Dogs That Carry Canteens Around the Neck

It may simply be a myth but it's a good one. We've all seen pictures of St. Bernard dogs, a huge canine breed, with a canteen hung around its neck. This dog was bred for rescue purposes and was valuable in saving those who got lost in the alpine mountains. Whether the dogs actually wore canteens around their necks when on mountain rescue missions may be an untruth.

  1. A Myth

    • St. Bernard dogs are often portrayed with a canteen strapped around their neck. The canteen supposedly carried brandy. However, the monks at St. Bernard Hospice, where the dogs were originally trained, deny that this ever happened. This idea may be attributed to a long-ago painting that depicted the dog in such a manner. This breed is legendary for its rescue abilities which may be another reason that the canteen story was invented.

    Characteristics

    • The St. Bernard has an acute sense of smell which enabled it to find people buried in deep snow. This breed is also very smart. This dog maintains complete devotion and loyalty to its owners and will defend against a threat. A St. Bernard looks and appears formidable but they are not vicious dogs, although they have been known to bite.

    A Cross Breed

    • The St. Bernard is a cross bred dog. The monks that originally bred the St. Bernard crossed Pyrenean sheepdogs with the Newfoundland out of necessity. An avalanche destroyed their kennel and all of their hounds. At some point, it is believed that a bloodhound was entered into the mix and the Mastiff. This mix results in a fine breed of dog that is a good companion to humans and an excellent guard dog.

    On the Job

    • The original St. Bernard had short hair because it was discovered that the long-haired version collected snow and ice, which created problems for the dog when he was on a mountain rescue mission. When on a mission, the dogs worked in packs and when they found someone who was lost in the mountains, the dog would lie down next to the person, lick him and keep him warm until help arrived.

    Extraordinary Hearing

    • It is said that a St. Bernard can predict an oncoming avalanche and storms, which may be due to his ability to hear extremely low frequency sounds that people can't hear