3. Bernard, St.
* Average Cost: $1,800
Origin Country: Swiss/Italian Alps
Large and powerful, the St. Bernard is a working dog. Its maximum weight is 260 pounds, and its maximum height is 35 inches at the withers. The original purpose of the St. Bernard breed was to rescue dogs. These canines were bred by the St. Bernard Pass hospice in order to aid anyone stranded in the snow near the Italian-Swiss border.
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St. Bernard, Shutterstock and Artush
The Italian monk Bernard of Menthon, who began breeding the rescue dogs in 1660, is credited with giving them their original name. There are legends about the brave rescues of this breed throughout history, as well as tales of its heroic temperament.
Due to the widespread affection for these kinds of giants, St. Bernards have appeared in films for many years. Kids in the 1990s adored films like Beethoven, which you can stream on Peacock or Hulu. Beethoven, a St. Bernard that starred in the film, was so successful that it spawned seven sequels between 1993 and 2014.
