Beethoven is one of the greatest composers of all time, creating hundreds of classical musical pieces that, until today, are still played by symphonies and orchestras the world over. However, to some of us, Beethoven is a loveable St. Bernard that gets his owner into a number of funny misfortunes. The movie Beethoven, released in 1992, is one of the best family movies that generations have loved to watch. The movie has also produced a sequel which also made it big in the box office.
St. Bernards, like Beethoven in the movie, are very loving and caring dogs. These dogs originated in the Italian and Swiss mountains and were originally bred as working and rescue dogs. Their names originated from the Great St Bernard Hospice, which is a station found on the dangerous pass between Italy and Switzerland.

Keeping a St. Bernard as a pet is going to take up a bit of work. They are a very hairy breed, which means that you have to make sure to brush their coat every day to remove tangles and keep it clean. Feeding them can be a big challenge too; just be sure to stick with a dog food brand labeled for larger dogs. As puppies, they will need a bit more protein, but too much will cause growth spurts, which may lead to weak bones and muscles when they get old.

St. Bernards do better in homes that have wider space. They need a lot of room to walk and lounge around so make sure your furniture is not in their way. They are best kept indoors, especially during the day when the weather is a little warmer. Families that have younger children might have problems with this dog. They do have a tendency to underestimate their size and might end up hurting the child. Still, St. Bernards are gentle giants—just be ready to wipe their drool all the time!

Unlike Bambi, Beethoven didn’t exactly become a household name for St. Bernards, but the 1992 Beethoven starring Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt drew attention to the St. Bernard dog breed.

As shown in the film, St. Bernards are big dogs, once kept for their “working dog” capabilities given their size, stamina and overall bulk. Originally, St. Bernards were bred as rescue dogs, hailing from the Swiss and Italian Alps.
Also known as Alpine Mastiff, the St. Bernard’s generally thick and dense fur makes cold weather a breeze for them. This made them perfect for running to rescues in cold climes, in an effort to bring first aid kits or finding trapped mountaineers. Back then, St Bernards were fitted with “brandy collars”, which was meant to keep those in need of rescuing warm while help was on its way.

The St. Bernard got its name from the Great St Bernard Hospice, where travelers on the St Bernard Pass in the Western Alps sought for shelter. Needless to say, there were a lot of St Bernard rescue dogs there, who were then called different names like Barry Dogs or Saint Dogs.

The average adult St Bernard weighs somewhere between 60 to 120 kilograms, or 140 to 264 pounds, which says a lot about how big St Bernards are. As pets they are quite the munchers, a St Bernard trait which the movie Beethoven captured very well.

As pets, St Bernards are not really all that different from other dog breeds, minus perhaps some problems pertaining to their size and bulk. Tales of tables breaking down, or small home fixtures becoming the chew toys of St Bernards are known, but other than their capacity to magnify most annoying doggy traits, they are quite docile, loyal and lovable dogs to have.

The movie also did well in capturing this St Bernard fact.