The Alpine Spaniel is an extinct
breed of dog which was used in mountain rescues by the Augustinian Canons, who
run hospices in the region around the Great St. Bernard Pass. The spaniel was a
large dog notable for its thick curly coat. One of the most famous specimens of
the Alpine Spaniel is Barry, however his preserved body has been modified on
more than one occasion to fit with descriptions of the extinct breed from
earlier time periods. Due to the conditions in the Alps, and a series of
accidents, extinction was discussed as a possibility by authors during the
1830s, and at some point prior to 1847 the entire breed was reduced to a single
example due to disease. Evidence held at the Natural History Museum in Bern
show that two distinct breeds of dog were being used in the area during this
time period. The breed is thought to be the predecessor to the modern St.
Bernard and the Clumber Spaniel.
Description
The
Alpine was a large breed of spaniel, described as reaching two feet at the
withers and six feet from the nose to the tail. It had a closely set coat,
curlier than that of the English Cocker Spaniel or the English Springer
Spaniel. An intelligent breed, it was particularly adapted to the climate of
the Swiss Alps.
Old
skulls in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Bern demonstrate a
diversity in head shapes. The collection proves at least two distinct
variations during the same time period. The larger skulls have a greater
pronounced stop with a shorter muzzle while the smaller skulls show a great
deal less stop whilst having longer muzzles.
Legacy
A
drawing of the Alpine Spaniel in 1848, 18 years after they were first crossed
with the Newfoundland
St. Bernard
The
Alpine Spaniel was one of the direct genetic progenitors to the St. Bernard.
Starting in 1830, the monks and canons of the Swiss Alps began crossing the
dogs with the Newfoundland, expecting that the resulting offspring would have
the longer hair of the Newfoundland and this would protect the dogs better from
the cold. Unfortunately ice would form on the longer hair, and seeing that the
dogs were no longer effective rescue dogs, the monasteries gave them away to
people in the surrounding Swiss valleys.
In
1855 a stud book was opened for these crosses, which supplied the hospice with
suitable dogs and also exported the dogs overseas. Many people began breeding
them indiscriminately, which resulted in their modern appearance. By 1868, the
breed was commonly being referred to as the "Saint Bernard Dog" first
and the Alpine Spaniel second.
Clumber Spaniel
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