the other dog would go and fetch one of the monks to help after they had located the victim. They are often depicted with a keg of brandy around their necks to revive these travellers but it is not true. The keg was incorporated into a painting of the dogs by Edwin Landseer and the image stuck. One of the most famous of the search and rescue dogs, owned by the monks at the St. Bernard Hospice, was named Barry, who is believed to have saved between 40 and 100 people. At one stage the monks cross bred the Saints with Newfoundlands believing the longer hair would be beneficial. But it proved to do the opposite and the long hair actually froze in the snow so this was abandoned. In 1880 they were officially named “Saint Bernards” by the Swiss Kennel Club and the Saint Bernard Club of America was established in 1888. The Boxer was developed in Germany in the 19th Century. Their ancestors included the Bullenbeisser (now extinct) which hunted boar and deer, and the Bulldog. In 1895 the first Boxer club was established in Germany called the Deutscher Boxer Club. It developed the breed standard in 1904. During World War l, Boxers were used as messengers and guard dogs and helped locate wounded soldiers. They came to the notice of American soldiers and many then found their way to the United States. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935. Boxers take about three years to reach maturity and are puppylike and playful for a good three years before hitting adulthood.