The Bernese Is a Loyal Dog of the Swiss Alps
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The Bernese Is A Loyal Dog Of The Swiss Alps By MRS. L. EGG LEACH Questa vom Sumiswald the small wagons, filled with baskets, is an excellent specimen to the market place, in Berne. of the Bernese Mountain Dog. She is exceedingly fond of EVERTHELESS, they were Children, as are all mem- passed by unnoticed for many bers of the breed years. Their brave deeds were never brought to the notice of the public, at home or abroad. Still these dogs did their duty, year in and year out, often under the greatest hardships, and without the kindly and loving care that are bestowed on the St. Bernards by the monks at the Hospice. HERE are four species of Swiss but it is the one with which I am most Their masters—the basket weavers — mountain dogs, • or familiar, having always had the good were reared in a hard school. Work and "Sennenhunde," as they are fortune to have some in my near neigh- poverty was often their lot. They lived called in Switzerland. They are: the borhood, which I could watch and miles from anywhere, in some lonely Appenzeller Sennenhunde from the study individually. mountain valley or hamlet, and their Canton of Appenzell, the smallest of I am not a fancier of this breed, but I only recreation was the long tramp, the four species; the Entlibucher have watched it closely, without taking beside their wagons, on market-day. Sennenhunde, from Entlibuch in the any active part, for very many years, Canton of Lucerne; the Grosse and my admiration has never waned. Theirs was no easy life, and the dogs Schweizer Sennenhunde—large These mountain dogs, although a very shared it. Swiss—the largest, and the draught- old Swiss breed, do not share the dogs of Switzerland; and the Berner world-wide fame of their near rela- It was in the market place that the Sennenhunde, the only long-coated tives, the St. Bernards, from the dogs were noticed. One man related he one, and the acknowledged aristocrat Hospice of the Great St. Bernard. In remembered his parents speaking about of them all. fact, until a few years before the great the dogs. Yet it was a long time before All are tricolor, black, white, tan. war, they even were not very well they were brought out of exile.” No one But in this breed, the light tan mark- known in their own country, Switzer- really cared about them, and they were ings are never encouraged — they land. For a great many years, they often crossed with all sorts of breeds, can best be described as a rich, seemed to have been quite forgotten. often choosing their own mates, until russet-brown. The old people in the Canton of Berne the time came when they were almost an At one time, there were many with knew them well, but in time, they were extinct breed. whole white collars and fore-legs. seldom seen. Then it was, in the year 1892, that this But of late years, the fanciers have one man went in search of some good preferred more black, and the white specimen. is now confined to chest, feet, tip of HE three other species were used tail, and in most cases, to a white to herd the cattle on the Alps. But I will mention no names, as there are stripe, or blaze up the foreface. the Bernese species, of which I many that may not be left out, and It is the Bernese, the long-coated am writing, belonged mostly to the names would convey nothing to my species, which I have chosen for my basket weavers in and around the readers. Suffice it to say, that, in a subject. It may not seem quite fair to Canton of Berne. These dogs were used short time, others followed his good the fanciers of the other three to draw example, and a few good specimens species, were unearthed to try and build up a JUNE 1, 1935 18 American Kennel Gazette breed that had been sadly neglected. Why such lovely dogs should have remained unnoticed for so long a The Bernese does not time, no one seems to know. Some make friends easily put this down to the craze for with strangers. Here is foreign breeds, especially British Ajax vom Buchegg- ones. Personally, I do not think this berg, a dog that is could make any difference. These very well known dogs were simply passed by. that he could not T is all very mysterious when understand the few you consider the age of the words I could—or breed. Some declare that the dog thought I could— can be traced back as far as the speak of his lan- Romans. Others say it originated guage, for they from the dogs of Tibet. No one were not compli- seemed to have seen their value in the past, as a pure-bred, national mentary at all. I have since learned breed. much about the draught-dogs, and am He has no harness on. The children have Let me relate how and when I first fully convinced that they are happier attached a piece of rope to his collar, made the acquaintance of these Ber- at work than when idle. and he is rushing up and down the road, nese dogs, many years ago, before barking for all he is worth. they were brought to the notice of And one, belonging to another neighbor, the public and before their club was HE man told me later on that he I can see rolling in the snow with formed. My interest in them at first was from the Canton of Berne, the children, letting them snowball him was purely a sentimental one. I had and his dog was a "Dürbächler," to their hearts' content. It is a pretty only just arrived in Switzerland, the name by which they were then sight. where I have resided now for more known. than 30 years. Since I have learned more about the Love of children, faithfulness to their One day, I saw from afar, what I breed, I now know that this was not a master and his family seem to be very thought was a tricolor collie, well-bred specimen. It was many years strongly developed in this breed, there is harnessed to a small wagon, filled after that, before I saw a really good no treachery in their nature. Their with milk-cans, taking the milk from dog. owners do not like to see them leading a house to house. I had read much The Bernese species are seldom to be lazy life. One authority on Swiss breeds about sled-dogs and had seen many seen in harness now. They soon found once said of them, as well as of the St. photographs of them, but T had favor with the richer classes, and are Bernards: "they are trained when born." never seen a dog in harness before; valued very much as housedogs and above all, one of my lifelong companions, especially where there One would really think there was some favorites. It was too much for me. A are children. truth in this statement, for they love dog was a companion and friend to They are passionately fond of chil- work of any sort. me, not something to be used as a dren. It is no unusual sight to see them beast of burden. pulling along a wagon full of children, HEY were used to hardships in the I think I lost my head at the time. I for the fun of the thing. old days, and I do not think they forgot, for the moment that I was in As I am writing, I can see one of my will ever lose their working quali- a strange land, and that strange neighbor's Bernese dogs, pulling some ties. They can be trained to anything lands had strange customs, I had children along the road in a sled. within reason. still much to learn. Not only was my interest awakened, but my indignation was aroused at such a sight. When the dog came nearer, I saw that it was a totally different breed. But to me it was a four-footed friend. I had never read nor heard of this breed before, and my interest soon developed into admiration. The dog was well cared for, and his master seemed kind to him. Certainly the master did not deserve the bitter reproaches I gave him. I am thankful to this day Of the four species of the Swiss mountain Dog, the long-coated ones are the aristocrats June 1, 1935 19 I have been told that one or more have been exported to America, but I do not know to which part of that continent. TILL I believe they have not yet been brought to the notice of the American public, neither have they been recognized by the American Kennel Club. At the special shows, held for Swiss breeds from time to time, in Switzerland, some splendid specimens are to be seen. It is here the novice can learn During the great war, they were much by watching the placings of the trained, by the Red Cross, in best dogs and bitches. Their judges are Germany. One dog was sent from Bernese puppies are adorable. They mostly very thorough with the Swiss Switzerland to be trained for that soon grow into excellent house dogs breeds, and carefully overhaul the work. The result was splendid, and and splendid companions exhibits. A cow-hocked and badly proved their ability for such work, in balanced dog has no chance with them, time of war.