No.0009 - St Bernard

MYTH: St Bernard carry brandy in its barrel around its neck.



True Story: St Bernards never carried a brandy barrel.

The idea of a brandy barrel was an English artist Sir Edwin Landseer*'s. He painted a scene called "Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveller" in 1831 (shown below), which shows one of the St Bernard wearing a miniature barrel around its neck. He added the barrel 'for interest', however it got stuck.

The name "St Bernard" was also popularised by Landseer.

It is estimated that St Bernards have made around 2500 rescues since 1800, however none in the last 50 years.


* Sir Edwin was a renowned painter of landscapes and animals. His most famous works are "The Monarch of the Glen" and his sculpture of lions around the base of Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square.