Nine pups born at Saint Bernard foundation

"Hera", a four-and-a-half year old female, gives birth to nine puppies at the St. Bernard Barry Foundation in Martigny, the original kennel for Switzerland's national dog. While no longer employed to seek out buried avalanche victims, St. Bernards are sometimes trained as therapy dogs, to be taken to visit the elderly and children at Swiss hospices. Escorting hikers on organised walks in the mountains is another of their modern-day functions. Although not a record, the recent birth of nine puppies from a breed the size of a St. Bernard is “unusual”, says Anja Ebner of the Barry Foundation in Martigny. “We’ve had three litters this year, one with seven puppies and one with three,” she told Swisster.
“We expect all nine to survive – Hera didn’t have enough milk and we had to bottle-feed them at first, but now the puppies are all doing very well. Hera is already used to having pups,” she said.
The pups will spend the first five weeks of their lives in protected surroundings before being introduced to the public. “We feel that it is particularly important for the young dogs to encounter as many different things as possible at a very early age,” explained dog manager Manuel Gaillard. “They come into contact with different materials and objects in the puppy playroom for example.”
Between 20 and 25 offspring are born each year at the centre, some of which are for sale ten weeks after birth – though not to just anybody. Potential owners are asked to join a long waiting list, fill out an extensive application form and are subsequently vetted in person before parting with 2,200 francs.
Experience with large dogs (an adult male can weigh as much as 110 kilograms), as well as adequate space and time are the major requirements. “A St. Bernard looks very friendly, but it’s still an animal. It’s very important to have a good socialisation programme with lots of education and activities,” advised Ebener. The foundation has eight dog handlers and is mostly funded by donations and sponsorship.
The breed’s bloodline at the foundation can be traced back to the original sire, Barry 1 (1800 – 1814), after whom the establishment is named. “This kennel is the first place where St. Bernards were bred and it’s the oldest in the world,” she said.
Barry 1 (see below) is credited with saving the lives of 40 people in and around the St. Bernard pass (from where the breed gets its name) but was quite different to the lumbering, slobber-jawed giants popularized in the “Beethoven” movies.
“He was a smaller dog with a very long nose. Now the breed has a shorter nose and it’s not as effective in avalanche situations,” said Ebener. “Lighter dogs are better nowadays because they’re more agile,” she added. “St. Bernards are good at pulling sledges or carrying backpacks. But they don’t really run – they’re strong though.”
To maintain something of a tradition which ended more than 50 years ago however, one animal at the foundation – “Schuster” – has undergone two years of avalanche training and will continue said Ebener.
Experts are finding that the St. Bernard's naturally sympathetic disposition is ideal to have them schooled as “therapy” dogs, visiting hospitals and old people’s homes to provide a moment of comfort for those in need.
“It helps open the minds of elderly people and we find contact with the dog helps get them talking and participating in life again,” said Ebener.
In summer, the dogs are transported from Martigny to their summer retreat at the famous hospice run by monks in the St. Bernard pass, where up to ten visitors per trip can accompany the animals on a hike in the mountains.
The monks, who originally bred the canines as rescue animals in the pass, sold off their charges several years ago, as they were unable to take care of them any longer.
The Barry Foundation was established in 2005.
 

"Hera", a four-and-a-half year old female, gives birth to nine puppies at the St. Bernard Barry Foundation in Martigny, the original kennel for Switzerland's national dog. While no longer employed to seek out buried avalanche victims, St. Bernards are sometimes trained as therapy dogs, to be taken to visit the elderly and children at Swiss hospices. Escorting hikers on organised walks in the mountains is another of their modern-day functions. Although not a record, the recent birth of nine puppies from a breed the size of a St. Bernard is “unusual”, says Anja Ebner of the Barry Foundation in Martigny. “We’ve had three litters this year, one with seven puppies and one with three,” she told Swisster.
“We expect all nine to survive – Hera didn’t have enough milk and we had to bottle-feed them at first, but now the puppies are all doing very well. Hera is already used to having pups,” she said.
The pups will spend the first five weeks of their lives in protected surroundings before being introduced to the public. “We feel that it is particularly important for the young dogs to encounter as many different things as possible at a very early age,” explained dog manager Manuel Gaillard. “They come into contact with different materials and objects in the puppy playroom for example.”
Between 20 and 25 offspring are born each year at the centre, some of which are for sale ten weeks after birth – though not to just anybody. Potential owners are asked to join a long waiting list, fill out an extensive application form and are subsequently vetted in person before parting with 2,200 francs.
Experience with large dogs (an adult male can weigh as much as 110 kilograms), as well as adequate space and time are the major requirements. “A St. Bernard looks very friendly, but it’s still an animal. It’s very important to have a good socialisation programme with lots of education and activities,” advised Ebener. The foundation has eight dog handlers and is mostly funded by donations and sponsorship.
The breed’s bloodline at the foundation can be traced back to the original sire, Barry 1 (1800 – 1814), after whom the establishment is named. “This kennel is the first place where St. Bernards were bred and it’s the oldest in the world,” she said.
Barry 1 (see below) is credited with saving the lives of 40 people in and around the St. Bernard pass (from where the breed gets its name) but was quite different to the lumbering, slobber-jawed giants popularized in the “Beethoven” movies.
“He was a smaller dog with a very long nose. Now the breed has a shorter nose and it’s not as effective in avalanche situations,” said Ebener. “Lighter dogs are better nowadays because they’re more agile,” she added. “St. Bernards are good at pulling sledges or carrying backpacks. But they don’t really run – they’re strong though.”
To maintain something of a tradition which ended more than 50 years ago however, one animal at the foundation – “Schuster” – has undergone two years of avalanche training and will continue said Ebener.
Experts are finding that the St. Bernard's naturally sympathetic disposition is ideal to have them schooled as “therapy” dogs, visiting hospitals and old people’s homes to provide a moment of comfort for those in need.
“It helps open the minds of elderly people and we find contact with the dog helps get them talking and participating in life again,” said Ebener.
In summer, the dogs are transported from Martigny to their summer retreat at the famous hospice run by monks in the St. Bernard pass, where up to ten visitors per trip can accompany the animals on a hike in the mountains.
The monks, who originally bred the canines as rescue animals in the pass, sold off their charges several years ago, as they were unable to take care of them any longer.
The Barry Foundation was established in 2005.