St. Bernard vs Serbian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison

St. Bernard is originated from Switzerland but Serbian Mountain Hound is originated from Serbia. St. Bernard may grow 21 cm / 9 inches higher than Serbian Mountain Hound. St. Bernard may weigh 68 kg / 150 pounds more than Serbian Mountain Hound. Both St. Bernard and Serbian Mountain Hound has almost same life span. Both St. Bernard and Serbian Mountain Hound has almost same litter size. St. Bernard requires High maintenance. But Serbian Mountain Hound requires Low maintenance

History

st bernard - historyThe St Bernard breed was once called the Alpine Cattle Dogs or the Alpine Mountain Dogs. They have always been farm dogs and mountain dogs in the French and Swiss Alps. They come from the border land of Switzerland and France. They were herding dogs, hunting, search and rescue, watchdogs and draft dogs.

Their ancestors are considered to include the Sennenhunds and molosser breeds that came to the Alps with the ancient Romans. There are four Sennenhund breeds that are believed to have contributed to the original St. Bernard. These included the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund), the Appenzeller (Appenzeller Sennenhund), the Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennenhund) and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Entlebucher Sennenhund) Today the St. Bernard is considered a Molossoid breed.

The first we know of the St. Bernard in any written records was in 1707 at the Great St. Bernard Pass and Great St. Bernard Hospice run by monks. There were found paintings of the dogs dating back into the late 1600’s. It is told that Barry saved upward of 100 people in the St. Bernard pass, and it is from these stories that the dogs gained their snow rescue reputation.

The St. Bernard of that time did not look like the St. Bernard does today as there was much crossbreeding. Many dogs dies during rescues in the avalanches of the mid 1800’s and so they Saint was crossed with the Newfoundland to preserve the breed. You can today see the resemblance in the build and looks of the two breeds. This cross brought about the long haired St. Bernard whose fur was too heavy for rescues.

The St. Bernards of mountain rescue fame were only about the size of a German Shepherd dog and were short haired. After crossing with the Newfoundland and moving into clubs and dogs shows, they have been bred to be much larger. Before the stud book was closed, it is thought that many larger breeds such as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the English Mastiff, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Rottweiler, the Great Pyrenees, the English Bulldog, the Great Dane, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Boxer and the Caucasian Oycharka all contributed to today’s St. Bernard.

In 1884 The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded and the breed entered the Swiss Stud book as its first entry in 1884. It was 1888 when the standard was approved and the breed became the national dog of Switzerland. Before the name St. Bernard came to be common, these dogs might be called, Barry Dogs, Alepnmastiff, Noble Steeds or Saint Dogs.

The dogs came to England in the early 1800s and to the United States soon after. They were recognized by the European kennel clubs first and by the early 1900’s they were the most popular breed in the AKC.

Known as the Srpski Planinski Gonic dog and coming from Yugoslavia, the Serbian Mountain Hound is one of two modern hounds that was once known as the Yugoslavian Mountain Hound or Jugoslovenski Planinski Gonic.

There isn't much information on the origins of the dogs. These two dogs are considered similar breeds, only varying in region. Its a hunting dog thought to have descended from Asian search dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Switzerland
Serbia
Height Male:
63 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
46 - 50 cm
18 - 20 inches
Height Female:
60 - 69 cm
23 - 28 inches
46 - 50 cm
18 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
52 - 85 kg
114 - 188 pounds
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 9
2 - 8
Size:
Giant dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
St. Bernhardshund Bernhardiner Alpine Mastiff (archaic)
Srpski Planinski Gonic dog
Colors Available:
redish- Brown and white with a black mask to blond and white with black mask
Black and tan
Coat:
rough or smooth
Short and thick
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

st bernard puppy - descriptionToday’s St. Bernard is not a large dog, he is a giant dog. Weighing in at 140-200 pounds and standing 28 to 35 inches tall, he is a lot of dog. Bred with mastiffs and large mountain dogs, they have proportional and powerful build. They are strong, sturdy and well muscled. They have either a smooth or rough (short or long) coat. Their eyes are brown or occasionally blue. They have tight lids, and square heads and muzzles.

There are two coat types called smooth and rough, or short and long. The smooth shorter coat is tough, flat and close against the body and the long, rough coat is dense, wavy and heavy around the legs, neck and ruff. Both types have long tails that hang low and are heavy. Saints are known to slobber, drool and snore.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is about 46 to 50cm in height and weighs around 18 to 22 kilograms. This Yugoslavian hound breed has been used in Serbia as a hunting dog and they are thought to be rare outside of Serbia.

