The Golden Saint is a relatively new hybrid breed that,
unfortunately, doesn’t have a well-developed origin story yet. Despite this
fact, we do know a lot about his parent breeds, the Golden Retriever and the
Saint Bernard. Because of these back stories, we can get an idea of what the
Golden Saint’s personality, appearance, and popularity may someday develop
into. First, the Golden Retriever was
developed in the 18th century by Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland. The
idea was to create the perfect model of a retriever with qualities such as, a
great nose, high intelligence, and an eager to please attitude solely focused
on the master. The Golden Retriever has been a favorite of many individuals
ever since his existence began. His even tempered personality and bright,
loving eyes can melt any heart without trying too hard. The Golden was recognized
by the American Kennel Club in the year 1925 and is now the 3rd most
popular dog breed around. They are used primarily for hunting, show, and
companionship. It is now
time to look at the gentle giant side of the Golden Saint; the Saint Bernard. While
this large dog never actually wore a keg of brandy around his neck, as depicted
in some cartoons and movies) he did indeed offer support to stranded travelers
up in the Swiss Alps. He was first created to be a farm dog by those who lived
in the Alps, but eventually the Saint Bernard was gifted to the Monks of the
Swiss Hospice in 1670. The large dogs first acted as guards for the monks
against bandits, but when the monks realized the large dog had a keen sense of
smell, they began to breed the Saint Bernards to aid in finding lost travelers
up in the mountains. Through careful breeding the dogs became larger, with
thicker and more waterproofed hair to keep them well protected against the
dangers of the mountains. Hundreds of years later, with their excellent rescue
skills proceeding them, the Saint Bernard made its way into the United States
during the 1800’s and slowly grew to become one of the most popular breeds
around. Today these dogs are used as companions, show animals, and work dogs
all over the world. When
combining these two unique parent breeds, we end up with a large, gentle, and
beautiful dog that has a heart of gold. The Golden Saint makes a wonderful
family dog due to his calm nature and easy trainability. Although his size may
be large, with careful training and plenty of chances to go outside for some
fresh air, the Golden Saint can live in any size home and any area without any
problem at all.