The coat of the newer Mountain Hound is fairly short and thick and mainly black with some tan marks around the paws and muzzle. The dog has floppy ears and a long tail.

Temperament:

This is a hardy scent hound that is confident and bold. They are used to hunting on rough terrain in the Balkan region. They are independent dogs and training and socialization will refine them, making the dog obedient and well mannered.

When he isn’t outdoors, he becomes a good-natured, gentle amiable dog that is good with children in the home.

Characteristics

1Children friendliness excellent

2.Special talents tracking

st bernard dog - characteristics3.Adaptability no - these are giant dogs that need a lot of room. A large fenced yard or farm is best. They won’t do well in an apartment. They need exercise every day and loping around a yard is very good for them. They love to play in the snow, carry a backpack or pull a cart. They love to have a “job”

4.Learning ability – They are smart and highly trainable if motivated. They may appear lazy but they are just laid back and need a motivation.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is such a social, happy, friendly kind of dog that he makes a wonderful family pet.

He learns well, he likes to please, he gets on well with children and dogs in the home, he is independent and not a noisy barker. He is also fairly low maintenance.

Take good care of him and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful pet and companion.

Health Problems

st bernard puppies - health problemsThe first problem this breed faces is how fast they grow and gain weight. This can lead to serious health issues if not controlled. Their bones can be damaged by this excessively fast rate of growth. Other issues facing the breed include:

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause arthritis and lameness.
  • Bloat – can be fatal if not treated immediately.
  • Bone Cancer or Osteosarcoma – tends to be fatal.
  • Entropion and Ectropion – eyelids turn in or out and can be corrected.
  • Epilepsy – controlled by medication
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy – can be fatal.
  • Eczema – skin disease can be treated.
  • Be careful of extreme heat.

Nobody wants their dog to be sick and lethargic, after all they are our best friend’s. Some ways to check the status of your dog’s health -

Breath:

Check his breath, as a bad breath, just like as with a human being, can be a sign of illness. It can also be indicative of dental problems, digestive or kidney problems.

Skin and coat:

Spread his fur and check that the skin is a healthy color – pink, grey or black. Make sure there is no crusting or itching with red, inflamed areas. Make sure the coat is thick and lustrous – not falling out and thinning.

Paws and Nails:

Make sure the nails aren’t split, flaking and broken and that the paws aren’t cut so that the dog is constantly licking them.

Super thirsty:

Every dog drinks a lot of water after hectic exercise, but if your dog suddenly becomes very thirsty more than usual, it could be indicating a medical problem, and you will need to discuss it with your vet.

Caring The Pet

st bernard dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy – You want to control their growth. Do not overfeed, and make sure they exercise but not too much. Feed a high quality large breed puppy food 3-4 X a day in small amounts.

2.Feeding the adult – The problem you face with he adult St. Bernard is the potential for Bloat. Don’t over feed. Don’t feed before or after strenuous exercise. Feed 2-3 X a day in smaller amounts to prevent Bloat. Feed a high quality breed specific food if possible or an extra large breed formula.

3.Points for Good Health stamina and strength in cooler weather.

4. Games and Exercises They need exercise but not as much as you might think. The St. Bernard is a laid back lumbering character so don’t over exercise her. They enjoy weight and cart pulling but they are not athletes who enjoy frisbee or agility. Search and rescue trials and tracking trials are perfect athletic endeavors for them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. St. Bernard vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. St. Bernard vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. St. Bernard vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. St. Bernard vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  5. St. Bernard vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  6. St. Bernard vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  7. St. Bernard vs Pyrenean Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  8. St. Bernard vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  9. St. Bernard vs Moscow Watchdog - Breed Comparison
  10. St. Bernard vs Spanish Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  11. St. Bernard vs Kars Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. St. Bernard vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. St. Bernard vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  14. St. Bernard vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  15. St. Bernard vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  16. St. Bernard vs Neapolitan Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  17. St. Bernard vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  18. St. Bernard vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  19. St. Bernard vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Serbian Mountain Hound vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  21. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  22. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  23. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  24. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  25. Serbian Mountain Hound vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  26. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  28. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  29. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  30. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  31. Serbian Mountain Hound vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  32. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Serbian Mountain Hound vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  34. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  35. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  36. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  37. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  38. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  39. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  40. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  41. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  42. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  43. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds